This Baked Tortellini alfredo is made healthier and more nutritious with broccoli and creamy cauliflower sauce. Baked to perfection with gooey mozzarella cheese.
Pasta and creamy sauce were my favorite foods growing up. To my dismay, I had to realize that Konrad (my husband) doesn't care much for pasta or any kind of creaminess. I can't explain the first - like seriously, who doesn't like pasta?
But the latter might actually be out of some sort of 'self-preservation' instinct. In the first few years of our marriage we came to the realization that he has some sort of dairy sensitivity, if not actual lactose intolerance. Which is so odd, considering he grew up on a farm milking cows (pretty much every day) and making cheese. And his mom keeps saying how out of all the kids, he loved milk the most. Curious.
Making Dairy-Free Baked Tortellini
It might have to do with the kind of processing our milk undergoes here, that they didn't do on the farm in South America. But until we figure out more, Konrad avoids creamy things like ice cream (*gasp*) and even too much cheese (*double gasp*). Which him as a pizza lover has difficulty with at times 😉
So when I set out to make this baked tortellini dish (which is a twist on a childhood favorite), I had Konrad in mind, or at least his dairy-sensitivity. I wanted to use my creamy cauliflower sauce, but although it is based on a vegetable, the original recipe still calls for a little butter and milk.
Utilizing Dairy-Free Cheese
This time, I tried using coconut oil and almond milk to replace the dairy ingredients in the sauce. And... it turned out decent. Of course, in my mind nothing really trumps butter. But if you can't have dairy, these substitutes will work just fine.
I didn't omit the cheese on top. What is baked pasta without ooey gooey bubbly cheese on top? And for dairy-avoiders, there are dairy-free shredded cheese alternatives out there. I used meat-filled tortellini, but a cheese filling would be really awesome in this dish as well.
Cauliflower and Broccoli Shine Through In This Dish
With this casserole you actually get a double serving of vegetables. First in the cauliflower sauce and then there are tender broccoli florets in between all the tortellini goodness. Still, it is a rich and somewhat heavy meal, so I definitely recommend a yummy salad on the side to lighten things up.
The amount of sauce you need will depend a little on the size of your cauliflower head. As a rule of thumb, you want all the tortellini to be just covered in sauce. With a big head of cauliflower, that might mean some leftover sauce, with a small cauliflower there might not be quite enough. In that case, just add a little of the broth in which the cauliflower (and broccoli) were cooked.
Toss the Tortellini in Sauce, Store in Freezer For Fresh Leftovers
You also want to toss the tortellini in the sauce a little. Just to make sure every single one is coated in delicious creamy sauce. I didn't do this in my first attempt, and didn't like how some of the tortellini in the center were stuck together without any saucy goodness in between.
This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge (or even in the freezer for longer). Come dinner time, just pop it in the oven while making said salad 😉 Finally, sprinkle some parsley for garnish and enjoy!
Store leftovers in the fridge. If the sauce gets too 'dry', add a little water when reheating.
Recipe
Baked Tortellini + Broccoli with Creamy Cauliflower Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 recipe's worth cauliflower sauce see link below for my recipe
- 1 pound fresh tortellini cheese or beef filling
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, or use dairy-free alternative
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the cauliflower sauce according to directions in this recipe. Depending on your head of cauliflower you should end up with 3-4 cups of sauce.
- Reserve the broth the cauliflower has been cooked in. Blanch the broccoli florets in the boiling broth for 1 minute until they turn bright green. Then, using a slotted spoon, take out right away.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a 8x8 inch baking dish.
- Pour about half of the cauliflower sauce (~ 1.5 cups) into the baking dish. Arrange tortellini and blanched broccoli florets in the dish and fill up with enough sauce to cover the tortellini. Lightly toss or stir everything to ensure every tortellini is coated in sauce. (If you think you don't have enough sauce, you can also add a little of the remaining hot broth - maybe ¼ cup).
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over top and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10 minutes. The cheese should be melted and bubbly. You can also turn on the broil function for a few minutes to brown the cheese.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve right away.
- Store leftovers in the fridge. If the sauce drys out too much, add a little water when reheating.
Pin this Baked Tortellini & Broccoli with Creamy Cauliflower Sauce recipe for later?
Find the alternative Creamy Cauliflower Sauce - here!
Other Pasta Dishes You Might Enjoy
Enjoy these other pasta recipes!
Random Questions
Tortellini can be baked or pan-fried, eliminating the need for boiling water. Simply layer it with sauce or cheese and bake until it's heated through and the cheese is melted.
Tortellini is a ring-shaped pasta typically filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables, while ravioli is a square or round pasta filled with various ingredients. Their shapes and fillings are the primary distinctions.
To ensure tortellini is cooked properly, follow the instructions on the packaging or cook until the pasta is tender but still slightly firm to the bite, known as al dente.
Yes, tortellini can be cooked in a pan. Simply sauté it with some oil or butter until it's heated through and slightly crispy on the edges, if desired.
Terina
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to make this one
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Thank you so much, Terina! Let us know how it turns out for you. 🙂
Elizabeth
This recipe sounds so yummy, thanks for sharing! I have some Frozen Cheese Tortellini, could I use it instead of fresh? Should I prepare it before assembling the dish and baking? Love your Blog and recipes!
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Hi Elizabeth! Yes, Regina's recipes are the best, aren't they? I don't believe this has been tested with frozen tortellini but I think it should work. However, I would thaw it in the fridge before you use it as incorporating it frozen would cause the baking time to increase. There shouldn't be any need to boil it before assembling it as it should cook in the cauliflower sauce in the oven. Let us know how it goes if you try it.
Jacquee | I Sugar Coat It!
This would make a quick week-night meal with much leftover for lunches and I agree, cheese just cannot be replaced. We have tried...
Regina
I am relieved to hear we are not the only ones sticking with cheese 😉
And guess what, I had this for lunch a few days in a row 😀
Angie@Angie's Recipes
This looks amazing, Regina. I am totally crazy for that creamy cauliflower sauce, which I believe would be fantastic to drizzle all over some pasta.
Regina
Oh yes! This gives me a fantastic idea. I have leftover sauce from this recipes and leftover cooked pasta from another one. Tossing those 2 together will be a perfect leftover lunch 😉