Chrysalosity

a flourishing lifestyle

Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Tortellini

· FEEL-GOOD FOOD

Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Tortellini

I love me some pesto!

And believe it or not, I never really grew up eating pesto. Whenever we'd eat an Italian dish, marinara was the go-to sauce. But there's something about pesto that just tastes authentic - like eating at one of those fancy-schmancy restaurants with the checkered table cloths and the menu that no one can read.

Pesto is made from basil, pine nuts, and olive oil, giving that signature green hue. Mix that with a cream-based sauce and you've got yourself the beginnings of a delicious weeknight Italian meal! This pesto tortellini will give you all the Italian restaurant vibes.

 

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Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Tortellini

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Recipe Notes

For this recipe, I was able to find almost every ingredient at Aldi, making this a super-cheap meal that will feed the whole family. One ingredient I could not find at Aldi was sun dried tomatoes - so I substituted a can of diced tomatoes instead. If you really want to make this a flavor-party in your mouth, I highly suggest springing for sun dried tomatoes instead, if you can find them elsewhere! (You can usually find these in the produce section.)

To make this a one-pot recipe (because ain't nobody got time to clean up a mess!), I included several steps for the Instant Pot. However, you're totally free to cook the tortellini and asparagus at the same time over the stove. My personal preference is to do it in steps like this when I have the time. I find it to be less overwhelming when I can focus on one task at a time in the kitchen, and then I have fewer pots and pans to wash later on!

 

Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Tortellini

 

Print Recipe

Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Tortellini

A restaurant-quality weeknight meal that's sure to please the whole family!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Instant Pot, Italian food, Main Dish
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked & diced*
  • 1 8.8 oz package tortellini
  • 2 T olive oil, divided
  • 1 lb asparagus, chopped into one inch pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 T pesto
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Dump tortellini into Instant Pot and fill with water until just covered.
  • Secure the lid and close the vent. Set to manual and cook for 3 minutes on low pressure. When the timer goes off, quick release.
  • Drain the excess water from the pasta and set aside in a small bowl.
  • Set Instant Pot to saute and heat 1 T olive oil for 1 minute. Add asparagus to pot and stir to coat. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, or until tender. Set aside in a small bowl.
  • Add remaining 1 T olive oil to Instant Pot. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Stir in broth, heavy cream, pesto and Italian seasoning. Cook until thickened, whisking regularly.
  • Stir in tomatoes, asparagus, and chicken and cook until heated through.
  • Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
  • Gently fold in tortellini until well combined.
  • Optional: Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve & enjoy!

Notes

*If you don't have pre-cooked chicken prepared, place raw chicken breasts in Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup water. Secure the lid and close the vent. Set to manual and cook for 7 minutes on high pressure. When the timer goes off, quick release. Remove chicken breasts from Instant Pot to cool, then dice.
 
Instant Pot Creamy Pesto Chicken Tortellini

Jump on the Instant Pot Bandwagon!

If you haven't tried the Instant Pot yet... what are you waiting for!? Pressure cooking is so easy with the Instant Pot Duo, with so many functions all in one! It has saved me so much time in the kitchen and is easily my favorite appliance.

With that, I hope you enjoy this creamy pesto chicken tortellini recipe!

Ciao!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls

· FEEL-GOOD FOOD

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls

When snack time hunger hits, making smart food choices can be difficult.

This super easy, protein-packed recipe is here to make that choice easy for you! Instead of surrendering to the vending machine or the drive-through, make a batch of protein balls that will last through the week to satisfy your hunger.

In a much unhealthier time in my life, I would ignore and fight through my snack time hunger and wear it like a badge of honor. All my life I had observed women bragging about skipping meals and restricting calories as if that were the new normal. But hunger is a signal from your body that you need nutrients, and making good food choices when you're hungry will lead to a healthier body and mind. Ignoring those hunger signals is simply depriving your body of what it needs, and it's important that we stop treating food restriction as something to be proud of.

Protein is an essential macro nutrient that will fill you up and keep you full so that you can keep going throughout the afternoon. You already know that I love using protein powder as a dietary supplement, and this is a super easy way to incorporate more protein into your diet. It's also packed with natural peanut butter, which is an excellent source of healthy fats and even more protein. What could be better than a peanut butter and chocolate combo?! (I'll wait.)

So, busy ladies, take a half hour to throw together a batch of these peanut butter chocolate protein balls and fuel up for the week. You got this!

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. In a standing mixer, combine all ingredients until well-blended.
  2. Roll mixture into 1 inch balls.
  3. Optional: Roll protein balls in loose cocoa powder
  4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. These will stay good for over a week! Makes about 2 dozen.

Peanut Butter Protein Balls Nutrition Label

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Snacking!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls

Crock Pot Cheesy Tailgate Snack Mix | Day 26 of #30DaysOfBlogging

· FEEL-GOOD FOOD

Crock Pot Cheesy Snack Mix | Day 26 of 30 Days of Blogging

Fall means football, which means tailgating, which means it's time to snack!

If you're opting for a light, fresh snack for the pre-game festivities, check out my caprese bites recipe. But sometimes you just need to indulge, am I right?

In preparation for football this weekend, I'm sharing this cheesy, crunchy snack mix that's perfect for tailgating! Make a big batch for your crew to munch on during your next football watching marathon or tailgate party!

Most of the ingredients are pretty basic, but there's one that may be unfamiliar to most. If you're wondering where to find cheese sprinkles, you can find them in the snack aisle by the popcorn! See the picture below for a reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd never tried  making my snack mix in a Crock Pot before, but it was an easy, mess-free way to bake all that cheesy flavor onto the mix!

 

Cheesy Tailgate Snack Mix

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 oz container cheese sprinkles
  • 2 cups peanuts
  • 3 cups pretzel sticks
  • 3 cups Bugles
  • 3 cups Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips
  • 3 cups crunchy Cheetos
  • 3 cups wheat Chex
  • 3 cups rice Chex

Directions:

  1. Melt the butter in a microwaveable container.
  2. Whisk in cheese sprinkles until dissolved.
  3. In a paper bag (or trash bag), mix all other ingredients together.
  4. Pour cheese mixture over snack mix and toss in the bag until well coated.
  5. Transfer to Crock Pot and cook on low for 3 hours. Stir well every hour to prevent burning.
  6. Store in an airtight container and enjoy!

Crock Pot Cheesy Tailgate Snack Mix

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy tailgating!

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Crock Pot Cheesy Snack Mix | Day 26 of 30 Days of Blogging

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