Description
This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a rich and cozy Italian-inspired dish featuring savory Italian sausage, tender cheese tortellini, and a luscious creamy tomato-based broth. Perfect for chilly nights, it combines hearty flavors and fresh spinach in a comforting one-pot meal.
Ingredients
Sausage and Base
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Liquids and Vegetables
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale
Pasta and Finishing Touches
- 1 (20 oz) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Sauté Onion: Add diced onion to the sausage and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add Aromatics and Seasonings: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Add Tomatoes and Broth: Pour in the diced tomatoes and chicken broth, stirring well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer Soup: Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to develop flavor.
- Add Cream: Stir in the heavy cream to create a rich and creamy broth.
- Cook Tortellini: Add the refrigerated cheese tortellini to the pot and cook according to package directions, about 5–7 minutes, until the tortellini are tender and cooked through.
- Add Greens: Stir in fresh spinach or kale and cook until wilted, about 1–2 minutes.
- Season to Taste: Season the soup with salt and black pepper according to your preference.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve hot and enjoy.
Notes
- Use spicy sausage for an extra kick of heat.
- For a lighter soup, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Frozen tortellini can be used; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Add diced carrots or mushrooms to increase vegetable content.
- Soup will thicken as it sits; add additional broth when reheating to desired consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
