Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup combines hearty Italian sausage, wholesome veggies, a rich tomato broth, heavy cream, and tender cheese tortellini – Perfect for those crisp winter nights, topped with cracked pepper and a sprinkle of Parmesan!
Forget about the carbs, because today we're about to indulge in a pasta-loaded soup laden with cheesy goodness, meaty Italian sausage, and some healthy veggies to keep the conscience away! If you've tried my Lasagna soup recipe, then you'll know that you're in for a real treat.
Allowing the tortellini to cook in the creamy tomato broth with browned sausage intensifies flavors and helps to thicken the soup for that dreamy consistency.
Why You'll Love My Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup
- Perfectly hearty and filling as a stand-alone meal or combine it with grilled cheese or garlic bread!
- Easily adapt this sausage tortellini soup with a different type of sausage or ground meat, and additional veggies. You could even experiment with other types of tortellini stuffing!
- A budget-friendly meal that can serve an entire family. Assemble in the morning and have it ready for dinner.
While this Italian sausage cheese tortellini soup is so satisfying just as it is, I do love to pair it with a slice of crusty bread smothered in butter! Fluffy and soft dinner rolls, a grilled cheese, or light crispy salad would also be great alongside a warm bowl of this comforting soup.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Italian sausage – The sausage adds meaty flavor and volume to this soup. Spanish chorizo could be used instead. Chicken and turkey sausage is another alternative, especially if you are trying to reduce the fat content.
- Veggies – The classic combination of onion, carrots, and celery is a staple vegetable base for many soup recipes.
- Garlic – Freshly minced garlic cloves will add depth of savory flavor.
- Canned tomatoes – I use both a can of crushed tomatoes and a can of diced tomatoes for this tortellini soup. The juice is also added for flavorful and rich-tasting soup liquid.
- Chicken broth – Use store-bought or homemade chicken broth.
- Cheese tortellini – You can find refrigerated cheese tortellini in the deli section of most grocery stores. Frozen tortellini is also an option, but then you must adjust the cooking time.
- Heavy whipping cream – To thicken the soup and add another layer of richness.
- Baby spinach -Added only towards the end of the cooking time to prevent it from disintegrating completely. Kale would be a great replacement!
You Can Make This Sausage Tortellini Soup on the Stove
Making soup in a slow cooker generally makes the entire process much easier since stovetop soup recipes often require a more hands-on approach, monitoring, and stirring throughout the cooking process.
But while I may turn to my trusty slow cooker for homemade soup, that shouldn't stop you from trying this rich and comforting dish. Here's how I'd make it on the stovetop:
Follow the recipe directions as laid out in the recipe card, except you'll be using a large pot. Once the soup mixture is at a simmer (all ingredients, except tortellini), add the tortellini and remaining ingredients and continue to simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the spinach is wilted.
Storage & Freezer Tips
- Refrigeration: Store this Slow Cooker sausage tortellini soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat your leftover soup in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
- Freezer: This soup could also be stored in the freezer for 1-3 months, although the cheese tortellini can turn overly soft from the freezing and thawing process.
More Comforting Soup Recipes
Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 16 oz Italian sausage
- 1/2 of a onion chopped
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 celery sticks chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes with juice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 9 oz packages of cheese tortellini
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add the sausage and onions to a medium sized pan, cook the sausage and onions until the sausage is fully cooked. Add in the garlic towards the end. (so it doesn’t burn) Add the sausage mixture to the 8 quart slow cooker.
- Add your chopped carrots and celery to the slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes with juice and chicken broth. Close the lid and cook for 4 hours and 30 minutes.
- 30 minutes before done add in the cheese tortellini, heavy whipping cream, spinach, salt and pepper and stir. Once done, serve and enjoy! Top with more pepper and parmesan. (Optional)
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟 rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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