Every now and then I get preoccupied with things on the weekends and don't want to cook anything elaborate. When that happens, I look for dishes that can be knocked out quickly. Sound familiar?
This one was supposed to be that type of dish. But along the way I ran into issues. The recipe called for a 21-ounce bag of refrigerated tortellini, a 28-ounce jar of alfredo sauce, and breaded chicken burger patties, but my local grocery store didn't have any of those. So, I did what any decent cook does... I improvised and adapted. I picked up two bags of dry tortellini in the pasta aisle which required cooking first, multiple smaller jars of alfredo sauce, and regular breaded chicken patties.
The result? A little more tortellini and alfredo sauce, and slightly smaller pieces of chicken. I highly doubted anyone was going to notice a couple of ounces of difference either way, and indeed nobody really cared. They just enjoyed their dinner. All that's to say, don't let the measurements scare you... if you can't fit them exactly, adapt to what you have and usually everything will turn out okay.
(Editorial Note: I really don't understand why it's called "Chicken Parm"... there's no Parmesan cheese in it.)
Adapted from This Is Not Diet Food!
A dinner that is usually very simple to make, but because of a few ingredient substitutions took a little longer. But it still turned out pretty close to the original.
Adapted form This Is Not Diet Food!
Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare tortellini according to package directions, cooking until just al dente (about 6-7 minutes).
Drain tortellini and place in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Add alfredo sauce, 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese, and the Italian seasoning, a stir until well combined and the tortellini is evenly coated. Place chicken patties evenly spaced on top of the tortellini. Top each patty with marinara sauce and 1/4 cup of the remaining Mozzarella cheese.
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. When finished. remove and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Servings 6
Serving Size 1 patty (3 oz) plus tortellini with sauce (9 oz)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.