Description
This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a delicious and comforting Italian-American dish featuring flavorful Italian sausage, tender cheese tortellini, fresh spinach, and a rich creamy broth made with chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a cozy meal any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Broth
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Dry and Spices
- 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon for even cooking and texture.
- Sauté vegetables: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the cooked sausage and sauté until the onion becomes translucent and soft, which enhances the soup’s flavor base.
- Add liquids and seasoning: Stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the soup: Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Cook the tortellini: Add the refrigerated cheese tortellini to the pot and cook according to package instructions until tender, typically about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add spinach: Stir in the fresh spinach and cook just until it wilts, preserving its bright color and fresh taste.
- Finish with cream and cheese: Lower the heat to very low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Allow the cheese to melt and blend into the soup forming a creamy texture.
- Season to taste: Taste the soup and season with salt and black pepper as desired. Serve the soup hot for best flavor and enjoyment.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream to reduce fat content.
- You can replace spinach with kale for a heartier texture and a slightly different flavor.
- Adjust spiciness by using spicy Italian sausage or increasing the crushed red pepper flakes.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control sodium levels if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1180mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
