How To Cook Refrigerated Cheese Tortellini from Trader Joe’s

Want to cook something with fresh tortellini? Learn how to cook refrigerated tortellini from Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods, or any grocery store. Learn the basics to cook tortellini for pasta dishes and pasta salads. You can even use frozen or dried tortellini with this guide. Let’s get to making some perfectly al dente tortellini.

What you need to cook refrigerated tortellini

This guide is for cooking a 10 oz Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini package. Salt is used to season the water and olive oil, pesto, or tomato sauce is used to finish the dish. Below you’ll find details for using Trader Joe’s tortellini for pasta salad, too.

How to cook refrigerated cheese tortellini from Trader Joe’s

Step 1. Add a large pot of water to a burner on the stove. Set the temperature of the burner on high heat. Medium-high is alright, too.

But don’t set it to medium, it will take too long to boil and won’t stay hot enough to cook the Trader Joe’s tortellini to the time specified.

Add a pinch of salt to the water and bring it to a boil.

Use these tips to make Mexican tortellini pasta salad.

Step 2. Cook Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini for the LOWEST number of minutes directed, letting it boil to the lowest number indicated.

So if the packaging says 4-6 minutes, let it cook for 4 minutes, then use a spoon to take out one piece of tortellini. Transfer the one tortellini to a cutting board and cut it with the side of a fork.

It will easily cut with the back of a fork when tortellini is done.

Love pasta dishes? See how to make Italian stuffed shells with ground beef or pasta with alfredo sauce from a jar.

Is it done??

It will be very hot, but you take a bite to make sure it is fully cooked.

You want it cooked to al dente – not mushy, but not so stiff and uncooked that it tastes raw. Tortellini is cooked when it sticks to the tooth when you bite it.

If it’s not cooked, let the tortellini pasta boil on the stove for another minute, then check again.

When the pasta is cooked to your liking, strain the pasta from the water.

Note – if cooking Trader Joe’s cheese tortellini from frozen, add on 1-2 minutes.

Know what else is awesome from TJ’s?? Making gourmet pizza with their frozen pizza crust. 

Step 3. Don’t rinse Trader Joe’s tortellini. Immediately add butter, pesto, or tomato sauce. If you’re using Trader Joe’s tortellini for pasta salad, immediately toss the cooked pasta with olive oil to prevent it from sticking. Set aside.

Cooking Trader Joe’s tortellini from frozen?

Did you know you can freeze Trader Joe’s tortellini right in the packaging? And then, you can cook the pasta from frozen. Look at the package for exact details, but usually, you’ll just add on 1-2 minutes to the boiling time.

Do you need to add salt to tortellini pasta water?

Although tortellini comes with a lot of flavors, I like to flavor the pasta water with a pinch of salad. But sometimes I forget. That’s life! All my dishes still turn out just fine, even when I forget.

My new obsession for pasta night is this delicious baked rigatoni.

How to use Trader Joe’s pesto tortellini dried product

If you’re cooking with Trader Joe’s dried pesto tortellini instructions, follow the directions on the packaging, but still salt the water (if desired) and follow the instructions in the recipe below on straining and adding sauce to TJ’s tortellini.

Love recipes using Trader Joe’s ingredients? Check out one of my favorite focaccia recipes using Everything Bagel Seasoning.

More recipes using Trader Joe’s ingredients

Are you a Trader Joe’s enthusiast, too? I love planning grocery trips to Trader Joe’s. It’s almost like a vacation… strolling up and down the aisles to discover new things. When I come home, I’m inspired to develop new recipes.

My best recipes using Trader Joe’s products end up here on Sip Bite Go…

• Cauliflower Rice. Use it in place of bread crumbs in Hawaiian pineapple bbq meatballs and as a filling for cheesy Italian stuffed peppers. Also try it in a vegetable stir fry with cauliflower rice.
• Ready Made Pizza Dough. I’m a huge fan of making pizza at home and have extensive information on how to use Trader Joe’s Pizza Dough.
• Frozen Pizza Crust. Learn how to make frozen pizza crust taste amazing.
• Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. This is super delicious on focaccia bread with Everything Bagel Seasoning.
• Frozen Gyoza and Potstickers. These are great in frozen vegetable stir frys. See my guide to Trader Joe’s chicken cilantro mini wontons or Trader Joe’s vegetable gyoza.
• Frozen Ravioli. Sometimes I just serve it with tomato sauce. Other times, I go a little nuts and make ravioli pizza with store bought Alfredo sauce.
• Spice Kits. Did you know you can buy Trader Joe’s products online? This Trader Joe’s spice kit inspires so many recipes in my house.
• Cheese. The cheese case at Trader Joe’s is undeniably amazing. Use it for potatoes gratin with frozen vegetables, this recipe for baked shells with ground beef, or in potato side dish recipes.

See more of the best meals to make with Trader Joe’s ingredients and my full list of Trader Joe’s must haves.