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!
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!
- For a similar recipe with a twist, try my Sausage Gnocchi Soup!
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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Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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!
- For a similar recipe with a twist, try my Sausage Gnocchi Soup!
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.
10/10. It will be in my soup rotation now! I work 12hr night shift and always looking for something filling and on the healthier side. I used half and half and added carrots, celery, mushrooms, and spinach instead of kale. Not hot at all but the spices really do give it wonderful warm flavor.
I’m so happy you’re enjoying the soup Emily, especially when working a 12 hour shift! Thanks so much for the review!💖
Amazing recipe, added a little extra sausage , kale, onion and garlic. This meal will become a regular in my household!!
Nice additions Matt! I’m so happy it’ll become a regular for you guys, thanks so much for the review!💖
This is our favourite soup, and we’ve eaten it countless times as is. All the flavours are wonderful ! We’ve also tried it with sausage cappellitti and it was awesome as well !
I’m so happy that you love the soup Kat!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review as well, I really appreciate it!!! -Stephanie 🙂
I just won first place in my company’s “Souper Bowl” with this recipe. I have passed along this link many times. Thank you!
Wahooo! Congratulations Gayle nice work!🥇 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
I love this recipe! I use half hot and half mild Italian sausage and it’s a hit!
I’d like to make this for family to freeze so are there any tricks to freezing so it keeps its consistency?
Thanks so much!
Hi Ellen!!! I’m so glad that you love this recipe! This soup freezes super well, just prepare it without the tortellini! When ready to serve, boil tortellini separately and add it to the serving bowls! Also be sure not to overcook the kale the first time around so that it reheats well! 🙂
Made this recipe again last night… a big hit with my in-laws! I can’t say enough good things about this recipe… Quick, easy, and very flavorful. Perfect on a chilly night. The Cozy Cook never disappoints!
I’m so happy it was such a hit with your in-laws Becca! Thanks so much for your support!💗
My daughter made this for me on one of her visits home. It’s so good. I can’t wait to have it again. She used Jimmy Deans sausage.
I love Jimmy Deans too! I’m so happy your daughter made it for you, that’s so sweet Debbie! Thanks so much for the review!🩷
I like this recipe. I made it week before last, and I made some this Sunday since I still had a pkg of sausage and tortellini left. It is quick to make and delicious. The first time I didn’t think there was any grease enough to pour of the sausage but, it tasted a little oily to me but still good. Sunday I made sure I drained any remaining oil and it’s even better. I just feel like I should have added a better pinch of crushed red pepper. Last time the spiciness was jussssst right. Thanks for this easy to remember recipe.
You’re very welcome! Happy to hear you’re enjoying it, it’s one of my favorite soup recipes. Thanks so much for the review!💗
My husband said you can make this anytime! I added just a little more garlic and spinach instead of kale…wow! You are an amazing cook… I follow you and have made many of your recipes! You rock sister! Thank you for sharing!!!
Hi Taffie! I’m so happy that this soup was a hit with you’re husband, and that you’re loving my recipes! I really appreciate that so much, thank you for the review and for your support!! XOXOXO -Stephanie ❤️
This soup is amazing. I tried it again using potatoes instead of the tortellini.. excellent that way as well!
I’m so glad that you love it Kamarie!! 🙂 I have a Sausage Tortellini Soup as well, and agree, it’s great with potatoes!