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–+ servings
Creamy Veggie Tortellini Bake – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Creamy Veggie Tortellini Bake

This Creamy Veggie Tortellini Bake is a one-dish wonder, bringing together pillowy cheese tortellini, a garden's worth of crisp vegetables, and a luxuriously smooth cream cheese sauce that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 353 serving
Calories: 353

Ingredients
  

  • 18 ounces (510 g / 18 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini
  • 1.5 cups (150 g / 5.3 oz) fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved
  • 0.5 cup (60 g / 2.12 oz) thinly sliced carrot
  • 1 tablespoon (15 g / 0.53 oz) butter
  • 1 cup (70 g / 2.47 oz) sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 0.33 cup (80 ml) vegetable broth
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 teaspoons (7.5 ml / 0.3 fl oz) dried oregano, crushed
  • 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml / 0.1 fl oz) garlic salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml / 0.1 fl oz) ground black pepper
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk
  • 8 ounces (226 g / 8 oz) cream cheese, cubed and softened
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml / 0.5 fl oz) fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 0.5 cup (75 g / 2.65 oz) coarsely chopped red or green bell pepper
  • 2 tablespoons (10 g / 0.35 oz) grated Parmesan cheese
  • Feel free to customize the veggies! Broccoli florets, asparagus tips, or a few handfuls of fresh spinach would all be delicious additions. Just be sure to blanch heartier vegetables along with the pasta.
  • For a beautiful golden-brown and bubbly top, uncover the casserole for the last 5-10 minutes of baking. You can even switch the oven to broil for a minute or two, but watch it carefully to prevent burning!
  • To save time, you can assemble the entire casserole (without the final Parmesan topping) up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate, then add 10-15 minutes to the baking time when you're ready to eat.
  • Ensure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature. This is the key to a silky-smooth sauce without any lumps. If your sauce seems too thick, you can thin it out with a splash more milk or broth.

Method
 

  1. First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C. Get a large pot of salted water boiling and cook the tortellini according to the package directions.
  2. In the final minute of cooking, toss in the sugar snap peas and carrots to blanch them perfectly.
  3. Drain everything well and set aside.
  4. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  5. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they're beautifully browned and tender. Scoop them out of the skillet and set them aside for later.
  6. Time to make the magic sauce!
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth, flour, oregano, garlic salt, and black pepper until smooth.
  8. Pour this mixture into the same skillet, then whisk in the milk.
  9. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble.
  10. Reduce the heat and stir in the softened cream cheese cubes until the sauce is completely smooth and luscious.
  11. Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh lemon juice to brighten it up.
  12. Gently fold the cooked tortellini and veggie mixture, the sautéed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and sweet pepper into the creamy sauce.
  13. Stir until everything is lovingly coated.
  14. Transfer this glorious mixture to an ungreased 3-quart or 9x13 inch baking dish.
  15. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until it's hot and bubbly all the way through. To finish, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 15gFat: 17g

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