Tortellini is revolutionary. Some Italian geniuses out there put an end to the truly egregious workload of having to manually combine pasta and cheese by putting the cheese inside the pasta. While I’m never going to knock a classic ravioli or turn down the tunnel of fun that is cannelloni, today is tortellini’s time to shine. I don’t know how to explain the shape or who got drunk and decided that the best thing to do with a filled tube of pasta was to twist it halfway to a pretzel then give up, but I do want to thank them. I assume Hallmark has an appropriate card.
But what is the best tortellini? That’s what I’m here to discuss.
The world of store-bought tortellini ranges not only in filling and flavors, but also from frozen to refrigerated to shelf-stable. To help you avoid the duds, I tasted a whole bunch of tortellini to find only the best tortellini, preparing them all according to package instructions, and testing each of them without any sauce. I raw-dogged a dozen tortellini for you, so please don’t let my efforts be in vain. Read on for the best store-bought tortellini to buy.
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- Great Value Cheese Tortellini
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This is simple. This is safe. It’s a surprise the cheese in this isn’t Swiss, because it’s so darn neutral. Alright it’s not a surprise because Swiss cheese in tortellini would be weird. While it’s not mindblowing in its depth or complexity of flavor, this frozen cheese tortellini from Walmart is blissfully unoffensive. It’s the perfect next step for a youngin’ graduating from pasta with butter. It’s a great blank canvas for pretty much any pasta sauce you could think of, and would be a great partner to any number of proteins or vegetables. This frozen, affordable option is the best cheese tortellini to shove in your freezer for emergencies. Between the versatility and utility, its merits overshadow its subtlety of flavor.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Barilla Three Cheese Tortellini
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Was I nervous about consuming shelf-stable cheese? Nope! I grew up on cheese that was processed to the point of invincibility. While I prefer bigger tortellinis for a greater filling to pasta ratio, I appreciate this tortellini’s potent cheese filling, which was flavorful enough to be pretty satisfying. If you prefer a tortellini that’s a little heavier on the noodle than the cheese, and you have more free space in your pantry than your fridge or freezer, this is the best cheese tortellini brand to buy.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Buitoni Three Cheese
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POV: You think you miss the pantry staples of your childhood, but you’re always disappointed when they don’t hit quite like you remember. Enter this unexpected solution. These cheese tortellini surprised me. They almost taste like Kraft Mac & Cheese—but better. Like my childhood favorite got a glow-up. My friend and tasting buddy said it best when he took one bite and immediately claimed, “It has that neon taste in a good way.” I don’t know what magic got the blend of ricotta, parmesan, and romano cheeses to taste like the familiar instant mac and cheese, but I’m grateful for Buitoni’s perhaps unintentional nod to the childhood favorite. And even if you don’t have a strong attachment to that blue box, this is still some of the best tortellini.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Rana Cheese Lovers
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The name doesn’t lie: This tortelloni beckons to cheese lovers, serenading us all with a siren song of ricotta, mascarpone, Parmigiano Reggiano, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, and fontina. The best cheese tortelloni we tried, its cheesy filling is nutty and funky in a way that’s enticing without being overwhelming. There’s the perfect ratio of filling to pasta and it delivers on the promise of dairy delight.
Credit: Merc / Wwalmart
- Buitoni Chicken & Prosciutto
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I’m a huge fan of edging, which I’m pretty sure means seasoning to the edge. These tortellini are plump with a chicken, prosciutto, and parmesan filling that’s packed full of flavor. The main flavor is chicken bullion. The prosciutto isn’t terribly distinct except for providing an almost dare-devil level of saltiness that teeters on dangerous while actually remaining very reasonable. The parmesan offers a wallop of umami—but I do miss the creaminess of ricotta. This is the best store bought tortellini we tried—but definitely keep the salt level in mind when selecting sauces and accoutrements.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Frozen Tortellini
Best Shelf Stable Tortellini
Best Nostalgic
Best Cheese Tortellini
Best of the Best
Other tortellini we tried: Barilla Cheese and Spinach, Rana Five Cheese, Rana Chicken Mozzarella Tortelloni, Good & Gather Four Cheese Tortellini, Buitoni Spinach & Cheese Tortellini
