The $3 Dollar Tree Find I Always Have In My Freezer

During the colder months, I make tortellini pasta bake about once a week. It’s an easy, comforting, and crowd-pleasing meal that I know I can always rely on. In the summer, though I reach for tortellini far less, it remains a freezer staple in my house for dishes like pasta salads, quick kid-friendly meals, and to round out a summer soup. 

A few weeks ago, I was at Dollar Tree when I spotted the O’Sole Mio 4-Cheese Tortellini in the freezer section for just $3. I was skeptical about frozen Dollar Tree pasta. However, the package appeared legitimate, the ingredients were top-notch (free from artificial flavors and colors), and the price was impossible to ignore. So, I tossed a few packages in my cart, figuring I’d give them a try. It turns out, I like them better than the brand I typically buy at my regular grocery store.

Why I Love Dollar Tree’s O’Sole Mio 4-Cheese Tortellini

The filling is rich and creamy, and the tortellini cooks up perfectly al dente in just a few minutes. The label says it’s a “4-cheese” filling, but the ingredients are a premium blend of ricotta, Grana Padano DOP cheese, Romano, Asiago, and an unnamed imported hard-ripened cheese.

Don’t be alarmed by “unnamed imported hard ripened cheese.” It’s a term used to describe a blend of aged cheeses with a firm texture and strong flavor, and it’s often labeled this way because it may vary slightly by batch. The flavor is always very balanced and indistinguishable between each package I’ve tried.

The pasta itself holds up beautifully during cooking with no mushiness or falling apart, and it cooks in about five minutes. The packaging directions instruct to cook it for one minute, which wasn’t enough time and is likely an error. I suspect this is why they’re being sold at Dollar Tree.

Regardless of what your packaging says, for the best results, cook them until they start to float, then do a taste test. 

When it comes to serving sizes, a standard 16-ounce package is perfect for my family of four. When I use it as an addition to dishes like soups, where there’s already protein and veggies in the mix, one package feeds us well and often leaves us with leftovers. When I’m making a dish where the tortellini makes up the bulk of the meal, I’ll use one and a half packages.

How I Use Dollar Tree’s 4-Cheese Tortellini

Cheese tortellini is endlessly versatile. In the winter months, I add them to heartier soups or use them to create cheesy casseroles and other baked dishes. But right now in the summer, they’re ideal for pasta salads, easy skillet dinners, and lighter vegetable soups.

If we’re eating tortellini as a side dish, or on its own as a main meal, I like to toss it with some olive oil, garlic, and whatever vegetables I need to use up—cherry tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, and roasted bell peppers all work well.

Tossing it with a simple homemade or store-bought tomato sauce, fresh basil pesto, or cream sauce, can also turn it into a decent meal in minutes. But if all you’ve got is butter and a smattering of freshly grated Parmesan, that will also be great (and frankly, your kids will love you!).

However you eat it, be sure to cook it as you would any pasta: in generously salted water. Cooking it in plain water will, undoubtedly, result in plain pasta. 

Finding quality tortellini at Dollar Tree feels like discovering a hidden gem. And at $3 a package, I’ll keep several on hand for when I need a quick and satisfying dinner that everyone will enjoy.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}