Description
This garlic butter beef and spinach tortellini is a quick, hearty, and comforting family dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes. Packed with savory beef, pillowy cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach in a garlicky butter sauce, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini (about 1 1/4 lbs)
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean recommended)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach (loosely packed)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Kosher salt, to taste (start with 1/2 tsp)
- Black pepper, to taste (start with 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cheese tortellini and cook according to package directions (usually 3-5 minutes for refrigerated). Drain and set aside. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- While tortellini cooks, heat olive oil over medium-high in a large skillet. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 4-5 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the pan with beef. As butter melts, stir in minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant (do not let garlic brown).
- Sprinkle in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes (if using). Pour in chicken broth, stirring well to combine and deglaze any browned bits. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes to slightly reduce the sauce.
- Add fresh baby spinach and stir gently until wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Add drained tortellini to the skillet. Toss gently to coat pasta in the garlic butter sauce.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Stir until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For best results, use fresh tortellini and add spinach at the end to keep it vibrant. Taste and adjust seasoning as you go, and don’t let the garlic brown. For a lighter version, use ground turkey or chicken and reduce butter. To make it vegetarian, use plant-based crumbles and vegetable broth. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days and can be reheated with a splash of broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the recipe (approximately 2 cups)
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic butter beef tortellini, spinach tortellini, easy family dinner, 30 minute meal, skillet pasta, comfort food, Italian pasta, beef tortellini recipe