Easy Garlic Butter Tortellini
A quick and easy pasta dish made in 15 minutes. Serves four as a main course, eight as a side dish
Ingredients
- 3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 16-20 ounces fresh refrigerated cheese tortellini (I used Buitoni brand three cheese)
- 5 tablespoons butter
- juice of half a lemon
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup red cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, you can always use more :)
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how hot you like it)
Optional additions
- toasted pine nuts and/or rotisserie chicken
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. While you wait for water to boil, prep garlic, tomatoes and cheese.
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Mince or grate garlic with a microplane, grate parmesan (with same microplane) cut tomatoes in half. If using, toast pine nuts
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Once your water is boiling, add tortellini and cook to package instructions (usually no 3-4 minutes depending on size) Immediately heat a large frying pan on medium heat. Add butter, when butter melts, add garlic and cook stirring for 60 seconds. Turn heat off. Add lemon juice and whisk until garlic is evenly spread throughout butter. When pasta is al dente, strain in a colander, shake out water, do not rinse. Add pasta to pan, toss in butter sauce. Add spinach and tomatoes, toss. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, add 1/2 the parmesan cheese, sea salt and pepper. Toss again. Plate, sprinkle with remaining cheese and pine nuts if using.
Recipe Notes
If desired add basil or shredded rotisserie chicken to finished pasta