Sausage Tortellini Soup

This cozy soup tastes like your favorite Italian restaurant in a bowl: savory sausage, tender cheese tortellini, a tomato kissed broth, and greens for balance. It comes together in about 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights or casual hosting.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot), casings removed if using links
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or fire roasted diced tomatoes)
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (optional, for a richer tomato base)
• 2 cups half and half (or heavy cream for extra richness)
• 10 to 12 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini (or frozen)
• 3 cups baby spinach or chopped kale (stems removed if using kale)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional but brightens the soup)
• Parmesan, for serving

Helpful ingredient notes:

• Sausage: Pork Italian sausage gives the best flavor, but turkey sausage works well too.
• Tortellini: Refrigerated cooks fastest; frozen works but may need a few extra minutes.
• Greens: Spinach wilts quickly; kale needs a little longer to soften.

Step by step instructions

1. Brown the sausage
   Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage and cook 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through. Spoon off excess grease if needed.
2. Build flavor
   Add onion and cook 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Simmer the soup base
   Pour in chicken broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), and tomato sauce if using. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer for 8 to 10 minutes to let flavors blend.
4. Cook the tortellini
   Stir in tortellini and simmer until tender, usually 3 to 5 minutes for refrigerated or 5 to 7 minutes for frozen (check package timing).
5. Make it creamy and finish
   Lower heat to medium low. Stir in half and half and greens. Cook 1 to 2 minutes until spinach wilts (or 3 to 5 minutes for kale). Remove from heat and stir in basil or parsley and lemon juice if using.
6. Serve
   Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan.

Variations and pro tips

• Thicker soup: Simmer 3 to 5 minutes longer before adding cream, or add an extra tablespoon of tomato paste.
• More veggies: Add 1 cup diced carrots and 1 cup diced celery with the onion, or add sliced mushrooms after browning sausage.
• Extra heat: Use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch more red pepper flakes.
• Keep tortellini perfect: If you expect leftovers, cook tortellini separately and add to each bowl, or add only what you will eat right away.
• Slow cooker option: Brown sausage, onion, and garlic first, then add broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasoning to the slow cooker for 3 to 4 hours on low; add tortellini and cream during the last 20 to 30 minutes, then add greens at the end.

Storage, reheating, and FAQs

• Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm gently on the stove over medium low, stirring often; add a splash of broth if it thickened.
• Freeze: Best frozen without tortellini and without cream (add both fresh when reheating); freeze up to 2 months.

FAQs:

• Can I use frozen tortellini? Yes, add a few extra minutes and simmer gently so it does not overcook.
• Can I make it dairy free? Use full fat coconut milk or an unsweetened plant based creamer and skip Parmesan.
• What goes well with it? Garlic bread, a simple Caesar salad, or roasted broccoli make easy sides.

If you want, tell me whether you prefer a thicker “stew like” version or a brothy version, and whether you are using mild or hot sausage, and I will tailor the ingredient amounts and timing to match.

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