Creamy Tortellini Sausage Soup: Easy & Delicious Family Dinner

This creamy tortellini sausage soup is a comforting and satisfying meal, perfect for a cozy family dinner.

With savory sausage and tender tortellini, it’s a dish everyone will love. This recipe brings together simple ingredients for a surprisingly rich and flavorful experience that will warm you from the inside out.

Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a hearty meal to share with loved ones, this soup delivers on both taste and ease. It’s designed to be straightforward, ensuring even beginner cooks can achieve delicious results without any fuss.

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What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This creamy tortellini sausage soup is a true winner for busy families and anyone craving a comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It works so well because it combines hearty sausage with tender, cheese-filled tortellini in a rich, creamy broth, creating a dish that feels indulgent yet is incredibly simple to prepare. It’s perfect for a chilly evening when you want something warm and satisfying, or as a go-to weeknight dinner when time is short but you still want a homemade meal. Kids adore the tortellini, and adults appreciate the depth of flavor from the sausage and herbs. It’s a complete meal in one bowl, making cleanup a breeze and ensuring everyone leaves the table happy and full.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients for this soup is straightforward, and many items are likely already in your pantry. This recipe focuses on readily available components to ensure a stress-free cooking experience.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
• 1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

For simple substitutions, you can easily swap out the Italian sausage for ground turkey or chicken if you prefer a leaner option, just be sure to add a pinch more seasoning to compensate for less inherent flavor. If fresh spinach isn’t available, a cup of frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry) works well. Feel free to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a vegetarian option, though you’d need to omit the sausage. Any type of refrigerated tortellini will work, whether it’s cheese, spinach and ricotta, or even meat-filled.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 20-25 minutes
• Total time: 30-35 minutes

You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can get this delicious, hearty soup on the table, allowing you more time to enjoy with your family.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating this creamy tortellini sausage soup is a simple process. Follow these steps for a delicious, comforting meal.

1. Brown the Sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Cook until the sausage is fully browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
2. Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped yellow onion to the pot with the cooked sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
3. Build the Broth Base: Pour in the chicken broth and add the undrained diced tomatoes. Stir in the dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
4. Add the Tortellini: Increase the heat to medium and add the refrigerated tortellini to the simmering soup. Cook according to package directions, usually 3-5 minutes, until the tortellini are tender and float to the surface. Avoid overcooking, as they can become mushy.
5. Stir in Cream and Spinach: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream until fully incorporated, giving the soup its rich, creamy texture. Add the fresh spinach and stir gently until it wilts, which should only take about 1-2 minutes.
6. Taste and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasonings if necessary, adding more salt or pepper as desired. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish generously with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This creamy tortellini sausage soup is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can use mild Italian sausage and opt for mini cheese tortellini. If your children are picky about spinach, you can either chop it very finely so it blends in, or omit it entirely and offer a side salad instead.

To add more vegetables, consider stirring in some diced carrots or celery along with the onion, or a handful of frozen peas during the last few minutes of cooking. For a bit of heat, use hot Italian sausage or add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the broth. For a richer, more decadent soup, you could add a block of cream cheese or mascarpone along with the heavy cream, allowing it to melt and stir until smooth.

This soup is fantastic on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a crusty baguette or some garlic bread for dipping. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette makes a great fresh counterpoint to the rich soup. For a buffet or party, you can keep the soup warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting, adding the tortellini and spinach just before serving to prevent overcooking. Optional toppings like fresh basil, a drizzle of pesto, or even a dollop of ricotta cheese can elevate the presentation and flavor.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect results every time.

One frequent mistake is overcooking the tortellini. Refrigerated tortellini cooks very quickly, often in just 3-5 minutes. If left in the simmering soup for too long, it can become mushy and lose its texture. To avoid this, add the tortellini only after the broth has simmered and all other flavors have melded, and cook just until tender.

Another common issue is not draining enough grease from the sausage. Italian sausage can release a fair amount of fat. If you don’t drain most of it, your soup can end up greasy rather than creamy. After browning the sausage, tilt the pot and carefully spoon or pour out the excess fat before adding the onions.

Over-salting is also a possibility, especially since chicken broth and Italian sausage already contain sodium. It’s best to add the initial salt and pepper as directed, then taste the soup after the tortellini and cream have been added, adjusting the seasoning only if necessary. Remember, you can always add more salt, but you can’t easily take it away.

Finally, burning the garlic can impart a bitter taste to your soup. Garlic cooks much faster than onions. Add it towards the end of the onion sautéing process and cook only until fragrant, usually about 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This creamy tortellini sausage soup is delicious fresh, but it also stores and reheats well with a few considerations to maintain its best texture.

Storing Leftovers: Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating: When reheating, the tortellini can sometimes absorb a lot of the liquid and become a bit softer. To reheat, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If the soup has thickened too much, you can add a splash of chicken broth or a little extra cream to thin it back to your desired consistency. Avoid boiling the soup vigorously during reheating, as this can cause the cream to separate.

Making Ahead: If you plan to make this soup ahead for meal prep, consider cooking the tortellini separately and adding it to individual portions of the soup just before reheating. This prevents the tortellini from becoming overly soft or mushy. You can prepare the sausage and broth base up to 2-3 days in advance, store it in the refrigerator, and then add the tortellini, cream, and spinach when you are ready to serve. This strategy ensures the best possible texture for the tortellini when you finally enjoy your meal.

Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

Can I use frozen tortellini instead of refrigerated?

Yes, you can use frozen tortellini. You might need to cook it a minute or two longer than refrigerated tortellini, so follow the package directions for cooking time.

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FAQs

• Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
• How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
• Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
• Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.