3-Ingredient Sage and Brown Butter Tortellini

This 3-ingredient sage and brown butter tortellini is probably my new favorite go-to dinner recipe. It so rich and delicious. The savory and nuttiness of the sage and brown butter is so perfect over a simple cheese tortellini. Plus, you only need 3 ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes. Cook a gourmet Italian-inspired meal with this simple dinner recipe!

Equipment You Will Need

I will say, even though this recipe is very simple, it does mess up two large pots. Is it crazy that I think about that before cooking. I hate washing the dishes! My main advice for this recipe is if you don’t have one, get a non-stick pan that has a white lining. This makes it so much easier while making your brown butter. Honestly, I got the one that I use from TJ Maxx years ago, and I still love it. I like a set I found on Amazon below. I also linked my favorite shallow bowls that I have. They are great for pastas, salads, and so many different recipes!

Ingredients You Will Need

Frozen Tortellini:

You’ll need a bag of frozen tortellini for this recipe. I only used one bag. Mine had just a plain cheese filling on the inside.

Unsalted Butter:

You will need one stick of unsalted butter for this sage and brown butter pasta. You definitely need unsalted butter. It can alter the flavor, plus it’s hard to reach the right “brownness,” if you will….

Fresh Sage:

You sage must be fresh for this recipe. The whole leaves need to still be soft and fresh. You can buy tiny little containers of herbs in the produce section of your grocery store. While the butter is browning, the sage will then turn crisp. You won’t get the same amount of flavor with already dried herbs.

Step by Step How to Make This 3-Ingredient Sage and Brown Butter Tortellini

Step 1

Cooking tortellini according to package. I placed mine in boiling water for around 5-8 minutes until they were the texture that I liked.

Step 2

Place your whole stick of butter in the pan on medium to high heat. Melt the butter entirely, then add your chopped sage. It may take a while but stir the melted butter until it starts to boil. It will make foam-like bubbles. Do not walk away from the butter; stir it constantly. The bubbling will stop, and the butter will start to slightly turn brown. Keep stirring. You will be able to start to smell the nutty butter and sage, and the sage it will turn crispy. Remove butter from pan and put it in a bowl. This will keep the butter from burning from residual heat.

Step 3

Plate your pasta and pour butter sauce over it. Garnish with fresh sage leave and roasted pecans for texture. Enjoy!

Closing thoughts…?

Well, what did you think? This recipe is so cheap and easy to make. Unless you don’t like sage, there is honestly no reason to not make this dish! It’s seriously that good. Please let me know what you thought here or in the comments below!