One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini Recipe
This One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini is a creamy, comforting dish combining tender chicken, fresh cheese tortellini, and a flavorful garlic butter sauce with a touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it’s rich in taste yet easy to prepare in a single pot, minimizing cleanup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (or ravioli)
Sauce and Seasonings
- 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
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Once done, remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same pot, melt an additional bit of butter if needed, then add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes to release their flavor.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits for extra flavor. Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add the fresh cheese tortellini to the simmering sauce. Cook it for 4 to 6 minutes until the pasta is tender and cooked through, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pot and stir in 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well blended. Let everything cook together for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Fresh tortellini cooks faster and provides a tender texture; if using frozen, increase the cooking time slightly.
- Use chicken thighs for juicier meat or breast for a leaner option.
- To make it lower calorie, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or light cream.
- For a thicker sauce, cook a little longer after adding Parmesan to reduce liquid.
- Leftovers store well refrigerated up to 3 days and reheat gently on stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: spicy garlic butter chicken, one pot meal, tortellini recipe, creamy pasta, easy dinner, quick chicken recipe
