My mom was the undisputed queen of bridge party appetizers. Every few weeks the ladies would show up, cards would come out, and her spread would hit that magic sweet spot - impressive enough to make everyone ask for the recipe, but easy enough that she wasn't stuck in the kitchen all afternoon instead of at the table with her hand of cards.

These Crispy Parmesan Breaded Tortellini Bites are exactly the kind of appetizer that would've been in her rotation. They've got that little bit of fancy - cheese tortellini, a Parmesan breadcrumb coating, a golden crispy shell - but they come together with basic pantry staples and a breading station you can set up in minutes. Easy on the outside, a little fancy on the inside. Just like her.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Crispy outside, cheesy tender center - the best kind of bite
• Big batch - makes about 75 pieces, perfect for a crowd
• Simple ingredients - no special trip to a fancy grocery store required
• Great for dipping - marinara or ranch, your call
• Make-ahead friendly - bread them in advance and bake when guests arrive

Ingredients

• 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini pasta
• 1 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Fresh parsley, for garnish
• Marinara sauce, for serving

Tools You'll Need

• Measuring cups and spoons
• 3 shallow bowls
• Forks
• 2 baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Cutting board
• Knife

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Chop the parsley and set aside for garnish.

Boil a large pot of water and gently add half the package of tortellini. Cook for 3 minutes, until it floats, then remove and repeat with the second half.

Mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning together in a shallow bowl.

Whisk the eggs together in a second shallow bowl.

Fill a third shallow bowl with the flour.

Roll a few tortellini in the flour, dip into the egg, then coat in the breadcrumb mixture. Set on the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each piece.

Bake for 17-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.

Garnish with parsley and serve warm with marinara for dipping.

Tara's Tips

• Set up your breading station assembly-line style - flour, egg, breadcrumbs, left to right - it makes the process go so much faster.
• These freeze beautifully after breading (before baking). Freeze on a sheet pan, then transfer to a bag - bake straight from frozen, just add a few extra minutes.
• Shallow prep bowls make the breading station so much easier to manage.
• A baking sheet set with a light-colored finish helps these get golden without over-browning on the bottom.

Serving Suggestions

Pair these with a bowl of warm marinara or a cool ranch for dipping. They're right at home next to Tortellini Antipasto Skewers, or serve alongside Pepperoni and Cheese Pasta Salad for a heartier spread. These also disappear fast on a game day table next to Italian Sub Rollups.

Yield: 75

Crispy Parmesan Breaded Tortellini Bites

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These Parmesan Breaded Tortellini Bites are the ultimate easy appetizer for a party! 

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini pasta
• 1 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• fresh parsley for garnish
• marinara sauce for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Chop the parsley.
3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and gently add half the package of tortellini, boil for 3 minutes until it floats, then remove and cook the other half.
4. Mix the bread crumbs, parmesan and italian seasoning in a shallow bowl.
5. Whisk the eggs together in another shallow bowl. 
6. Fill the third shallow bowl with flour.
7. Roll a few tortellini in the flour, then dip into the eggs, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Set on the baking sheet, leaving just a little space between each piece of tortellini.
8. Once the baking sheets are full, transfer them to the oven and bake for 17-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.
9. Garnish with parsley to serve with marinara.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

75

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 57Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 87mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes to bring back the crisp - the microwave will leave them soft.

Perfect for card parties, game days, or any time you want a little bit of fancy without the fuss. My mom would've approved!