One-Pot Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken Tortellini Recipe
A creamy and spicy one-pot meal featuring tender chicken breast, fresh cheese tortellini, and a rich garlic butter sauce with a hint of crushed red pepper flakes, perfect for a quick and comforting dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Sautéing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
Pasta
- 2 cups fresh cheese tortellini (or ravioli)
For the Sauce
- 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
Herbs & Seasoning
- 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. In a large pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 6–8 minutes until browned and cooked through. 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. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes to infuse the sauce with spicy flavor.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot to enhance flavor. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add the fresh cheese tortellini to the pot and cook for 4–6 minutes, until the pasta is tender and heated through.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pot and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and the flavors to meld together. Stir in the chopped fresh basil or parsley before serving for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to suit your preferred level of spiciness.
- Fresh tortellini cooks quickly — be sure not to overcook to avoid a mushy texture.
- Using chicken thighs instead of breast can make the dish juicier and more flavorful.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley add a refreshing counterbalance to the creamy sauce; feel free to omit if unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: one-pot, chicken, tortellini, garlic butter sauce, spicy, easy dinner, creamy pasta
