The Cozy Cook

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Sausage Tortellini Soup

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!

A bowl of creamy sausage tortellini soup with kale and a spoon.

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.

A pot with ground sausage and onions with chicken broth and half and half being added.

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.

Adding kale and tortellini to Sausage Tortellini Soup.

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. I recommend boiling the tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls if you plan on having leftovers.
  • 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.
  • Spice Rack– This is the one I have, it’s a snap to measure out your seasonings quickly and easily. (Big time saver.)
  • 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.
  • 16 oz. storage containers – I use these to store/freeze my soups. They have 8 oz. sizes as well. They’re stackable, leak proof, and dishwasher/microwave safe.

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Sausage Tortellini Soup in a soup bowl with kale, spinach, sausage, and broth.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

4.99 from 626 ratings
This creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup is a 30 minute meal that’s easy to make with sausage, kale, simple seasonings, broth, and cream!

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

Pro Tips:
  • 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. I recommend boiling the tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls if you plan on having leftovers.
  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 836mg, Potassium: 318mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 1736IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 86mg, Iron: 2mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

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1,444 comments on “Sausage Tortellini Soup”

  1. Haven’t made this yet but it sounds so good. As a single person, do you think portions would freeze well. Not sure how cooked tortellini would do being frozen then re-heated.

    • Hi Caroline! One option for you is to boil tortellini on the side and add it to serving bowls, and ladle the soup on top. Then freeze the rest of the soup without tortellini, and boil fresh tortellini when you reheat the soup. But honestly it does reheat pretty well with the tortellini in it as well. So 2 options for you! 🙂

  2. This looks so good. Do you think that chorizo would be good, or should I stick to sausage. Either way, I am trying. 

    • Hey Jenn! I haven’t tried it, but I think the flavor would be great! I tend to this sausage might have a slightly better texture for this soup, but it’s hard to say!

  3. Made this today and it was really delicious.  My couple modifications were that I added a diced carrot and some diced celery (cup of each) because I love veggies in my soup.  Also increased broth by 2 cups.  Finally, I did add the rind of Parmesan and I believe it truly enhanced the flavor of the soup.  Definitely a keeper!

  4. This is definitely delicious. I used spinach instead of kale and used a can of coconut milk for the cream. Also added some grated Parmesan in the end. This recipe is a keeper. 

    • I’m so happy to hear that Cindy!! I am actually in the middle of working on a Cookbook and JUST typed up this recipe about an hour ago for it! 🙂 It made my hungry just thinking about it. I love that you used spinach (yum!) and were able to use coconut milk instead as well. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and share your modifications, it’s much appreciated, have a great weekend! -Stephanie

  5. Can it be made without kale or spinach.
    Don’t like neither.
    Also do you mean Italian sausage

  6. This was a very good soup, very easy to make but a bit too spicy for my taste. Next time I will stay with the same spices but use mild sausage instead of hot. 

  7. Best soup I’ve had in a while! 
    So quick and simple! 

  8. I just fixed this today and it was absolutely delicious!! I will definitely be fixing this again.

    • Hey Dawn! That is GREAT news, I’m so happy that you loved this soup! We love this one too and make it often! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie

  9. After taking one bite of this soup I looked at my husband and said, “This is BY FAR the best recipe I’ve made in the Instapot”. I used Hot Italian sausage and passed on the cayenne and hot sauce. Used the “Sauté” feature on my Instapot and then pressure cooked for 3min. Everything came out perfect despite my fear of the pasta over cooking. I too am looking forward to left overs tomorrow and making it again very soon! Thank you for the recipe!

    • You’re very welcome Macie! I’m soooo happy to hear you enjoyed it so much!😍 Instapots really are amazing. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

  10. The whole family really loved it! Turned out amazing!

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