Ingredients:
🔹 For the Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
🔹 For the Spinach Alfredo Tortellini:
1 package (about 9 oz) spinach and cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup fresh spinach, chopped (optional for extra spinach flavor)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken:
Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and dried oregano. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Make the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Add Lemon: Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and a little bit of chicken broth or water if the sauce is too thick. Let the sauce simmer for about 2-3 minutes to combine the flavors.
Combine: Return the chicken to the skillet, spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over it, and simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to absorb the sauce. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Prepare the Spinach Alfredo Tortellini:
Cook the Tortellini: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the tortellini according to package instructions (usually about 2-3 minutes for fresh tortellini or 5-7 minutes for frozen). Drain the tortellini and set aside.
Make the Alfredo Sauce: In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Combine Tortellini and Sauce: Add the cooked tortellini to the Alfredo sauce and gently toss to coat. Stir in the chopped spinach (if using) and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the spinach wilts and everything is well coated in the creamy sauce.
3. Serve:
Plate the Spinach Alfredo Tortellini on each plate.
Slice the Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and place it on top of the tortellini. Spoon some of the lemon garlic butter sauce over the chicken for extra flavor.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Tips for Perfect Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Spinach Alfredo Tortellini:
✅ Use fresh tortellini: Fresh tortellini cooks quickly and adds an extra rich flavor to the dish.
✅ Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the lemon garlic butter sauce for a little kick.
✅ Add more veggies: Try adding some sun-dried tomatoes or roasted mushrooms to the alfredo tortellini for more depth of flavor.
✅ Use quality Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese will melt better and give the sauce a creamier texture.