Description
This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a comforting and flavorful one-pot meal featuring browned Italian sausage, aromatic spices, tender cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach all simmered in a rich, creamy broth topped with Parmesan cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it combines hearty ingredients with creamy textures for a satisfying bowl of soup.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
Creamy Elements and Add-ins
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through.
- Sauté Vegetables and Spices: Add the diced onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make Roux: Sprinkle the flour over the sausage mixture, stirring well to coat everything evenly. Cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Add the drained diced tomatoes and bring the soup to a gentle simmer.
- Incorporate Cream and Tortellini: Stir in the heavy cream followed by the refrigerated tortellini. Let the soup cook for 7 to 9 minutes until the tortellini are tender and cooked through.
- Add Spinach and Season: Add the roughly chopped fresh spinach to the pot and cook just until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Season the soup with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Turkey sausage can be used as a lighter alternative to Italian sausage.
- Kale can replace spinach if preferred for a different leafy green taste.
- Leftovers tend to thicken due to the cream and starch from tortellini; add extra chicken broth when reheating to adjust consistency.
- For spicier soup, increase the red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausage.
