Lemon Butter Tortellini Sauce

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This simple lemon butter tortellini sauce is easy to make with 6 ingredients in 5 minutes. It’s a delicious, quick and easy dinner recipe your whole family will love!

a pot of tortellini with lemon butter tortellini sauce, garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese


Tortellini is such an easy and delicious pasta to whip up on busy weeknights, and this is the best tortellini sauce ever!

Made with only 6 ingredients including butter, olive oil and lemon juice, you can have dinner on the table in less than 10 minutes (if using fresh tortellini) with this easy recipe!

a bowl of tortellini with lemon butter tortellini sauce, garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese

Lemon Tortellini Sauce: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Tortellini Sauce recipe
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well.
  • Yellow Onion. Choose your favorite onion variety, I recommend a sweet white or yellow onion.
  • Minced Garlic. Use either freshly minced garlic or jarred.
  • Lemon Juice. Use freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice (I suggest organic).
  • Parmesan Cheese & Fresh Basil. Serve topped with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
a bowl of tortellini with lemon butter tortellini sauce, garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese

How to Make Tortellini Sauce

Let’s walk through how to make the best sauce for tortellini step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Cook the Tortellini

Begin this recipe by cooking the tortellini according to package instructions. Once it’s al dente, drain the pasta but do not rinse.

a pot of cooked tortellini noodles

Make the Tortellini Sauce

While tortellini is cooking, heat the butter onion garlic and olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan.

Cover and cook until the onion is soft and translucent (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally.

two photos showing How to Make Tortellini Sauce

Then, add the lemon juice, salt and pepper and cook uncovered for an additional 1 minute.

making tortellini sauce in a pot, adding salt and pepper

After 1 minute, remove the pan from the heat, add cooked tortellini and stir until evenly distributed.  

two photos showing How to Make Tortellini Sauce in a pot

Serve

Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, julienned fresh basil, etc. I enjoy serving this recipe with a side of roasted broccoli or a burrata salad!

a pot of tortellini with lemon butter tortellini sauce, garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese

Store/Freeze

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

tortellini with lemon butter tortellini sauce, garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese

Tortellini Sauce Recipe FAQs

What do you serve with tortellini?

Here are some suggestions for dishes you can serve with this recipe!
Roasted veggies: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.
Salads: burrata salad, kale salad, panzanella salad, etc.
Bread: homemade french bread, no knead bread, etc.

Can I double or halve this recipe?

If you have a container of tortellini that is only 10 oz, you can easily halve this recipe. Or you can easily double the recipe.

a bowl of tortellini with lemon butter tortellini sauce, garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese

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Lemon Butter Tortellini Sauce

Laura
This simple lemon butter tortellini sauce is easy to make with 6 ingredients in 5 minutes. It's a delicious, quick and easy dinner recipe your whole family will love!
5 from 3 votes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 10 servings
Calories 252
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time12 minutes

Ingredients 
 

For Serving/Garnish

Instructions 

  • Begin this recipe by cooking the tortellini according to package instructions. Once it’s al dente, drain the tortellini but do not rinse.
  • While tortellini is cooking, heat butter onion garlic and olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. Cover and cook until onion is soft and translucent (about 5 minutes).
  • Add lemon juice, salt and pepper and cook uncovered for an additional 1 minute.
  • Remove the pan from the heat, add cooked tortellini and stir until evenly distributed.
  • Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, julienned fresh basil, etc.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter works well.
  • Yellow Onion. Choose your favorite onion variety, I recommend a sweet white or yellow onion.
  • Minced Garlic. Use either freshly minced garlic or jarred.
  • Lemon Juice. Use freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice (I suggest organic).
  • Parmesan Cheese & Fresh Basil. Serve topped with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Store/Freeze
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 173IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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