Ultimate 20-Minute Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini: Your Easy Weeknight Dinner Solution
Say hello to your new favorite weeknight hero! This Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini recipe delivers all the creamy, cheesy, and hearty satisfaction of a classic Philly cheesesteak sandwich, transformed into a comforting pasta dish that’s ready in a remarkable 20 minutes. Featuring thinly sliced steak, sautéed peppers and onions, and tender cheese tortellini, all enveloped in a rich, savory sauce, it’s a fuss-free meal that tastes anything but quick. We harness the power of convenience items to bring restaurant-quality flavors straight to your dinner table, perfect for busy evenings when you need a delicious meal without the effort.
Life gets hectic, and cooking a wholesome, flavorful meal often feels like an impossible task when you’re short on time and energy. This ridiculously easy one-dish pasta recipe is designed with you in mind. Whether you’re a busy parent, a student, or simply someone who appreciates a quick yet gourmet-tasting dinner, this Philly Cheesesteak pasta will be your go-to. You’d truly never guess that this impressive meal starts with simple convenience items, making it accessible for any home cook.
Imagine sinking your fork into a forkful of tender cheese tortellini, perfectly seasoned steak, sweet bell peppers, and savory onions, all coated in a luxurious, creamy provolone cheese sauce. That’s exactly what this dish offers. It’s a delightful fusion of two beloved comfort foods – the iconic Philly cheesesteak and classic Italian pasta – creating a uniquely satisfying experience. All the ease of a busy weeknight meal combined with the gourmet taste you’d expect from a favorite restaurant, this cheesesteak pasta recipe is undoubtedly poised to become a cherished family favorite in your household.
Why This Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini Recipe Will Be Your New Go-To
- **Lightning-Fast Preparation:** From start to finish, this dish comes together in approximately 20 minutes. It’s faster than ordering takeout and infinitely more satisfying.
- **Effortless Cooking:** We leverage clever shortcuts, like pre-sliced quick steaks and frozen tortellini, to minimize prep work and cooking time without sacrificing flavor.
- **Irresistible Flavor Fusion:** Experience the savory goodness of thinly sliced steak, caramelized peppers and onions, and melted provolone cheese, all harmoniously blended with creamy pasta.
- **One-Pan Wonder:** Everything cooks in a single sauté pan, meaning less cleanup and more time to enjoy your delicious creation.
- **Kid-Friendly & Crowd-Pleasing:** Its creamy texture and familiar flavors make it a hit with both children and adults, ensuring clean plates all around.
Essential Ingredients for Your Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to a successful and speedy dinner. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need, along with some helpful tips and explanations:
- 1 package of Quick Steaks, Philly Sirloin Steaks, or Steak-Ums (approximately 4 individual steaks):
What are quick steaks or Steak-Ums? These are simply very finely sliced steak cuts, often made from sirloin or ribeye, that are flash-frozen into individual portions for incredibly fast cooking. They are real steak, pre-portioned and thinly shaved to cook in just minutes, making them a fantastic convenience item for dishes like this. Look for them in the frozen meat section of your grocery store. Their rapid cooking time is key to keeping this recipe under 20 minutes. If you can’t find these, you can thinly slice a sirloin or ribeye steak yourself and flash-fry it.
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into strips: Green bell peppers offer a slightly bitter, earthy contrast to the rich flavors and provide a lovely pop of color. Slicing them into strips ensures they cook quickly and meld well with the steak.
- ½ onion, cut into strips: Onions add a foundational sweetness and savory depth when sautéed. Like the peppers, cutting them into strips helps them cook down to a crisp-tender texture quickly.
- 1 ½ tsp Montreal steak seasoning: This robust seasoning blend typically contains coarse salt, black pepper, garlic, onion, and various spices like coriander and dill. It’s perfect for enhancing the beef flavor. If you have another variety of steak seasoning you absolutely love, feel free to use that instead to customize the flavor profile.
- 1 (19 ounce package) frozen cheese tortellini: The star pasta of our dish! Frozen tortellini is incredibly convenient as it cooks directly in the sauce without needing to be boiled separately. The cheese filling adds another layer of creaminess and richness to the overall dish.
- 1 pint of heavy cream: This is what gives our sauce its luscious, rich, and velvety texture. It’s essential for that indulgent, creamy cheesesteak experience.
Calorie-Cutting Tip: If you’re looking to reduce calories or fat, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream. However, be aware that the sauce won’t come out as intensely creamy and rich, and it might be slightly thinner. The heavy cream truly delivers the desired decadent consistency.
- 1 cup of shredded provolone cheese: Provolone is the classic choice for a Philly cheesesteak, known for its mild, tangy flavor and excellent melting properties. Shredding it yourself or buying pre-shredded will ensure it melts smoothly into the sauce. Other great melting cheeses like mozzarella or white American cheese can also be used.
- 1 tsp olive oil: A small amount of olive oil is used to sauté the steak and vegetables, helping them brown nicely and preventing sticking.
Crafting Your Speedy Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini: Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to bring this incredibly flavorful and easy pasta dish to life in just minutes:
- Sauté the Steak and Veggies: In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, carefully add the thinly sliced steaks to one side of the pan and the prepared bell peppers and onions to the other side. This allows both components to get a good sear. Evenly sprinkle the Montreal steak seasoning over both the steaks and the vegetables. Ensure the heat is high enough to get a nice sizzle but not so high that anything burns.
2. Cook Until Tender: Cook the steaks according to the directions on their package. Quick steaks are designed for fast cooking, often taking only a few minutes per side. While the steaks are cooking, the peppers and onions will simultaneously cook down to a delightful crisp-tender texture, becoming slightly softened and sweet. Once the steak is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, stir everything together in the pan, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. You want some nice browning on the steak for maximum flavor.
3. Simmer the Tortellini: Next, add the frozen cheese tortellini directly to the pan with the steak and veggies. Pour in the entire pint of heavy cream. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer for approximately 10 minutes, or until the tortellini is cooked through and tender. Remember to stir occasionally during this simmering period to prevent the tortellini from sticking to the bottom of the pan and to ensure even cooking.
4. Melt the Cheese and Serve: Once the tortellini is cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly, sprinkle the shredded provolone cheese evenly over the pasta mixture. Replace the lid on the pan and allow it to heat just long enough for the cheese to melt into a gooey, rich sauce – usually just 2-3 minutes. Once the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly, give it a final stir to incorporate the cheese into the creamy sauce, then serve immediately. The aroma alone will have everyone rushing to the table!
Delightful Serving Suggestions
This Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini is a complete meal on its own, but pairing it with a simple side can elevate your dining experience. Here are a few ideas:
- **Garlic Bread or Rolls:** I personally love to serve this rich pasta with these Easy Pull Apart Garlic Rolls. The fluffy texture and pungent garlic flavor are the perfect complement to the creamy pasta, and they’re excellent for soaking up every last bit of that delicious sauce.
- **Fresh Green Salad:** A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing offers a refreshing contrast to the hearty pasta. A simple mix of leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber is all you need.
- **Roasted Asparagus or Broccoli:** Steamed or roasted green vegetables add a touch of freshness and nutritional balance to the meal. Their slight bitterness can cut through the richness of the creamy sauce beautifully.
- **Simple Side Salad:** Think a classic Caesar salad or a garden salad with a tangy Italian dressing.
Variations and Customizations for Your Pasta Dish
While this recipe is fantastic as written, it’s also incredibly versatile. Feel free to experiment and make it your own!
- **Using Leftover Meats:** Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini is also great made with leftover roast beef or any leftover thinly sliced steaks. To prepare with leftover meat, simply omit step 1 (cooking the raw steak). Instead, start with step 2 by sautéing the peppers and onions, then add the cooked leftover meat to the pan at the same time as the tortellini and cream in step 3. This is an excellent way to repurpose leftovers!
- **Different Cheeses:** While provolone is traditional, feel free to try other good melting cheeses like mozzarella, a Colby-Jack blend, or even a sharp cheddar for a bolder flavor. A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese at the end can also add a nice salty finish.
- **Add More Veggies:** Sliced mushrooms, extra bell peppers (red or yellow for more sweetness), or even a handful of fresh spinach wilted in at the end can add more nutrients and flavor.
- **Spice It Up:** If you enjoy a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the pan with the seasoning or as a garnish before serving.
- **Different Pasta Shapes:** While tortellini is perfect for this dish, if you’re out, you could experiment with other short, hearty pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, or cavatappi. Just be sure to cook them separately before adding them to the sauce, as they won’t absorb the cream and cook as quickly as frozen tortellini.
- **Make it a Vegetarian Option:** For a meatless version, you can substitute the steak with sliced portobello mushrooms or a plant-based steak alternative. Sauté them with the onions and peppers, then proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
This Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini makes fantastic leftovers! Store any uneaten portions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, gently warm in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth if the sauce has thickened too much. You can also microwave individual portions until heated through.
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Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini
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Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 4 count package Philly Sirloin Steaks*
- 1 green bell pepper
- ½ yellow onion
- 1 ½ teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning*
- 1 19 ounce bag frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
Instructions
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In a large sauté pan heat the oil over medium high heat. Carefully add the steaks on one side of the skillet and the peppers and onions to the other side. Sprinkle the steak seasoning over the steaks and veggies.
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Cook the steaks according to the directions on the package. By the time the steaks are cooked the peppers and onions will also be cooked crisp tender. Stir to combine the steaks and veggies.
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Next add the frozen tortellini and heavy cream to the pan. Bring this to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pan and let the pasta simmer for 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking on the bottom.
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When the tortellini has cooked through, sprinkle the cheese over the pasta and again place the lid back on the top. Let this heat just long enough to melt the cheese and then serve!
Notes
If you’re looking to cut calories, you can substitute half and half for cream, but the sauce won’t come out as creamy and rich.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini
Can I use fresh tortellini instead of frozen?
Yes, you can use fresh tortellini. Fresh tortellini typically cooks faster than frozen. You might need to adjust the simmering time in step 3 to about 2-5 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender. Always check the package directions for specific cooking times.
Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Absolutely! This dish reheats well. Prepare a larger batch and divide it into individual portions for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week. When reheating, you might want to add a tablespoon or two of milk or broth to loosen up the sauce if it has thickened too much in the fridge.
What if I don’t have Montreal steak seasoning?
No problem! A good substitute would be a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and a touch of paprika and dried thyme. Or, simply use salt and pepper to taste, focusing on the natural flavors of the steak and vegetables.
Can I make this dish spicier?
For those who love a bit of a kick, you can easily add heat! Incorporate a pinch of red pepper flakes when you add the steak seasoning, or stir in a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce with the cream. Sliced jalapeños (fresh or pickled) would also be a great addition.
Can I add other vegetables?
Certainly! Thinly sliced mushrooms would be an excellent addition, as they cook down and absorb flavors wonderfully. You could also add a handful of fresh spinach during the last few minutes of simmering, allowing it to wilt into the creamy sauce.
What type of steak is best if I’m not using quick steaks?
If you’re opting for raw steak, look for thinly sliced sirloin, ribeye, or even flank steak. The key is to slice the meat against the grain as thinly as possible to ensure it cooks quickly and remains tender. Partially freezing the steak for about 30 minutes before slicing can make it much easier to get those super thin cuts.
Can I freeze leftover Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini?
While technically possible, the texture of the tortellini and creamy sauce can change upon freezing and reheating, potentially becoming a bit mushy or separating. For best results, it’s recommended to enjoy this dish fresh or within a few days from the refrigerator. If you must freeze, allow it to cool completely, then store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently.
Conclusion: Your New Favorite Fast & Flavorful Meal
This Philly Cheesesteak Tortellini is truly a testament to how incredible a quick and easy dinner can be. It masterfully combines the beloved, savory essence of a classic Philly cheesesteak with the comforting, creamy texture of a pasta dish, all while being incredibly straightforward to prepare. Perfect for those busy weeknights or when you’re simply craving something hearty and delicious without spending hours in the kitchen, this recipe is a guaranteed winner. So, skip the drive-thru, gather your simple ingredients, and prepare to indulge in a meal that’s rich in flavor, easy on the cook, and sure to satisfy everyone at the table. Enjoy every creamy, cheesy, steak-filled bite!