Creamy Tortellini with Shrimp is a creamy, cajun-style pasta dish with lots of cheese flavor and some spice. This Shrimp Tortellini can be easily made in under 30 minutes.
In addition to shrimp, there’s also sausage, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cajun seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Tons of flavor in this easy pasta dish.
What To Serve With Shrimp Tortellini
With lots of butter and heavy cream, this is a rich, indulgent dinner. I like to serve it with a side salad with Creamy Italian Dressing or steamed broccoli or asparagus.
What Kind Of Sausage To Use?
You can use any type of smoked sausage. Andouille sausage is great if you want added spice and the flavor of New Orleans. But I also really like to use kielbasa. It tends to be juicier than andouille and won’t add any extra heat.
Which Shrimp To Buy?
I like medium to large fresh shrimp for this recipe. I live right on the coast so I have access to very fresh shrimp. If you live inland, you are probably best off buying shrimp that has been flash frozen and thawing them yourself. It is a very quick and easy process. Place the shrimp in a large bowl of slightly cold water for 20 minutes.
I always recommend wild shrimp over farm raised.
How Spicy Is This Dish?
This pasta recipe has a medium amount of heat. For more, use a spicy smoked sausage, and/or double the amount of cayenne pepper. You can also serve it with TABASCO Sauce. If you don’t want it spicy, omit the cayenne and use kielbasa.
How To Store Creamy Tortellini With Shrimp
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. The tortellini tends to soak up the sauce over time. You can add a little heavy cream or chicken broth when you reheat it.
Careful not to overcook the shrimp. They cook very quickly and will have a dry and rubbery texture if they are overcooked. You will cook them in oil at the beginning of the recipe. It’s best to remove them when they are still a little undercooked. They will cook a little more when you add them to the sauce.
Try These Other Creamy Pasta Recipes
- Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta– full of cheese, bacon and ranch seasoning.
- Creamy Angel Hair Pasta With Bacon and Shrimp
- Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta– lots of Italian sausage and a creamy sauce flavored with Parmesan.
- Cheesy Garlic Shrimp Alfredo
- Creamy Spinach Tortellini
Creamy Tortellini with Shrimp
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 1/2 pounds medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon cajun or creole seasoning
- 1/2 medium yellow or sweet onion, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 8 ounces smoked sausage, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup butter, I use salted
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook tortellini according to package directions.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle the cajun seasoning over them. Cook just until the shrimp turn pink and remove them from the pan. Note: The shrimp will cook a little more when you add them to the tortellini, so if anything you want them slightly undercooked when you remove them from the pan.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet along with the onion, bell pepper and sausage and cook until the sausage is browned and the onion and bell pepper are soft, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add the butter, heavy cream, and thyme. (If using, add the cayenne.) Simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and then add the shrimp.Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Finally, stir in the tortellini and sprinkle with parsley.
What can you substitute for the cream that will work?
Rich sauce but extremely delicious. My husband ordered something similar at a restaurant and asked if I could find a similar recipe. Pretty sure he loves this one more.
Absolutely delicious! Somehow came across this recipe on the internet and will definitely be making it again! It’s better than a restaurant! Thank you!
I made this the other night and it was absolutely delicious. My husband loved it and I even had the left overs for lunch the next day. We will definitely make this again and again. ❤️
So,so good. Definitely will make again!
Made this for dinner….awesome! Will definitely be in our dinner rotation and kept for when family comes! Thank you for a great recipe!
Sounds delish!!! Only because I have fresh canned crab , can it replace the shrimp? Would cooking times , ect change? Oh and I will definitely get shrimp on my next grocery trip! Cannot wait to give this dish a seat at the family dinner table !!