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Light Cheese Tortellini with Summer Veggies

Quick summer pasta with cheese tortellini, fresh zucchini, corn, and cherry tomatoes in garlic butter with basil and Parmesan.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

  • 19 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini package
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium zucchini halved and sliced
  • 1 cup fresh corn kernels about 2 ears
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil julienned
  • 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • red pepper flakes optional, for heat

Equipment

  • Large pot for pasta
  • Large deep skillet
  • colander

Method
 

  1. Bring large pot of salted water to rolling boil. Prep vegetables while water heats: halve and slice zucchini, cut corn from cob, halve cherry tomatoes, mince garlic, julienne basil. Grate Parmesan if needed.
  2. Once water boils, add cheese tortellini. Cook according to package directions, usually 2 to 4 minutes. Test at 2 minutes for doneness. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
  3. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Once butter melts and foams, add sliced zucchini and corn kernels. Let cook undisturbed for 2 minutes, then stir and continue cooking 3 more minutes until zucchini is tender-crisp with golden edges and corn has caramelized spots.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add halved cherry tomatoes and minced garlic. Stir and cook 1 to 2 minutes until tomatoes just begin to soften and garlic is fragrant.
  5. Add drained tortellini to skillet with vegetables. Toss gently to coat pasta in garlic-butter mixture. If mixture seems dry, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to create silky coating.
  6. Remove from heat. Add julienned basil and grated Parmesan. Toss gently to combine. Residual heat will wilt basil and melt Parmesan. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
  7. Serve immediately in warm bowls. Offer additional Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and olive oil on the side.

Notes

Tortellini: Refrigerated tortellini found near fresh pasta cooks in 2-4 minutes. Dried takes 8-10 minutes and has chewier texture. Storage: Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3 days. Not recommended for freezing as texture changes. Pasta absorbs butter and becomes drier when stored. Reheating: Stovetop - add 2-3 tbsp water or broth, heat gently 4-5 minutes. Microwave - add 1-2 tbsp water, cover with damp paper towel, heat in 60-second intervals stirring between. Vegetables lose crisp texture but flavors improve overnight. Substitutions: Yellow squash for zucchini. Frozen corn works if thawed and patted dry. Grape tomatoes instead of cherry. Pecorino Romano for sharper flavor. Variations: Add grilled shrimp, chicken, or Italian sausage for protein. Stir in spinach or arugula at end. Add lemon juice and zest for brightness. Use asparagus or green beans in spring. Mushrooms and butternut squash in fall. Dairy-Free: Use olive oil only, skip Parmesan or use nutritional yeast. Look for dairy-free tortellini alternatives.