Description

This One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini is a quick and creamy Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken breast, fresh cheese tortellini, and a luscious garlic butter sauce with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal, it combines rich flavors and simple ingredients all cooked in a single pot for easy cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and black pepper to taste
4 tbsp butter (divided)

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

Other

2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (or ravioli)

Instructions

Sauté the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and black pepper. In a large pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter 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 the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes to infuse the heat into the butter.
Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot gently to loosen any browned bits for extra 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 uncovered for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini are tender and heated through.
Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pot with the tortellini and sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Cook everything together for another 2 to 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil or parsley before serving.

Notes

Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the level of spiciness.
Fresh cheese tortellini works best, but fresh ravioli can be substituted.
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less creamy.
Use fresh garlic for the best flavor; garlic powder can be a backup but reduces freshness.
Leftover portions can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing, Simmering
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 650mg
Fat: 33g
Saturated Fat: 18g
Unsaturated Fat: 13g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 29g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 110mg

Keywords: one-pot chicken recipe, spicy garlic chicken, garlic butter chicken, chicken tortellini, easy pasta dinner, creamy chicken pasta, quick weeknight dinner