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!
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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! And be sure to try my Marry Me Chicken Soup as well- it also has tortellini!
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
- BEST Clam Chowder
- Tomato Basil Pasta
- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Pasta Primavera
- Meatball Soup
- Marry Me Chicken Pasta
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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 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! And be sure to try my Marry Me Chicken Soup as well- it also has tortellini!
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.
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How many does this recipe feed? I’m trying to feed 8 people and want to know if I should double it?
Hi Olivia! This recipe makes about 10 cups of soup, so it should serve around 6 people depending on portion size. For 8 people, I would recommend doubling it just to make sure you have plenty for everyone (and maybe some leftovers!). Enjoy!! 😊
One question. Is it only 10 ounces of tortellini? Your recipes says 2 cups but it also says 10 ounces.
Thanks for clarifying!
Hi Karen! Yes, 10 oz. is correct! That comes out to approximately 2 cups of tortellini. I hope you enjoy the soup! ❤️
I’ve made this recipe three times now. The third time being today.
I make my the sausage myself.
Using the homemade sausage with your soup is outstanding. My family loves it. Living in Northern New England it is starting to get chilly here so the soup is perfect. Thank for your recipe.
Thank you so much, Bruce! I love that you make your own sausage—that must make this soup extra special! I’m so happy it’s become a repeat recipe for you and that your family enjoys it too. And I agree, this chilly New England weather is perfect soup weather! Thank you so much for the wonderful review! 😊
I have to say this is the best recipe I’ve found on Pinterest truly feels homemade and comforting. The spices were excellent. I didn’t have to tweak it one bit
WOW, thank you so much, Tammie! What a wonderful compliment! 🥹 I’m so happy you loved the flavors exactly as written and found it so homemade and comforting. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a fantastic review! ❤️ -Stephanie
I’ve made this soup a few times but made it for my brother for the first time. He declared it the best soup he’s ever had (and he’s a foodie) and drained the pot!
I used homemade chicken stock and grabbed dried tortellini because I didn’t want to walk across the store 😂. The dried pasta held up SO well to the cooking and broth (I don’t love my pasta over done) and I think I will use it going forward. Thanks for the brilliant recipe!
Oh WOW, best soup he’s ever had?! I’ll take it! 😂 I’m so happy it was such a hit, Samantha! And I love hearing how well the dried tortellini worked—I don’t blame you one bit for not wanting to walk across the store! 😂 Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful review! ❤️ -Stephanie
Been making this for a while now, but hate Kale. We use Escarole instead. Everyone loves it
I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying this one, Jason! Escarole is a great swap for the kale, and I love that you’ve made it your own. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review! 🙌 -Stephanie
So good! I didn’t have kale, so I substituted baby spinach, and it was great! I’ve made variations of this recipe several times now, but I always stick with your base ingredients and instructions. I’m going to share your link with my subscribers!
I’m sooo happy that this recipe has been a hit for you Doris!! I love using spinach when I don’t have kale too! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing the link with your subscribers, I appreciate that SO much! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend! -Stephanie
Love love love this recipe! My family gets giddy every time I suggest making it. When I have swiss chard in the garden, I use it instead of or for part of the kale. I also use 10% cream and it is delicious.
I am sooo happy to hear that Hélène!! (I just bought kale and you have me wanting this now!) I love that you use garden Swiss Chard when you can too! DELICIOUS!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I appreciate it so much!! -Stephanie
I had the liberty of making this recipe today. It’s very good. I added just a bit of Creole seasoning, not too much, just to spice it up a bit. 10/10
Excellent!! I’m so glad that you loved it Ty!! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, it really means a lot! 🙂 -Stephanie
One of our favs! Sometimes we sub gnocchi for tortellini, but absolutely magic either way. Love, love, this recipe.
I’m soo glad that you love this soup!! It’s one of my favorites, I always have some in the freezer and I boil fresh tortellini for serving! Gnocchi is great as well, I actually also have a Sausage Gnocchi Soup recipe! 😆 Thank you so much for the review Julia!