Chimichurri Tortellini

Looking for something bold and different to throw together tonight? This chimichurri tortellini brings serious flavor with hardly any effort.

Savory ground beef, cheesy tortellini, and juicy tomatoes simmer together before getting tossed in a vibrant homemade chimichurri sauce loaded with fresh herbs and garlic. It’s a little tangy, a little spicy, and still cozy and comforting. The chimichurri adds just the right kick to keep you going back for more.

The Secret Is in the Sauce (Literally)

This isn’t your average tortellini dinner. What makes it special is the homemade chimichurri—a simple blend of fresh parsley, garlic, vinegar, and olive oil that soaks into the tortellini and beef, adding depth and freshness. I recommend making the chimichurri first so it has time to sit and develop flavor while the rest of the ingredients cook.

I like using frozen tortellini because it cooks up nicely and makes things easy. The mix of canned and fresh tomatoes gives the dish a good texture and flavor, and the ground beef makes it hearty enough to be a full meal. It’s simple, a little saucy, and super satisfying.

What You’ll Need to Make It

You don’t need anything fancy for this recipe—just a few pantry staples, frozen tortellini, and a handful of fresh ingredients to pull the sauce together.

For the chimichurri sauce, you’ll blend fresh parsley, garlic, onion, vinegar, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, pepper, and olive oil. It’s a quick pulse in the food processor followed by a stir. I like to make it at the beginning of the recipe so the flavors have time to meld while everything else cooks.

Then it’s just:

• A bag of frozen cheese tortellini
• Petite diced tomatoes (you can use Rotel if you like a little kick)
• Beef broth
• Cooked ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper
• Roma tomatoes, chopped
• Crumbled queso fresco (or another cheese you love—cotija, cheddar, or Mexican blend all work)

Once it’s all assembled, it cooks low and slow in the crockpot with barely any hands-on time.

How to Make Chimichurri Tortellini

Start by prepping your chimichurri. In a food processor, pulse parsley, garlic, onion, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, oregano, salt, and black pepper for a few seconds—just enough to chop everything. Don’t overdo it; you don’t want a paste. Transfer it to a bowl, stir in the olive oil, and let it sit while the rest of the meal comes together.

Then add the tortellini, canned diced tomatoes, beef broth, cooked ground beef, and chopped Roma tomatoes to your slow cooker. Give everything a good stir so it’s evenly mixed.

Cover and cook on low for 2½ hours, stirring once an hour to keep the tortellini from sticking and to help the ingredients blend together as they cook.

Once everything is cooked through, stir in half of the chimichurri sauce and crumbled queso fresco. Mix it well so everything is coated and flavorful. Serve hot with extra chimichurri or crumbled cheese on the side for anyone who wants more.

A Few Tips I’ve Learned

You really can’t mess this up, but a couple of things help it shine:

• Make the chimichurri first, so it has time to rest. Even 20 minutes makes a big difference.
• If your tortellini is sticking or absorbing too much liquid, add a splash of broth.
• Queso fresco is fresh and crumbly, but shredded cheddar will melt right into the sauce if you prefer something creamier.
• The chimichurri isn’t overly spicy, but you can cut the red pepper flakes in half if you’re cooking for kids.

Ingredient Swaps and Variations

This tortellini dish is super flexible. You can use ground turkey instead of beef if that’s what you have on hand, or even cooked sausage for a little extra spice.

Not a fan of queso fresco? Go with mozzarella, pepper jack, or a handful of sharp cheddar instead.

What to Serve With It

This is a complete dinner, but you can absolutely round it out with a side of garlic bread or a crisp side salad. I’ve also served this alongside charred corn.

If you like this one, you might also love Crockpot Mediterranean Tortellini, which leans into salty olives and slow-cooked flavor, or Taco Tortellini, which gives you all the Tex-Mex vibes in pasta form.