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.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. You may choose to boil tortellini separately and add them 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.
Try These Next
- Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Salisbury Steak
- Creamy Spinach Pasta
- Tuscan Chicken
- Smothered Chicken
- Mushroom Chicken
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Tried This Recipe?
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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 cup heavy cream
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups kale
- 2 cups refrigerated tortellini, just under 10 oz.
- Salt/ to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
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 1 tsp dried basil, ½ tsp oregano, 1 pinch of cayenne, 1 tsp hot sauce, ½ tsp mustard powder, ¼ tsp pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Add the 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 top with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese.
Notes
Pro Tip: 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.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. You may choose to boil tortellini separately and add them 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.
Super easy, anwesome flavor a new family favorite!
Wahoooo! So happy this is a new family favorite Jen! Thanks so much for the great review!💕
I made this today and loved it. My only tweaks were I didn’t use mustard powder (I don’t use this ingredient often enough to justify buying it) and I used Tabasco sauce. The soup is great and perfect on cold, winter days. Next time I’m going to make it with spinach.
I’m so happy you liked the soup Misha! I agree, perfect for a cold winter day! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and leave a review!💕
I made this over the weekend, it was so so good! My only tweak was using light cream – used more than a cup, kept adding more until I was happy with the taste. Didn’t use any additional ‘heat’ spices like hot sauce, cayenne or red pepper flakes but the black pepper and hot sausage were just the right amount.
I will be making this again and again, thank you so much!!
Thanks so much for the great comments and review Erin! I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup!😀 I’ve been eating so much of this over the past couple of months.
Just made this! Comes together so fast and is SO GOOD! Made a loaf of homemade crusty bread and added lots of fresh parm on top! I love soup but husband sometimes says it isn’t filling enough- he said this one was so filling and a keeper!
That’s so great to hear Kim, I’m glad this one is a keeper! Fresh parm and homemade bread is a great call! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!😃
Delicious. Made this tonight for my wife and kids and they devoured it. I feel like it’s a great something different to bring to a pot luck dinner or maybe an appetizer at a family holiday.
Happy to hear everyone enjoyed it Jason. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Could I use frozen chopped kale?
Yes you definitely could!
My daughter made this and it was so good. I had to have the recipe. Very hearty and tasty soup!
I’m so happy you and your daughter are enjoying this one Vicki! It’s becoming one of my top soup recipes! Thanks so much for the great comments!❤️
I’m going away for a few months and after serving this delicious warm winter meal, my son in law asked my daughter if I was planning on making a few barrels of this before I leave. Lol
My husband said it was the best soup he’s ever had!
Thank you for this keeper and the enhancing tips!!
That’s such a great compliment Bonita, sounds like you nailed it! I’m really liking the idea of a soup barrel lol. Thanks so much for the great comments!❤️
How many times can I give this 5 stars! Every time I make this people rave about the flavor! Definitely a favorite for family and friends that family begs me to make it for 😋😋😋
That makes me so happy to hear Peg, you’re the best!😃 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such great comments!
The soup Nazi has nothing on you! Made this last night for company and it was amazing!! I used spinach instead of the kale. It was so good! I’m making the Beef Vegetable soup tonight and planning to serve it over mashed potatoes as you suggested. Can’t wait. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
🤣🤣🤣 That’s the best comment ever! I’m so happy this was a hit. Enjoy it with some mashed potatoes! Thanks so much for the great comments and review!