If you like cheese and you like pasta, then you need to make this dish tonight! This is one of my family’s favorites. What I love about this recipe is that you can change it up to you and your family’s tastes. I added chicken to this one. You could add diced tomatoes. You could change the herbs up and use basil instead of Italian parsley. And if I didn’t have little kids at home, Safeway’s generic brand marinara sauce is spicy with a kick! I love serving this with a Caesar salad and bread of some sort. In case you forgot, I am in love with the Caesar. This Cheesy Baked Tortellini seems to be a dish that is kid friendly and adult satisfying. If you make this for a get together or family party, just double it!

Cheesy Baked Tortellini

• 24 oz.of your favorite marinara sauce (I used Bertolli MARINARA ORIGINAL)
• 6 oz. cream cheese
• 1/4 c. chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (roughly chopped)
• 20 oz. cheese tortellini
• 8 oz. thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 c. freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly oil a 9×9 baking dish. In a medium saucepan whisk together marinara sauce, cream cheese, parsley and thyme. Cook on medium heat until cream cheese is blended. Then cook the tortellini in a large stockpot until just tender, about 3 minutes. (if you are doing chicken, chunk it up and cook it in a skillet over medium heat with some butter and Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

 Drain tortellini and then add to the sauce. (add the chicken to the sauce if you are using it, also) Mix to coat. Transfer entire mixture to prepared baking dish. Top mixture with mozarella and parmesan cheeses. Cover and bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses have melted, about 30 minutes.

Sorry for the obvious blurry picture here. The fam was ready to eat and I was busy snapping pictures. This was the only one I had that showed the meal in its entirety on the plate. All hell was about to break loose. I had to quit with the picture taking and start with the eating.  I know none of you can relate to this.

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