Description

This One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini combines tender pieces of chicken with fresh cheese tortellini in a rich garlic butter sauce, enhanced by a touch of crushed red pepper flakes for a comforting and flavorful meal. Made entirely in one pot, this creamy, cheesy dish is quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner 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
4 tbsp butter

Sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced
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

Pasta

2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (or ravioli)

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Instructions

Sauté the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until 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 more butter if needed. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes to infuse heat into the sauce.
Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits for extra flavor. Add the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring to combine everything evenly.
Cook the Tortellini: Add the fresh cheese tortellini to the simmering sauce. Cook uncovered for about 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. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce, creating a creamy texture. Let everything cook together for another 2 to 3 minutes to meld flavors. Finally, sprinkle with chopped fresh basil or parsley before serving.

Notes

This recipe is perfect for a quick, flavorful meal when you’re short on time but want something satisfying and comforting.
Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
Using fresh tortellini or ravioli provides a tender texture that cooks quickly in the sauce.
To lighten the dish, you can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half but the sauce will be less rich.
Make sure to scrape the fond at the bottom of the pot after sautéing chicken to add depth to the sauce.
The one-pot method makes for minimal cleanup, great for busy weeknights.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Calories: 620
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 720 mg
Fat: 42 g
Saturated Fat: 22 g
Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 34 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 38 g
Cholesterol: 145 mg