This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a 30 minute meal that’s easy to make with sausage, kale, simple seasonings, broth, and cream!
Be sure to serve this with a side of Garlic Bread with Cheese or Biscuits!
Sausage Tortellini Soup
Wait until you taste this soup. This is one you will undoubtedly add to your favorite list of soup recipes, especially because it’s a 30-minute meal that’s got vegetables, protein, and pasta all in one bowl!
You may scratch your head when you see that I’ve got hot sauce and mustard powder on the ingredients list, but trust me. They enhance the other flavors in the recipe and add a very subtle touch that creates a great base for this soup. Once you try it, you’ll see what I mean!
Check out my PRO tips below on how to add even more flavor to this soup, and what you can use if you don’t have kale on hand!
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cook the sausage, onions, and garlic. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add basil, oregano, hot sauce, mustard powder, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Add chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
Add kale and tortellini. Cook 3-5 minutes. Taste and add salt if desired. Transfer to serving bowls and add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Pro Tips
- For even more flavor, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth and let it simmer and flavor the soup. If any remains at the end of cooking, it can be discarded. Salt will likely not need to be added if you do this.
- 2-3 cups of Spinach can be used instead of kale, stir it in once the tortellini is cooked and let it wilt, about 30 seconds. If you use frozen spinach, let it thaw and pat it dry prior to adding it.
- I use RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini for this recipe. I also use Texas Pete hot sauce or Frank’s Hot Sauce.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 51!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 3+ months. Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. You may choose to boil tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls.
- This soup does freeze well but I recommend boiling tortellini separately so that it doesn’t absorb too much broth or get overly soft.
- Be sure to try my chicken tortellini soup recipe next!
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 4 quart Soup Pot: The perfect size for this recipe.
- Food Storage Containers– These are what I use, they fit exactly 1 cup and are leak proof, microwave safe, stackable, and BPA free.
- Kitchen Scale: In case you need to weigh the sausage. (I use this all the time.)
- Measuring Spoons– To measure out the seasonings.
- Pinch Bowls– I measure out my seasonings ahead of time and add them to these small bowls so they’re ready to go when it’s time to add them.
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Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 pinch cayenne, optional
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups kale, chopped
- 2 cups tortellini, just under 10 oz. (refrigerated or frozen)
- Salt/ to taste
Instructions
- Note: The mustard powder and hot sauce are so subtle in this soup but help enhance the other flavors, so although you may be hesitant to add them, I highly recommend it!
- Remove the casings from the sausage if you purchased links. Cook and crumble the sausage and diced onions over medium-high heat until the onions are softened and the sausage is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Drain grease. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add basil, oregano, cayenne, hot sauce, mustard powder, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Slowly stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
- Add the kale and tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes. (If your tortellini needs longer cooking time, add the tortellini first, then the kale during the last 5 minutes.)
- Taste the soup and add salt if desired. Start with ¼ tsp and add more after that if needed.
- Transfer to serving bowls and serve! (This is great with Garlic Bread with Cheese!)
Notes
- I use RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini for this recipe. I also use Texas Pete hot sauce or Frank's Hot Sauce.
- For even more flavor, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth and let it simmer and flavor the soup. If any remains at the end of cooking, it can be discarded. Salt will likely not need to be added if you do this.
- 2-3 cups of Spinach can be used instead of kale, stir it in once the tortellini is cooked and let it wilt, about 30 seconds.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 51!
Crock Pot Method:
- Brown the sausage/onions on the stove top and add the flour as outlined in steps 2 + 3.
- Transfer everything except for the cream, tortellini, and spinach to the slow cooker.
- Cook it on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-7.
- Stir in the kale toward the end and let that heat up for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn heat off. Temper the cream in the microwave for 45 seconds and stir it in slowly>
- Add cooked tortellini to serving bowls and ladle soup on top!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 3+ months. Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. You may choose to boil tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls.
- This soup does freeze well but I recommend boiling tortellini separately so that it doesn't absorb too much broth or get overly soft.
- Be sure to try my chicken tortellini soup recipe next!
Nutritional information an estimate and is per serving. Each serving is 1 cup, and this recipe makes approximately 10 cups.
The first time I made this recipe I didn’t have mustard powder. I just want to say it makes a big difference!! It really does pop with the mustard. This is very easy and quick!! Perfect for drop in guests or church nights.
Hi Darla! I agree, the flavor enhancers like mustard powder really add to it. I’m so happy you’re enjoying it, definitely a great way to treat drop in guests! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💕
I’m a fan of Cozy Cook recipes! This sausage & tortellini soup is my all time favorite! So delicious! It doesn’t seem like it’s a lot if you’re cooking it for the first, but it goes a long way between me & my husband! Also your spice and liquid measurements are on point!
Thanks so much for the great comments Ash, I’m so happy you and your husband are enjoying the recipes!💖
This was outstanding. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure Marcy! I’m so happy you liked it. Thanks so much for the review!💗
Amazing!
We used hot Italian sausage and frozen spinach (drained) instead of kale. Topped with Parmesan cheese and served with garlic toast.
Sooooooo good!!!!
I’m SOOO happy that you loved it Lauri! Love that you used spinach! (And hot Italian sausage, DELISH!!) – Thank you so much for the review!! -Stephanie 🙂
A keeper!!! So delicious and the whole family enjoyed this soup with garlic bread (pairs great, wouldn’t have thought to serve together.). Used spicy sausage and Frank’s Buffalo sauce, had a great kick to it (my fam likes a little heat and this didn’t disappoint.). Will make this on the regular!
Thanks so much for the great comments and review Mandy! I’m so happy it was such a hit! I love Frank’s Buffalo Sauce. ❤️
Ok. This is a big winner. Especially in the easy and quick category with a SPECIAL mention to versatility. The author mentions cooking the tortellini separately so that when storing the leftovers the tortellini does not soak up all the broth and turn mushy. So I took her lead and had it with tortellini first with Parmesan and garlic bread. Next I made white, brown, and wild rice and served it with sweet Hawaiian rolls. Next I served it with orecchiette and finally orzo. My favorite was actually with rice. It was soooooo good. And finally when I switched to orzo and orecchiette, I stirred in a heaping spoon of tomato paste. It not only changed the flavor profile and added a nice color, but the umami present with the tomato paste was delicious. So with one soup I made 4 different dishes. NOW THATS WHAT I CALL GREAT LEFTOVERS and a REALLY GREAT DISH! KUDOS to Stephanie!!! Definitely subscribe and follow!
Thanks so much for the great comments George! I love that with one soup you made 4 different dishes, that’s amazing, nice work! Thanks again for the great review❤️
This soup is delicious. I use gluten-free tortellini and turkey sausage. I leave out the hot sauce as I don’t prefer the flavor or any hints of spiciness. I have made a few soups from this website and I love them all.
I’m so happy you’re enjoying the soups Natalie! Nice job making tweaks to this one. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!🩷