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20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer

20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer

If you love spinach artichoke dip, meet your new Tuesday night dinner obsession. We're skipping the pasta pot entirely and rapid-simmering pillowy store-bought cheese tortellini right in a garlicky, lemony cream broth. It takes exactly 20 minutes, relies heavily on brilliant pantry shortcuts, and leaves you with exactly one pan to wash. This is high-reward, low-effort cooking at its absolute best.

Elena Reyes
Elena Reyes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
4
easy
dinner
one-pan20-minute-mealvegetarianweeknight-dinner+1

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Timeline

18 minutes
0m5m10m15m18m
Prep Veggies & Lemon
3m
Sauté Aromatics
2m
Build Simmer Liquid
3m
Simmer Tortellini
5m
Wilt Spinach
3m
Finish & Rest
3m

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter(unsalted)
  • 4 cloves garlic(minced)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes(adjust if you prefer less heat)
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth(low-sodium preferred)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 lemon(zested and juiced)
  • 16 oz store-bought fresh cheese tortellini(found in the refrigerated section)
  • 14 oz canned artichoke hearts(drained and roughly chopped)
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach(packed)
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese(plus extra for serving)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Drain and roughly chop the 14 oz canned artichoke hearts. Mince the 4 cloves garlic. Zest and juice the 1 lemon, keeping the zest and juice separate.

    3 min

    Tip: Always zest your lemon before juicing it—it is infinitely harder to zest a squeezed lemon half!

  2. 2

    Place a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter. Once the butter melts, toss in the minced garlic and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.

    2 min

    Tip: Keep the garlic moving so it doesn't burn and turn bitter.

  3. 3

    Pour the 1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and the lemon zest into the skillet. Stir to combine and bring the liquid to a rapid, rolling simmer.

    3 min

    Tip: Scrape the bottom of the pan as you stir to pull up any browned garlicky bits.

  4. 4

    Drop the 16 oz store-bought fresh cheese tortellini and the chopped artichoke hearts straight into the bubbling liquid. Cover the skillet, drop the heat down to medium, and let it rapid-simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

    5 min

    Tip: Cooking the pasta in the sauce is the secret here. The tortellini releases starches as it cooks, which naturally thickens our cream sauce without needing a roux.

  5. 5

    Remove the lid. The tortellini should be puffed and tender, and the liquid slightly reduced. Add the 4 cups fresh baby spinach in handfuls, stirring until just wilted.

    3 min

    Tip: It looks like a ridiculous amount of spinach at first, but it will shrink down to almost nothing in about 60 seconds.

  6. 6

    Turn the heat completely off. Stir in the reserved lemon juice and the 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese. Let the pan sit undisturbed for 2-3 minutes before serving.

    3 min

    Tip: Turning the heat off before adding the cheese and lemon juice prevents the dairy from breaking. Letting it rest is crucial—it turns the liquid into a glossy, hug-like pan sauce.

Chef's Notes

Yes, you can absolutely use frozen spinach instead of fresh, but make sure to thaw and squeeze it incredibly dry first so it doesn't water down your beautiful pan sauce. If you have a half-empty bag of frozen peas kicking around the freezer, toss those in during the last two minutes of the simmer for a little sweet, springy pop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does 20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer take to make?

20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer takes about 20 minutes total. That includes 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 4 servings.

What skill level is needed for 20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for 20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer?

The main ingredients are: olive oil, butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, vegetable or chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon, store-bought fresh cheese tortellini, canned artichoke hearts, fresh baby spinach, grated parmesan cheese.

What type of meal is 20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer?

20-Minute One-Skillet Spinach & Artichoke Tortellini Simmer is categorized as: dinner.