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.
Try These Next
- Clam Chowder
- Tomato Basil Pasta
- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Pasta Primavera
- Meatball Soup
- Marry Me Chicken Pasta
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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.
This is a staple in our rotation we make this soup once every month and it’s by far one of the tastiest soup we have ever had! Our 4 and 6 year old love it too 🙂 we do cut down on the spice a tad bit as one is hyper sensitive to it, but other than that we follow the recipe to the T. Thank you soo much for introducing our family to this recipe 🙂
I’m so happy even the kiddos are enjoying it Tracy!! Thanks so much for the great comments and for taking the time to leave a review!!💖
Made this soup with a bit of a change. I used fresh cauliflower instead of the tortellini. The flavor of this soup was amazing!
Awesome Lisa!! I’m so glad that you loved it! What a healthy substitution, nicely done! 🙂
I made this today! It was amazing! I didn’t have sausage but instead used meatballs! My husband loved it and went in for seconds right away! I highly recommend these fairly simple yet flavorful dish. Thanks so much, Dee
Thanks so much for the great comments Dee!!! I’m so happy you liked it, it’s definitely one of my favorite soups!!🩷
Super tasty recipe that comes together quickly! I use spinach and actually sautéed some carrots, red pepper and mushrooms to add in to up the veggies a bit. Turned out fabulous! Thank you for a delicious tummy warming recipe.
You’re very welcome Heidi! I’m so happy it was such a hit! I love your veggie additions too, yummm!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review🩷
Absolutely amazing!!!
This is my third weekend in a row making this soup. It is the most delicious & comforting soup I’ve ever tasted. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
You’re very welcome Lea!! It’s definitely one of my favorites, I eat it all the time! Thanks so much for the great comments, I’m so happy you’re enjoying it!!!🩷
Love this one and have made many times with spinach. I tend to double anything with spice from the ingredient list. To avoid a flour flavor, I thicken with a few packets of chicken gravy mix instead. Great recipe I’ve shared with many.
Wonderful!! I’m soo happy to hear that you love it! Thank you so much for sharing with others and taking the time to leave a review! 🙂 -Stephanie
Wow just Wow! This recipe is absolutely amazing. The flavors are spot on. I was a little worried when I read hot sauce in the recipe. Usually when I make a soup it needs several hours for the flavors to settle in. I am amazed how I made in 1 hour and it was delish!
My husband came back for seconds!
Thank you for sharing your recipe.
AWESOME!!! I am so happy that it was a hit with you and your husband!! I agree, the way the flavors come together in such a short period of time is amazing. THANK YOU so much for the review! 🙂 -Stephanie
This is so delicious! I’ve made it as directed and added carrots, both turned out great. Thank you for a delicious go-to fall/winter dish!
My pleasure Erin!!! I’m so happy you’re enjoying it! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!❤️
I rarely leave reviews on recipes (I’m just a simple internet recipe lurker) but this one deserves it. Followed the recipe *almost* to a tee, with these slight altercations: used 5 tsp of Better Than Bullion paste mixed with the 5 cups of water as the chicken broth; did a fair bit more kale for more veg; omitted the cayenne and red pepper flakes because I’m a wimp with spice.
What a delightful dining experience! So excited for my spouseless and childless self to have this all to myself this week!
Nice work Emma!!! I’m so happy this got you to leave a review, it’s very much appreciated!!😀
Added Bella mushrooms. Amazing!
Excellent!! I’m so glad that you loved it Kelly!
This soup was delicious! Followed the recipe pretty much exactly. So tasty! Will definitely make again.
I’m SO happy to hear that!! Thank you so much for the review Jennifer!! You’re the best!! 🙂