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Extreme macro photography of Creamy Garlic Butter Tortellini with bubbling cream sauce and visible grains of parmesan cheese.

Creamy Garlic Butter Tortellini: The Ultimate 15-Minute Dinner

A 15-minute Creamy Garlic Butter Tortellini featuring soft, doughy cheese pasta in a glossy, rich garlic cream sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish delivers restaurant-quality comfort with a beautiful, viral food blog aesthetic.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 540
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Recipe Ingredients
  • 1 lb Cheese Tortellini 450g, refrigerated or frozen
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter 56g
  • 4 cloves Garlic 20g, minced
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream 240ml
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese 45g, freshly grated
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley 5g, finely chopped
  • to taste Salt and Pepper

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot For boiling pasta
  • 1 Large shallow skillet For the cream sauce
  • 1 Whisk To emulsify the sauce

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook tortellini in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until bubbling. Add minced garlic and sauté for 60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Let bubble for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
  4. Whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth. Add cooked tortellini to the pan, tossing to coat. Garnish with parsley and extra cheese.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting results.
Don't skip the reserved pasta water; it helps emulsify the sauce.