Description
Ready in under 30 minutes, this One Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini is a bold and creamy comfort food classic. Juicy golden-seared chicken meets cheesy tortellini in a luscious garlic butter sauce, with a touch of heat and a handful of fresh spinach for balance. Whether you’re looking for a quick dinner idea, easy recipe for a cozy night in, or rich food ideas with minimal cleanup—this one-pan meal checks all the boxes. Perfect for busy weeknights, easy dinner solutions, or family-friendly recipes that don’t skimp on flavor.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts, sliced into strips
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 package (10-12 oz) cheese tortellini
2 cups fresh baby spinach
Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Season chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high and sear chicken on both sides until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds.
4. Add broth and cream. Scrape the pan, then stir in parmesan and let the sauce simmer until thickened.
5. Stir in tortellini, cover, and simmer for 5–7 minutes until cooked.
6. Return chicken to the skillet and add spinach. Let it wilt and stir everything gently.
7. Garnish with extra parmesan, cracked pepper, and basil. Serve hot.
Notes
Swap in kale or arugula if spinach isn’t on hand for a different green texture.
Use half-and-half in place of heavy cream for a lighter version, though the sauce will be thinner.
Don’t overcook the tortellini—it only needs a few minutes to get perfectly tender.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot / Skillet
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 170mg