Best Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe + VIDEO (2024)

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Best Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe – This creamy, rich, and hearty soup is quick and easy to make with packaged cheese tortellini and ground sausage. It’s ready to serve as a satisfying all-in-one meal in just 30 minutes!

Best Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe + VIDEO (1)

Why We Love This Tortellini Soup Recipe

If you haven’t noticed, we love soup. It’s the original one-pot meal! From classics like chicken noodle and minestrone, to vibrant chicken orzo and pappa al pomodoro, there is just nothing more deliciously cozy than enjoying a warm bowl of homemade soup. This simple rustic Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup recipe is a huge comfort food favorite here – and we’re sure you’re going to love it, too!

With just a few key ingredients and a handful of additional pantry staples, the effort is low but the flavor is extremely high. You only need to brown ground sausage in a large pot, then stir in other ingredients like cheesy tortellini, tomato paste, and heavy cream. In 30 minutes the soup is ready to serve and enjoy (with crusty bread) for a filling and scrumptious dinner.

Once you taste it, you’re going to want to stock Italian sausage and tortellini in your freezer at all times!

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Ingredients You Need

  • Butter – unsalted (or olive oil)
  • Ground Italian sausage – mild, medium, or spicy hot pork sausage
  • Onion – chopped
  • Garlic – minced
  • Dried thyme – an earthy, cozy spice (or Italian seasoning)
  • Chicken broth – or bullion + water (or beef broth)
  • Canned diced tomatoes – regular or fire-roasted
  • Tomato paste – canned or jarred, or concentrated paste in a tube for super robust tomato-y flavor
  • Packaged cheese tortellini – fresh is preferred, but frozen also works well
  • Parmesan cheese – grated
  • Heavy cream – optional, but highly recommended
  • Fresh basil leaves – to both finish and garnish the soup
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How to Make Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Set a large 6-8 quart soup pot over medium to medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the pot. Then add the ground Italian sausage, onions, and garlic. Use a wooden spoon to break the ground sausage into small pieces. Saute for 5 to 10 minutes until the onions are soft and the sausage is fully browned.

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Add the dried thyme, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste.

Get the Complete (Printable) Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe. Enjoy!

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Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat, if needed, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in the tortellini and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the tortellini rises to the top of the pot.

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Then turn off the heat and add heavy cream and basil leaves.

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Stir well to combine the cream with the soup broth.

Taste, then salt and pepper if needed.

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Recipe Variations

  • Vegetarian – Skip the sausage for a meatless tortellini soup recipe.
  • Veggies – You can include vegetables like fresh baby spinach or kale, or sauteed veggies like carrots and bell peppers in the recipe. Add whatever you like after the tortellini has cooked and before stirring in the cream.
  • Tortellini – Here we use simple cheese tortellini. But feel free to use any variety you like, such as spinach tortellini or even sausage tortellini for an extra meaty soup!
  • Heavy cream – This is an optional ingredient that makes the soup incredibly rich and creamy texture. You can substitute it with half and half, or omit all together if you prefer.
  • Spicy – Use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to finish the soup with some heat.
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Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup Serving Suggestions

Nothing pairs better with a bowl of rich and hearty tortellini soup like a hunk of warm bread and a crisp, cool salad on the side. Try our easy garlic bread or breadsticks recipes for an extra touch of coziness on the table!

For some freshness, you can’t go wrong with a classic caesar or a fun and crunchy kale caesar salad. A robust caprese panzanella combines a traditional Italian caprese salad with crusty bread… So it’s basically like two side dishes in one!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you thicken tortellini soup?

The heavy cream will thicken the soup nicely. However, if you want an even thicker version, you can combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Stir this mixture into the soup right before adding the remainder of the cream.

How long do leftovers last?

This tortellini soup recipe is great for meal prepping! Leftovers are delicious and keep well for up to 3 days. Let the soup cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container and placing it in the fridge.

Can you freeze creamy tortellini soup?

While you technically can, I do not recommend freezing this soup. The heavy cream and tortellini pasta do not hold up well to being frozen and reheated. Thankfully, the soup is so easy and quick to put together, that there’s really no need to make it ahead and freeze.

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Looking for More Easy Soup Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

  • Irish Creamy Cauliflower Soup
  • Italian Meatball Soup
  • Easy Lasagna Soup
  • Italian Wedding Soup
  • Rustic Ribollita (Tuscan White Bean Soup)

Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

This creamy, rich and hearty soup is quick and easy to make with packaged cheese tortellini and ground Italian sausage. It's ready to serve as a satisfying all-in-one meal in just 30 minutes!

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Set a large 6-8 quart soup pot over medium heat. Melt the butter in the pot. Then add the ground Italian sausage, onions, and garlic. Use a wooden spoon to break the ground sausage into small pieces. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes until the onions are soft and the sausage is fully browned.

  • Add the dried thyme, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat, if needed, and simmer for 10 minutes.

  • Stir in the tortellini and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the tortellini rises to the top of the pot.

  • Then turn off the heat and stir and heavy cream and basil leaves. Taste, then salt and pepper if needed.

Notes

This tortellini soup recipe is great for meal prepping! Leftovers are delicious and keep well for up to 3 days. Let the soup cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container and placing it in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5c, Calories: 462kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 88mg, Sodium: 1721mg, Potassium: 385mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 585IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 187mg, Iron: 3mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Best Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe + VIDEO (2024)

FAQs

Can I use kielbasa instead of Italian sausage? ›

While the spices in kielbasa may vary from those in Italian sausage, it adds a distinct, smoky taste to dishes like pasta, soups, and sandwiches. Use kielbasa as a substitute for Italian sausage in a 1:1 ratio, keeping in mind its slightly different spice profile.

What is a good substitute for sausage in pasta? ›

We love Beyond Meat Brats or Italian Sausage (for a really good vegan Italian sausage pasta) in this dish. But I also sometimes make it with my homemade vegan sausage which is seitan based. I've also made it with my tofu-based vegan sausage crumbles which is admittedly a much lighter and healthier version of this dish.

Does tortellini get soggy? ›

Recipe FAQ

To keep the tortellini from getting mushy, take the soup off the heat as soon as the tortellini has finished cooking. Or, you could cook it separately and add it in at the end of the soup's cooking time.

What is the difference between kielbasa and Italian sausage? ›

In comparison to traditional sausage, kielbasa usually has a distinctive garlic taste along with other flavorings like smoke, cloves, pimentos and marjoram. In Polish, kielbasa means sausage, and sausage plays an important role in Polish culture.

Is kielbasa healthier than sausage? ›

Saturated Fats: Kielbasa is relatively high in saturated fats. These fats are known to raise LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in the blood which can contribute to your risk for heart disease. Opting for leaner cuts or grass-fed beef sausage options when available can help mitigate this risk.

What's the closest to Italian sausage? ›

Spanish chorizo is a popular choice for substituting Italian sausage, thanks to its bold flavors and rich smokiness. Similar to Italian sausage, chorizo adds depth and complexity to dishes with its distinct blend of spices, including smoked paprika, garlic, and chili peppers.

What is a non pork substitute for Italian sausage in pasta? ›

Ground pork: Pork is typically used in Italian sausage, but you can also substitute ground turkey, ground dark meat chicken, or ground beef. If you're using ground poultry, just make sure it's not the super lean stuff.

What's the difference between sausage and Italian sausage? ›

The main difference in Italian sausage when compared to other sausages is the seasoning. The particular ingredient that usually sets Italian sausage apart is fennel. This is a licorice scented herb that gives Italian sausage its unique taste that is different than other types of sausage.

How do you keep tortellini from getting mushy in soup? ›

There is little worse than mushy, over-cooked pasta in soup. To ensure you get it just right, make sure the soup is nearly cooked before adding the pasta. Smaller pasta shapes soak up broth readily so ensure you serve the soup as soon as it's cooked.

Should you cover tortellini when cooking? ›

Up next: how long to bake tortellini. Cover tightly with foil and bake until bubbling, about 35 minutes. Remove the foil and turn on the broiler. Broil until the cheese is lightly browned.

Why is my tortellini floating immediately? ›

Stuffed pasta will float during boiling due to the air inside them expanding.

What is the best substitute for Italian sausage? ›

Chicken sausage is another excellent choice when looking to replace Italian sausage. Made from lean chicken meat and flavored with herbs and spices, chicken sausage offers a lighter alternative without compromising on taste. It can be found in a variety of flavors, including Italian-inspired options.

What is a non-pork substitute for Italian sausage? ›

Ground pork: Pork is typically used in Italian sausage, but you can also substitute ground turkey, ground dark meat chicken, or ground beef. If you're using ground poultry, just make sure it's not the super lean stuff. Unsweetened applesauce: The meat is naturally sweetened with applesauce instead of white sugar.

What is another name for Italian sausage? ›

Salsiccia

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