Ricotta and Spinach Tortellini in Sage Brown Butter Sauce
Cheese-filled tortellini tossed in a nutty brown butter and fresh sage sauce, finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan for a comforting Italian pasta dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 15 minutes, pairs fresh spinach tortellini, unsalted butter, fresh sage leaves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh spinach tortellini
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 12 fresh sage leaves
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup, freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp (optional) toasted pine nuts
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz fresh spinach tortellini and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender but still firm to bite. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, melt 6 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 12 fresh sage leaves and cook for 3-4 minutes until butter turns golden brown and smells nutty, and sage leaves become crisp.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Step 4: Add the drained tortellini to the skillet along with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Toss gently to coat the pasta in the brown butter sauce.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts (if using) over the pasta. Toss once more and serve immediately.








