Sausage Tortellini Soup is tender cheese tortellini and mild Italian sausage in a rich, creamy tomato broth, made with cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and parmesan. Then, after garnishing the soup with fresh parsley, I like to add even more parmesan cheese to my bowl! If you love this creamy, comforting soup, you’ve got to try my One-Pot Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup next! It has all the same cozy flavors with even easier cleanup, perfect for busy nights! Or, let the slow cooker do most of the work in my Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Tortellini: Look for fresh cheese tortellini and cook it according to package instructions. It will be added at the end of the recipe. Although I used cheese tortellini, this soup would be delicious with other kinds like spinach, mushroom, or even a meat-stuffed tortellini.
- Italian Sausage: I chose to use mild Italian sausage, but go for spicy Italian sausage if you want a bit more of a kick to each bite! Or, try the soup with ground pork sausage, turkey sausage, ground chicken, or even ground beef (but it may change the flavor profile of the soup).
- Tomato Paste: This thick ingredient gives the soup a strong tomato flavor. It also helps make the soup a little thicker, so it’s nice and smooth. When you cook it with the sausage and onions, it becomes even sweeter and balances the creamy flavors.
- Diced Tomatoes: The diced tomatoes add a fresh taste and some texture to the soup. They have a bit of acidity, which helps balance the richness of the cream and cheese. The juice from the diced tomatoes (do not drain them) adds extra liquid to the soup, making it flavorful without being too heavy. For a little added heat to the soup, look for diced tomatoes with green chilis.
- Cream Cheese & Heavy Whipping Cream: The soup’s creaminess comes from the cream cheese and heavy whipping cream (heavy cream). If you want a little lighter soup, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Another option is to increase the amount of chicken broth and use just a little bit of cream cheese and heavy cream.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan cheese is not only added to the soup, but I always add a little extra to my portion, too!
Can I Adjust The Spice Level of Sausage Tortellini Soup?
Sure! The soup as written is fairly mild, made with mild Italian sausage. But, it is easy to make the soup a little (or a lot) spicier. Try hot or spicy Italian sausage instead of mild. Or, add some red pepper flakes (crushed red pepper) to the soup. If I wanted more of a kick, I would add diced jalapeno peppers and a dash of hot sauce!
What To Serve With Sausage Tortellini Soup
Here are some delicious side dishes I would serve with this soup to round out the meal:
- Crusty bread like ciabatta or a French baguette
- Garlic breadsticks (Have you tried my Focaccia breadsticks, yet?!? They are my favorite!)
- Garlic Cheese Bread
- Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
- Garlic and Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
- Caprese Corn Salad
Storing & Reheating Sausage Tortellini Soup
To store sausage tortellini soup, first, let it cool to room temperature. Next, store the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat the soup on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Can I Freeze Sausage Tortellini Soup?
Yes, you can freeze sausage tortellini soup. First, let it cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Since it contains heavy cream and cream cheese, these ingredients may separate when frozen, so if I know I will freeze the soup, I keep them out and add them back during reheating. (But, you can freeze the soup if you have already added the cream-based ingredients; it will still be delicious!) You might want to add a little chicken broth or water to adjust the soup’s consistency when reheating.
Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 20 ounces fresh cheese tortellini
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ small yellow onion, diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- ½ package (4 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 g) chicken broth
- 1 cup (238 g) heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (about 3-6 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the rest and set the tortellini and reserved pasta water aside.
- To a medium Dutch oven over medium heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Add the Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and no longer pink, stirring frequently, 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until the sausage and tomato paste are fully combined.
- Add the cream cheese, chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan. Stir until the cream cheese and parmesan are completely melted, about 10 minutes.
- Add the cooked tortellini to the soup, stirring to combine. If the soup is too thick, slowly add the reserved pasta water, starting with ½ cup, until you reach your desired consistency. (I used the entire cup of pasta water.)
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra parmesan cheese.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
Wow! I loved this soup. I kept going back for more!
Elizabeth
I thought this soup was good. I would maybe use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream just to lighten the cream sauce a bit. But, it is very flavorful, and I love cheese tortellini!
Annabelle
This is a simple, but hearty soup that a lot of people would like. It's not spicy and very comforting.
Bella
This soup is really creamy, hearty, and full of flavor. Perfect for the main course with the sausage and tortellini in it.
Selena
The Italian sausage adds so much flavor, and the tortellini soaks it all up. A great, cozy meal!
Wow, I never write reviews as I most often read an interesting recipe and then run with it and I don’t think it’s fair to review a recipe unless you prepare it as it was written. Amanda, your Sausage Tortellini Soup was amazing and my family is also obsessed with this soup. I served it with Cheesy Garlic Bread to dunk in the soup and a Caesar Salad and my family were all happy campers. This meal definitely brought grilled cheese and tomato soup to the next level. Comfort food at it’s best and when the three men in my life ask me to make this again and two are chefs, I know this will go in rotation around this homesteader family. I did make one change from mild to hot Italian sausage as we already had it and that wouldn’t change the favor, just add a little heat and it was delicious.