Chicken Fajita Tortellini
Tex-Mex Meets Italy: Get Ready to Dive into Chicken Fajita Tortellini!
We’re about to embark on a flavor adventure that’s going to blow your taste buds away. You know I love a good fusion, and this recipe for Chicken Fajita Tortellini with Spicy Ranch Sauce is the ultimate mashup of two of my absolute favorite cuisines: vibrant Tex-Mex and comforting Italian! Luke Brown with @cookinginthemidwest created the main dish of this & I added a homemade spicy ranch sauce that adds the perfect touch to finish it with.
We’re taking that sizzlin’ fajita goodness—perfectly seasoned chicken, crisp bell peppers, and sweet onions—and swirling it all together with irresistible, pillowy pockets of cheesy tortellini, then drenching it in a dreamy, creamy, and just-spicy-enough ranch sauce that ties everything together in a delicious, unforgettable bow. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a fiesta in a bowl that’s unique, easy to customize, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser for any occasion, ready to make some serious memories around your dinner table.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken (we used breast & thighs)
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
- 1 tsp each paprika, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- olive oil
- 1 onion
- 1 green bell pepper & 1 red bell pepper
- salt, pepper, garlic powder (for the veggies)
- 16 oz bag frozen cheese tortellini
- 1/2 – 1 cup water to soften veggies and tortellini
- spicy ranch sauce (below)
Spicy Ranch Sauce
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh parsley
- 1 Tbsp Frank’s Red Hot Sauce Original
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 medium clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried (or dehydrated) onion flakes
- 3/4 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
Sauce:
- Add all ingredients to a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine, stopping when you still see visible specks of parsley. Avoid over-blending to prevent an overly smooth puree. (A quick note: we highly recommend using mayonnaise for the best flavor, not Miracle Whip.) Transfer to a container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Main Dish:
- Prepare Ingredients: Slice your chicken, peppers, and onions into thin strips.
- Cook Onions: Preheat your griddle or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil, then add the sliced onions. Cook them until they begin to soften. You can cook them completely now and set them aside, or partially cook them before adding the peppers.
- Cook Peppers: Add your sliced peppers to the skillet with the onions (if you didn’t remove the onions). Continue cooking until all vegetables are softened to your liking, seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. (For quicker cooking, you can add a bit of water and cover with a lid to steam.) Once done, remove all vegetables and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Ensure there’s still a drizzle of oil in the skillet. Add your chicken strips and season with salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook thoroughly until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
- Combine & Prepare for Tortellini: Once the vegetables are soft and the chicken is cooked, stir them together. If using a griddle, lower the heat. If using a skillet, remove the chicken and veggies and set aside.
- Cook Tortellini: Add a small drizzle of oil to the griddle or skillet. Add the tortellini and about 1/2 cup of water. Cover and steam cook for approximately 5 minutes. (If using shelf-stable tortellini, you may need to add more water in intervals and stir every couple of minutes until cooked through.)
- Add Spicy Ranch: Once the tortellini has softened, drizzle the Spicy Ranch sauce over it, ensuring all the tortellini is coated.
- Finish & Serve: Stir everything (tortellini, chicken, and vegetables) together to combine. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
- We like to drizzle a bit more of the spicy ranch sauce on just before serving.
- Some grated mozzarella cheese on top of it all would be perfect as well!
Keywords: Main Dish, Dinner, Fajita, Tortellini, Ranch, Chicken
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