Baked Tortellini with Chicken Gratinati
Tags: Chicken Dinner Italian Pork
Yield: 6
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 pound of sliced bacon
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 3 cups heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano, divided
- 6 ounces shredded fontina cheese, divided
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh garlic
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast,cut into bite sized pieces
- 13-ounce bag frozen tri-colored tortellini
- Place tomatoes into a strainer over a bowl and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and let sit at room temperature while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Cook bacon until crisp and drain on paper towels. Cut bacon strips into bite sized pieces and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat.
- In a medium pot, melt butter over medium heat and add flour. Cook for four minutes stirring often. While this is cooking, heat cream to hot but not scaled either in a small sauce pan or in the microwave.
- Add the hot cream to the butter and flour mixture one third at a time whisking on each third to form a smooth sauce. Add ½ teaspoon of salt, pepper, nutmeg, ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, 3 ounces of the fontina cheese, fresh basil and minced garlic. Stir to combine, heat to hot and remove from heat. Set aside.Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large saute pan over medium high, heat two tablespoons of bacon fat and cook chicken for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Should be slightly under-cooked as it will cook further in the oven. Remove cooked chicken to a dish or plate.
- Boil a pot of water and cook tortellini according to package instructions but remove from the water before the tortellini is fully cooked, as it will cook further in the oven.
- Depending on the size of your dishes, arrange four to six oven-safe, wide flat gratin/crème brulee dishes on a parchment-lined sheet pan and spray each dish lightly with pan spray.
- Spoon about two tablespoons of sauce on the bottom of each dish and spread to cover bottoms.
- Divide the cooked tortellini, cooked chicken, cooked bacon and the drained diced tomatoes among the individual dishes.
- Pour the sauce over each filled dish, dividing evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan and Fontina over the tops of the six dishes.
- Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops are browned and bubbly.
