Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas

Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas is an easy recipe with leftover ham and tender tortellini in a delicious Parmesan cheese sauce. An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love that takes minutes to make!

This easy tortellini recipe is a family favorite that literally takes minutes to make. With only a handful of ingredients and one skillet, this easy dinner recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.

It's also a great way to use up leftover ham from Christmas dinner or Easter dinner. But, you can just as easily use thicker deli ham or a ham steak. It's one of my son's favorite dinners, so I make this often throughout the year.

Try my leftover ham casserole or leftover ham sandwich recipe. Or, find more easy dinner recipes and tortellini recipes on my main dishes page.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make ham tortellini in cheese sauce. They should be available in your local grocery store.

• Ham -- 2 cups leftover cooked ham, diced or thickly sliced
• Fresh Tortellini -- look for cheese-filled tortellini in the refrigerated section
• Butter -- to make the cream sauce
• Heavy cream -- to make the sauce
• Parmesan cheese -- to flavor and thicken the sauce
• Seasonings -- garlic powder, nutmeg and black pepper
• Frozen peas -- thawed. optional, but very easy to add and makes it a complete meal

How to Make Tortellini with Ham

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Then, stir in the heavy cream. This is just basically a simple Alfredo sauce -- very easy.

Next, stir in the seasoning mixture. When the cream starts to bubble around the edges of the pan, add the tortellini.

You may want to add a few pieces at a time so the cream sauce doesn't splash -- just saying.

Stir the pasta so it's covered with the creamy sauce.

Cook the pasta uncovered until it is nice and tender. This takes about 2-3 minutes, depending on the brand. Use the package instructions as a guide.

Next, stir in the Parmesan cheese until it melts. Then, add the ham and peas to the cheesy sauce.

Continue cooking the tortellini ham mixture until the ham is heated through and the peas are done. This only takes 1-2 minutes.

I like to garnish the pasta with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. And that's all there is to this easy meal.

Your dinner tonight is done, and it's time to dig into that cheesy goodness!

How to Store and Reheat

Refrigerate leftover tortellini for up to 4 days in an airtight container. You can reheat individual portions in your microwave or on the stove top.

Recipe Variations

The peas are optional. You can leave them out or use a different veggie, like broccoli. Tortellini with spinach is a great combo!

If you have an electric pressure cooker, try my Instant Pot Ham and cheese Tortellini recipe.

For a thinner sauce, use half and half or milk. You may have to add more Parmesan cheese to thicken the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with additional cream, milk or chicken broth.

Since this is basically tortellini Alfredo, you can use a jar of Alfredo sauce instead of making your own. Instead of Parm, try Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese or Colby Jack.

Recipe

Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas

Published by Dee

Cheese Tortellini with Ham and Peas is an easy recipe with leftover ham and tender tortellini in a delicious Parmesan cheese sauce. An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love that takes minutes to make!

5 from 5 votes

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Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 7

Calories 643 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 24 oz cheese tortellini Kirklands fresh tortellini
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups cooked ham diced
• 1 cup frozen peas thawed

Instructions

 

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat
• Stir in heavy cream, and heat until small bubbles appear along the sides of the pan
• Stir in garlic powder, black pepper and nutmeg
• Add the tortellini, and stir so that it is covered with sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender
• Stir in the cheese
• Stir in the ham and thawed peas, and cook on low heat until heated through, bout 1-2 minutes
• Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired

Notes

I used Kirkland's 5 cheese tortellini from Costco, but any fresh tortellini will work. You can use dried or frozen tortellini, but the cooking times will change. 

If sauce is too thick, add more cream or thin sauce with milk, half and half or chicken broth.

Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

Nutrition

Calories: 643kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 27gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 1110mgPotassium: 174mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1074IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 302mgIron: 3mg

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I hope you enjoy this cheesy ham tortellini as much as we do. This one pot meal is one of our favorite recipes on busy days. If you do try this 30-minute meal, please leave a star rating and/or comment.

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