Description
This One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini is a quick and flavorful meal that combines tender chicken, fresh cheese tortellini, and a rich garlic butter sauce with a hint of crushed red pepper heat. Cooked all in one pot, this dish is creamy, comforting, and perfect for a busy weeknight or entertaining guests with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Pasta and Sauce
- 2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (or ravioli)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Sauté the Chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. In a large pot, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are browned and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same pot, melt a little extra butter if needed. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes to release their flavor.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a simmer, creating a rich and creamy sauce base.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add the fresh cheese tortellini to the simmering sauce. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes until the tortellini are tender and heated through, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pot and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Let everything cook together for 2 to 3 more minutes to meld the flavors. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- This dish balances spicy, creamy, and savory flavors for a comforting yet exciting meal.
- Using fresh tortellini provides the best texture; however, ravioli can be a substitute.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level for a milder or spicier dish.
- Cooking everything in one pot minimizes cleanup, making it ideal for quick weeknight dinners.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley add a bright finish to the creamy sauce – don’t skip them.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: thirty-six grams
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
