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This Creamy Tortellini Soup is a flavorful and easy slow cooker meal. Rich tomato soup with tortellini, sausage, and spinach are slow cooked to perfection.
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Creamy Tortellini Soup is one of the most hearty, warm, filling dishes ever! There’s nothing better than gathering the family around the table with bowls of comforting, nourishing soup and warm bread. During the winter months it seems we linger at the table a little longer, filling bowl after bowl of this rich soup, savoring its creamy flavor and catching up on conversation and good times. This is one of our family’s favorite tortellini soup recipes. Fresh tortellini, sausage, and spinach give the meal extra bulk, while the creamy tomato base warms your insides and your soul. Plus, the whole thing can be made ahead of time and will simmer all day in the slow cooker so dinner is done by the time you get home!
Ingredients in Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Toss all of these simple ingredients into the slow cooker and dinner will be ready in no time! Here’s what you need for this easy soup:
- Italian sausage – about one pound. Brown in a medium pan on the stovetop, then drain and add to the soup.
- Cheese Tortellini – you can use fresh tortellini or frozen. Switch it up sometimes and try spinach or meat filled tortellini.
- Fresh spinach – I like to use fresh baby spinach leaves, about 15 ounces. The spinach will wilt down as it cooks.
- Italian style diced tomatoes – Find these canned tomatoes in the canned foods aisle, and make sure to drain the juice before adding to the soup.
- Cream cheese – one (8-ounce) brick, softened and cut into chunks. This gives the soup lots of creamy texture without adding heavy cream.
- Broth – You can use chicken broth, beef broth or even vegetable broth for this recipe. You can also use homemade chicken stock or low sodium chicken broth.
- Salt and black pepper – to taste
Additional Ingredients or Substitutions
Fore more flavor or different textures, try adding any of these ingredients to your soup:
- Kale in place of spinach
- Minced garlic and diced onion, cook these along with the sausage or sauté separately until onions become soft
- Diced carrots, celery, or other veggies such as zucchini or squash
- Fresh basil, oregano, thyme or Italian seasoning.
- Parmesan cheese
- Tomato sauce
- For a vegetarian variation, use mushrooms instead of sausage and substitute vegetable stock for chicken broth.
- If you like your food spicy, add a few shakes of red pepper flakes to the crock pot before cooking.
- Swap out the pork sausage for turkey sausage or even shredded chicken
- Non or low fat cream cheese for an even healthier option. Just a warning though: Neufchatel (⅓ fat of cream cheese) doesn’t melt as well and leaves little curds.
No Crockpot? No Problem!
Making tortellini soup without a crock pot is easy and can be done on the stovetop in just a few simple steps. Start by cooking the sausage in a large pot until cooked through. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer over medium heat until the cheese tortellini is cooked to al dente. Season the soup with salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or seasonings for added flavor. Serve the soup hot and enjoy its comforting and cheesy goodness!
What to Serve with Tortellini Soup
Creamy Tortellini Soup pairs well with a variety of sides and accompaniments that complement its rich and comforting flavors. Here are some delicious ideas to serve alongside the soup:
- Garlic Bread: Serve warm and crusty garlic bread for dipping into the creamy broth. For more substance, try it with our loaded garlic bread or hot and cheesy garlic bread.
- Crusty Baguette: A rustic baguette or artisan bread is perfect for sopping up the creamy soup and enjoying the contrast in textures.
- Breadsticks: You can never go wrong with breadsticks and cheese tortellini soup! Try our easy breadsticks or our homemade breadtwists!
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich: For the ultimate comfort food pairing, serve a classic grilled cheese sandwich with a blend of gooey cheese and buttery toasted bread. To kick it up a notch, try this tortellini soup with our Margherita grilled cheese sandwich. YUM!
- Side Salad: Freshen up the meal with a light and refreshing side salad. A simple garden salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a zesty vinaigrette works wonderfully.
- Caesar Salad: A creamy and tangy Caesar salad complements the creamy tortellini soup and provides a perfect balance of tastes.
- Antipasto Platter: Create a delicious spread of olives, marinated artichokes, cheeses, salami, and other charcuterie items to add a variety of flavors and textures to the meal.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheese Tortellini Soup
You can cook this soup on the stove in a Dutch oven or a heavy pot. Bring ingredients to a boil, then stir with a wooden spoon and let it simmer until done. You can also give it a try in the instant pot!
Never add the noodles to the hot soup too soon. The pasta will continue to cook in the soup’s hot broth, so you don’t want them cooking in there too long.
This soup makes delicious leftovers, but doesn’t freeze well. Soups with any kind of cream or milk base tend to separate with freezing and leads to a grainy texture. Instead, refrigerate leftovers and enjoy the soup within three to five days.
More Slow Cooker/Crock Pot Soups to Try
How to Make Creamy Tortellini Soup
Creamy Tortellini Soup
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage browned and drained
- 16 ounces cheese tortellini
- 5 ounces fresh spinach chopped
- 29 ounces Italian style diced tomatoes well drained
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- 4 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in the slow cooker on low heat.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally if possible.
- Stir well and serve in individual bowls.
Notes
- Brown the Italian sausage in a medium pan on the stovetop, then drain and add to the soup.
- Don’t add the tortellini to the soup too soon or the noodles can become mushy.
- Avoid using non or low fat cream cheese. Neufchatel (⅓ fat of cream cheese) doesn’t melt as well and leaves little curds.
Nutrition Information
Delicious! Easy to make.
When should you add the tortellini?
I usually add it about 30 minutes before serving.
This soup was so good I added more spinach and a couple more seasonings, added the tortellini later it was just right.
I’m so happy you like it! Thank you for your comment!
I bought some refridgerated tortellini from the grocery store because that’s all I could find. Do I add that in the beginning with the rest of the ingredients or should I add it later? I want to make this tomorrow in my crock pot but don’t want to screw it up lol. Thanks.
You should add it later! If you add it at the beginning they will get soggy. I would say like 30 minutes before serving.
My daughter made this for a baby shower,soup was served it was a HIT!
I’m going to make this for my dinner later this week.
I am going to make this soup this weekend. Your instruction notes say to not add the tortellini to the soup too soon to avoid it becoming mushy. That seems to contradict the slow cooker instructions that say to add all the ingredients at the start and allow them to cook for 4-6 hours on low. Should I wait to add the tortellini to the slow cooker until the last hour or half hour of the cooking time? Please let me know. Thanks!
If you like a more al dente tortellini, then wait to add them until the last half of the cooking time. Otherwise you can add them at the beginning!
Made it just as the recipe said, and in a crockpot. I added the tortellini about 35 minutes before completion. My family ❤️ it! Seasoned perfectly and it DOES warm your soul! Thanks!
Really want to try this recipe, because it sounds so good! The notes say to not add the tortellini too soon (or it will become mushy), but how soon is too soon? How long does it need to cook in the crockpot?
Oh, that note is for if you make it on the stovetop, sorry! When you make it in the crockpot you add everything at the same time.
I made this soup this week and it is awesome. It is definitely on the keeper list. I shared this with a couple friends and they really enjoyed this soup too. So, I also have shared it with friends. Absolutley worth making!
Could you use goat cheese instead of cream cheese? Just trying to use up my left overs in the fridge!
We haven’t tried that so I can’t say how it will turn out!
I never leave reviews, but this one was worth it. I followed the stovetop instructions and cooked the soup in my Dutch oven. I waited until the last 15 minutes and just made the tortellini separately on the stovetop. I used frozen and boiled it according to package instructions. After draining, I added it to the soup, and then served after a few stirs. My husband says to double the spinach and tomatoes. Will try it with red pepper flakes next time. Thanks for the recipe. We loved it!
Thank you so much for the review! Glad you loved it!
Could I sub canned spinach? I’ve got some on hand.
Sure!
Very good! I used the stove top method and the 1/3 less fat cream cheese melted perfectly. Also used the drained juice from the tomatoes as part of the water for the vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Couldn’t be easier to make!
I’ve made this, but no sausage and chicken broth since I’m vegetarian. I always add garlic, onions, and a mix of seasonings. It’s always been a winner in my house. My boyfriends dad even made me make it for his birthday as his present because he tried it once and was obsessed.
Is the tortellini fresh, frozen or dried?
We usually use frozen tortellini!
I use frozen and it works perfectly. This is my favorite soup…perfect for cold day here in New England
A hit with my family and friends! Always not one drip left. Winner!
So easy to make and so delicious!!! I can see this as a frequent meal in my household. Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfection.
I’m so happy you like it! I love this soup!
Suggestions for InstaPot settings/time?
I wouldn’t use my Instant Pot for this recipe. If you want a quicker cooking method, just put everything in a pot on the stove top and simmer for at least 30 minutes.
Tortellini soup is so good!! It’s filling & full of flavor! Love the sausage in it!
I love a good tortellini soup and I love how creamy this recipe is – my kids loved it!
My kids always ask for this soup. It’s absolutely delicious!
Does this recipe require two 29oz cans of diced tomatoes, or two cans of 14.5 oz diced tomatoes for 29 ounces total? Just made it with two cans of 28 oz tomatoes and it seems to be too much.
I apologize for the confusion. It is just one 29 ounce can. I corrected it on the recipe. Thank you for letting us know!
Loved it!
We made this last night and it was so yummy. We were fighting over the leftovers!
Made this for New Year’s. Super simple and little prep. I added a little tomato paste and more vegetarian broth. I used vegetarian Italian sausage. It’s delicious, My husband is a soup master and he loved it!
Great ideas for making this a meatless soup. Thank you! Happy New Year!
When you used Vegetable broth instead of chicken did you have to add salt?
Exited to make this recipe tonight! Fingers crossed my picky eater (kids) enjoy it. I am thinking I will make on the stove, as my tortellini is not frozen. I will likely crush the tomatoes in blender, so that they are “hidden” from said picky eaters. 🙂
haha love it! You can totally blend up those tomatoes! It will still be delicious! Let us know how they liked it!
Delicious!!!
I tried your cheese tortellini soup and it is the best thing ever! My Husband is a fan too. Made as written except added more garlic and Italian seasoning because my tomatoes were home canned without spices. Will make this again for sure! Thank you and can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
So glad you and your husband liked this recipe! Thanks for taking the time to comment. We are excited you found us!
Could I use a can of crushed tomatoes. I really don’t like tomatoes, I use crushed when a recipe
calls for tomatoes
Yes, crushed should work just fine. Hope this helps 🙂
Made this the other night and it was delicious, even without the sausage. Of course, the meat lover was a tad disappointed, but said it was still worth making again. Next time, I’ll add the sausage.
Made this but did not come out looking like red sauce in the picture?
What gives it creamy red sauce?
Do you add any seasonings?
I think it comes down to the type of tomatoes you use. Italian-style tomatoes create a thicker broth, as they are canned in more of a sauce than a syrup. If you use regular diced tomatoes, it would be thinner. Hope this helps!
Can you double this recipe?
Yes, of course! You will need a larger crock pot, or to cook it in two crock pots.
Do you use dry tortellini or the fresh, refrigerator kind?
You can use either! In this recipe we used the refrigerated kind, but if you wanted to use the dried kind, you would just need to cook it first before adding it to the soup. Hope this helps!
Do you use bulk sausage or lnks?i
We use bulk sausage in this recipe. Thanks for asking!
How long will this last in the refrigerator? Can it be frozen if made in advance?
This will last up to a week in the refrigerator. The pasta does not freeze well – sorry! Thanks for asking!
Can you cook this on the stove? thank you.
Sure, you will just want to adjust the times accordingly
Do you have the nutritional information for this recipe?
We don’t have the nutritional info for many of our recipes but you can plus them in on an online calculator like FitBit or Livestrong.com
This looks delicious! How many servings does this make?
Thanks!
This recipe makes 4-6 servings of soup (4 larger servings, 6 average servings). Thanks for asking!
This sounds wonderful.
Could you cook this on high? If so, how long do you think?
Two to three hours should work on high!
I don’t think I would like fresh spinach cooked for so many hours. Wouldn’t it be better to add it near the end?
The first time I made this, my son asked me if that was moss in the soup! So, I do add it near the end. It holds up better. This soup is delicious!
Haha! No one wants moss in their soup! Adding it at the end is a great idea. I’m so glad you like the soup. Thank you!
I made the in the crockpot the first time; never again as it doesn’t need to cook that long especially the tortellini. I make on the stove top basically after you cook the meat your just heating everything up and I melt down my cream cheese befor I put in my pot.
Do you put the tortellini in the crockpot when it is frozen or thaw it out first?
frozen is fine
How many servings does this recipe make?
It makes about 4 servings.
What size crock pot is needed for this?
A 5-6 quart crock pot works great. Thanks for asking!
Need more soup made with ground beef please. I’m on a very low budget. Can you help please?
If you go to our “recipes” link at the top of our page, you can specify the meals you want to make and the ingredients you want to use and it will formulate a list of ALL our recipes that match those terms! You can check the box that says “soup” and also the one that says “beef” and filter those recipes and you will find what you are looking for 😀 Hope this helps!
This soup sounds great. Thank you and have a wonderful week!
It’s wonderful!