Olive Garden Asiago Tortellini Alfredo with Grilled Chicken
A delicious Italian dish featuring cheese-filled tortelloni in creamy Asiago alfredo sauce topped with grilled chicken, melted mozzarella, and crispy panko breadcrumbs.
9ouncesrefrigerated tortelliniI recommend an asiago and ham blend
Creamy Alfredo Sauce
1cup heavy cream
1cuphalf and half
4ouncessalted butteryou can use unsalted
3/4 cupgrated Parmesan cheese
1/4cupgrated Asiago cheeseyou can swap this for Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoongarlic powder
Toppings
1/3cupPanko breadcrumbs
1/2cupMozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
Grilled Chicken Breasts
Place one chicken breast at a time in a zip-top bag and pound to 1/2-inch thickness using the flat side of a meat mallet. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.
Add the vegetable oil, salt, ground black pepper, and Italian seasoning to the zip-top bag with the chicken. Seal the bag, massage to coat all the chicken pieces, and marinate for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven broiler on high with the rack positioned 6 inches from the heat source.
Add enough vegetable oil to a large skillet to coat the bottom. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil is hot but not smoking.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and add it to the skillet. Cook on the first side for 4 to 5 minutes without moving, until golden brown. Flip and cook on the second side for another 4 to 5 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Transfer to a cutting board and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
While the chicken rests, cook the tortelloni according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy cream, half and half, and butter. Heat, stirring occasionally, until small bubbles form around the edges. Do not let the mixture boil.
Add the grated parmesan and asiago cheeses. Whisk continuously until the cheeses are fully melted and incorporated.
Add the garlic powder and continue whisking until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Combine the cooked tortelloni and Alfredo sauce in a 2-quart baking dish. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly.
Slice the rested chicken breasts and arrange the slices over the top of the tortelloni.
Sprinkle 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
Place the baking dish under the preheated broiler. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes, watching closely, until the mozzarella is melted and lightly golden and the panko is toasted. Serve immediately.
Video
Recipe Tips
The chicken can also be cooked on an outdoor grill or grill pan for a more pronounced char. Grill over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes per side. The grill marks and slightly smoky flavor more closely replicate the restaurant version.Do not let the cream mixture come to a full boil before adding the cheese. A hard boil can cause the cream to break and the sauce to become grainy. Gentle heat gives you a smooth, silky Alfredo.If the Alfredo sauce thickens too much before you're ready to assemble, add a splash of pasta water, which contains starch that helps the sauce re-emulsify and coat the pasta more evenly.Watch the broiler closely during the final step. The difference between lightly golden and burnt panko breadcrumbs is about 60 seconds. Stay in the kitchen.For a make-ahead option, assemble the dish through step 11 (before adding the panko and mozzarella), cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Add the panko and mozzarella just before broiling, and add 5 to 10 extra minutes in a 350-degree F oven before broiling to heat the cold dish through.