One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini Recipe
This One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini is a creamy, comforting dish featuring tender chicken, fresh cheese tortellini, and a rich garlic butter sauce with a spicy kick from red pepper flakes. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, this recipe combines simple ingredients in one pot for easy cleanup without sacrificing flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 tbsp butter
Sauce and Pasta
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (or ravioli)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Sauté the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Once done, remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same pot, add a little more butter if needed and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes to incorporate the spice evenly.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to deepen the flavor. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add the fresh cheese tortellini to the simmering sauce. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender and heated through.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pot. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined. Let the mixture cook together for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to meld the flavors. Finally, sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit for a milder dish.
- Use fresh tortellini for the best texture, but frozen tortellini can be substituted—just adjust the cooking time as needed.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a dairy alternative, though this may affect creaminess.
- Grated Parmesan can be replaced with Pecorino Romano for a sharper flavor.
- To add extra veggies, try stirring in spinach or mushrooms before adding the chicken broth.
Keywords: one-pot, chicken recipe, spicy garlic butter, tortellini, easy dinner, creamy pasta, weeknight meal
