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Creamy sausage tortellini soup is thick and creamy with chunks of cooked pork sausage, carrots, buttery kale and three cheese tortellini pasta all cooked in a smooth tomato sauce. This soup will become an instant favorite!
Is there anything better than homemade soup on a chilly day? I especially love pasta-filled soups. They’re so hearty! If you love tortellini as much as I do try this creamy chicken tortellini soup, Tuscan garlic tortellini soup or tomato tortellini soup!
Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Tortellini soup is the perfect comfort food! Imagine a warm bowl filled with plump, cheesy tortellini pasta swimming in a creamy tomato broth. But wait, it gets even better – I’ve added some yummy ground pork sausage for a little extra protein and flavor. And for a touch of green, some fresh kale leaves add a pop of color, texture and most importantly- a boost of vitamins! This soup is sure to warm you up on a chilly day and satisfy your taste buds. Plus, it’s super easy to make.
All you need to do is throw all of your ingredients (most of which I’m sure you already have) in a pot and voila! You have a delicious, hearty soup that will rival your favorite Italian restaurants. You can even serve it up with some tasty homemade breadsticks to complete the meal with. This broth is perfect for dipping! Even though this creamy sausage tortellini soup has kale in it, the picky eaters in my family still love it. It’s that good! Looking for amazing homemade soups? See my full list of recipes here!
Ingredients Needed
Creamy sausage tortellini soup is so simple to make and loaded with flavor. It has everything you need from meat to vegetables all cooked to perfection in a savory tomato broth. It’s the perfect combination! As the sausage tortellini soup is cooking, the flavors continue to build and infuse. One sip and you’ll be hooked! *Note: exact measurements can all be found in the recipe card below.
- Ground Pork Sausage: Try cooking this ahead of time for easy prep! Ground turkey also works if you want a leaner option.
- Vegetables: I sautéed the ground sausage with chopped carrots, onion, and garlic for the perfect texture and savory flavor.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds the best flavor! You can use prepackaged Italian seasoning or make your own blend using this recipe here.
- Flour: This will thicken up your soup base. Cornstarch also works if that’s what you have on hand! You’ll just need to use half the amount as flour, mixed with cold water and then added to the soup.
- Chicken Broth: This acts as the base of the soup. Vegetable broth also works!
- Tomato Paste: A flavorful thickener.
- Heavy Cream: A must for making this soup rich and creamy! Greek yogurt is another great substitute.
- Three Cheese Tortellini: Packs cheesy flavor into each bite! Both fresh and frozen tortellini work here. You may just need to add on a few more minutes of simmering time if using frozen tortellini.
- Kale: Adds a delicious texture and great nutrients to the soup. This can be swapped out with fresh baby spinach as well.
- Salt and pepper: Add to taste!
Make it Dairy-Free
Trade the cheese tortellini for a regular pasta like bowtie or penne and use dairy-free heavy cream or almond milk as a thickener. It will not be the same thickness and the taste will change slightly, but it’s still delicious and perfect for those avoiding lactose!
How to Make Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Making this creamy sausage tortellini soup is a breeze. Simply throw all of your ingredients together and then let the flavors meld on the stove! Want to set it and forget it? This soup can also be cooked in a slow cooker or crockpot on low for 6 hours. It’s the perfect meal to come home to at the end of the day!
- Sauté Pork and Vegetables: In a large pot over medium-high heat add the sausage. Then cook and crumble until brown. Once cooked, remove and set aside on a plate. Then add the carrots and onion and sauté until tender. Add in garlic and Italian seasoning and sauté for a minute more.
- Stir in the Remaining Ingredients and simmer: Add in the flour to the vegetables and sausage and pour in chicken broth. Add in the tomato paste and stir. Add in heavy cream and tortellini and bring to a simmer for about 7 minutes until the tortellini is cooked. Add in the kale right before serving and salt and pepper to taste.
Delicious Variations
Creamy sausage tortellini soup is literally my favorite! It’s super simple to whip up and can be customized just as easily. Here are some variations to help make it your own!
- Meat: Change up your meat if you prefer turkey sausage, cubed chicken or ground beef instead!
- Cream: Heavy cream is best but if you are looking for a lighter substitute try half and half. Greek yogurt also works and adds some extra protein as well!
- Vegetables: Add in chunks of potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini or even bell peppers.
- Broth: For other flavoring try beef broth or vegetable broth. Use what you have on hand!
- Make it Spicy: For a spicier soup, try using a hot Italian sausage or adding red pepper flakes (1/4 teaspoon to start out with) to the soup.
Storing Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
This Italian sausage tortellini soup does so well made ahead and even frozen! As the soup sits together in a ziplock bag or airtight container, the flavors continue to meld and become more delicious. It’s so easy to reheat and makes the perfect comforting meal for chilly winter days.
- In the Refrigerator: Cook the creamy sausage tortellini soup leaving out the tortellini pasta if you are not serving it. Once completely cooled, add to a ziplock bag or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheating: You can either thaw your sausage tortellini soup in the refrigerator overnight or simply add your ziplock bag to a bowl of hot water. Once thawed or taken from the refrigerator simply add the soup to a skillet or slow cooker. If you left out the tortellini, this would be a great time to add that back in and let cook for a few minutes before serving.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
Oh, how I love homemade soup. It really is the best! It’s so comforting and warms you up from the inside out. I’ve rounded up my favorite soup recipes for you to try this winter. They are the absolute best! Need more ideas? Check out this winter soup roundup here!
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Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 1 cup carrots chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup flour
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 9 ounce package three cheese tortellini
- 3 cups kale chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium high heat add the sausage. Cook and crumble until brown, remove and set aside on a plate. Add the carrots and onion and sauté until tender. Add in garlic and Italian seasoning and sauté for a minute more.
- Add in the flour to the vegetables and sausage and pour in chicken broth. Add in the tomato paste and stir. Add in heavy cream and tortellini and bring to a simmer for about 7 minutes until tortellini is cooked. Add in the kale right before serving and salt and pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It was a hit in our house! A little thicker than I thought it would be, but I think it cooked longer waiting for everyone to arrive before I threw in the cream and kale. I think I used a curly kale ( definitely not Lacinato) which had a softer leaf than lacinato. Wasn’t sure when to add the sausage back in…but just now, I see she added the sausage at the end after the tortellini was cooked and when the kale was added, which is different from the instructions.I was told to definately to make this again!
This was a hit with my family! I used tomato sauce instead of the paste, added a little more flour and heavy cream. Used spinach, sprinkled some fresh Parmesan on top….YUM!
Made exactly as written- absolutely delicious!! Made a batch for my father who is going through cancer treatments and he loved it and requested I make it for him again- which I’m doing today. Thanks for a great recipe!
This is really yummy, hearty and satisfying. I decided to use Italian sausage pulled from the casing instead of ground pork sausage. Mistake. It tastes wonderful but the pork is a little chewy. Stick with the recipe and you’ll be thrilled.
A family favorite in my house. Thank you!
thank you for your recipes. My husband has just been diagnoses with kidney disease. Trying to figure out what to feed him has been a nightmare, looking up every ingredient. you are the only one i have found that includes the nutritional analysis. thank you. We have both enjoyed several of your recipes already. Thank you!
Can I use dried tortellini in this – recipe doesn’t specify refrigerated, frozen or dried. If I use dry do I need extra chicken broth?
Yes, dried tortellini will work great. Just add it to the very end of the soup so it does not become mushy.
This one is a keeper1
Great soup. I make one like it often. Wanted to let you know the word “sausage” is misspelled on the pin I found on Pinterest.
Thanks for the recipe! It turned out great. I made it vegan with Field Roast italian sausage, kite hill vegan tortellini, veggie broth, and I made a cashew cream to replace the heavy cream. It was excellent!
I was just thinking about how I would turn this vegan and literally came up with the same plan you did. Glad it turned out well. Im excited to make it now 🙂
It think it is too rich. I would not use heavy cream again. Even though I love all of the ingredients, I will not make it again. this soup just wasn’t a winner for me.
My son had oral surgery last week and is SO hungry! He will love this soup.
Absolutely Delicious….I used a mild Italian sausage and it was plenty spicy. I did not have heavy cream so I substituted a block of cream cheese. My family prefers the pork tortellini over the cheese type…based on preference. Also used a 8oz can of tomato sauce instead of the paste. Now my favorite soup by far.
Delicious I used ground Italian instead of pork and used spinach instead of kale
Served this for guests and it was Wonderful. We tend to like spicy food so we used hot Italian sausage. This is now in the rotation….So easy and quick.
Pretty darn good. The reintroduction of the browned ground pork is missing from instructions. I reintroduced it after I added the chicken broth. I’m eating it now and its fantastic. I did use spinach in lieu of the kale – personal preference. Going for my second delicious bowl! Thank you!
I thought the same thing GiGi I’m glad i read your comment
I noticed the same thing. Kept reading the recipe and it’s not there. I also used spinach. Getting ready to try it now. Fingers crossed.