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    Home » Recipes » Soups

    November 3, 2020 · Updated August 25, 2023

    Sausage and Tortellini Soup (with video!)

    5 from 39 votes
    42 Comments

    · by Amanda Gajdosik

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.

    A bowl of sausage and tortellini soup garnished with extra parmesan cheese.

    This Sausage and Tortellini Soup has everything comfort food should! It’s warm, it’s creamy, it’s secretly loaded with vegetables. Plus, there’s cheese! This is a hearty and filling soup recipe that will warm you from the inside out!

    A black bowl is filled with sausage and tortellini soup. It is garnished with parmesan and parsley. The bowl sits in front of another bowl of soup on a gray speckled backdrop.

    This sausage and tortellini soup has quickly become a new favorite in our house! It’s so easy to prepare, so loaded with flavor, and so incredibly filling.

    There’s a kick of spice from the hot Italian sausage, perfectly cooked cheese tortellini, and a splash of rich cream to hold it all together. Grab a big ol’ bowl!

    Ingredients needed for this recipe

    • Ground Hot Italian Sausage (see the sausage section for notes on this!)
    • Cheese Tortellini
    • Carrots
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Chicken Stock
    • Heavy Cream
    • Salt
    • Parmesan Cheese, to serve
    All the ingredients for sausage and tortellini soup are arranged in various glass bowls and measuring cups on a gray speckled backdrop.

    How to make Sausage and Tortellini Soup

    1. Brown the sausage. Until nice and crispy. Remove it from the pot and set it into a paper towel lined bowl to drain.
    2. Cook the carrot, onion, and garlic. In the pan you just browned the sausage in. Add a splash of the chicken stock to help deglaze the pan. Cook everything just until beginning to soften.
    3. Add the tomatoes and the chicken stock. Then bring it all up to a boil.
    4. Add the tortellini. And return the cooked sausage to the pot. Boil the soup until the tortellini are cooked through and then remove from the heat.
    5. Pour in the cream. And stir in the silkiness.
    6. Serve topped with parmesan cheese. And some slices of sourdough bread. You’ll be glad you did!
    Brown the sausage.
    Sauté the veggies and deglaze the pan.
    Add the tomatoes and the stock.
    Add the tortellini and cook.
    Stir in the cream.
    Serve with parmesan cheese!

    Using Ground Sausage vs Linked Sausage

    This recipe calls for hot Italian sausage, but can totally be made with mild or even sweet. I love using sweet Italian sausage in cooking, it’s even a must-have in my momma’s lasagna! Spice may not be for everyone, and that’s totally ok! Simply use whatever you prefer!

    Also, if the store doesn’t have ground sausage you can substitute linked sausage. Simply slice it into coins and brown as you would if it were ground. Or! Slice along the casing, remove and discard the casing, and then crumble the links into the pan. Voila! Ground sausage!

    An overhead shot of a bowl full of sausage and tortellini soup that is garnished with parmesan and parsley. There is a checked napkin to the side of the bowl.

    What does "deglaze the pan" mean?

    This sausage and tortellini soup recipe starts by browning sausage in the soup pot. This will not only cook the sausage but will leave a brown crust on the bottom of the pan. It's called "fond."

    This is a mixture of tiny pieces of sausage, seasonings, and fat. That’s all flavor! It can’t go to waste! So, to be sure we get all those little bits of flavor into our soup (and to keep them from scorching on the bottom), we must deglaze the pan.

    “Deglazing” is just a fancy term for adding a splash of liquid (in this case chicken stock) to the bottom of a pan that has that brown crust of fond on it. This liquid will help loosen all those brown bits to keep them from burning and to incorporate them into the dish.

    After adding the liquid, be sure to stir and scrape the pot to get everything up off the bottom and into the mixture. The liquid you added will then cook out and you’ll be left with all those morsels of flavor throughout your meal! It is divine!

    A bowl full of sausage and tortellini soup with two pieces of sourdough bread sticking up out of the back of it. There is a checked napkin to the side of the bowl and another bowl in the background.

    Optional Serving Ideas

    Many readers have suggested adding spinach or kale to the soup and that has my seal of approval! Throw a few handfuls of greens in when you stir in the cream before serving.

    A black bowl is filled with sausage and tortellini soup. It is garnished with parmesan and parsley. The bowl sits in front of another bowl of soup on a gray speckled backdrop.

    In the video below you'll see I cooked the tortellini separately and ladled the hot soup over for serving. This is a great option if you plan to enjoy the soup for a few days at it helps keep the tortellini from becoming soggy!

    Watch the recipe video!

    More Soup Recipes You May Love

    • Lasagna Soup (also if you're looking for major comfort, check out my momma's lasagna recipe!)
    • Roasted Cauliflower Soup
    • Creamy Acorn Squash Soup
    • Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
    • Creamy Turkey Soup with Rice
    Print Recipe
    5 from 39 votes

    Sausage and Tortellini Soup

    This recipe for sausage and tortellini soup is made with ground Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, and loaded with vegetables! A splash of cream and a sprinkling of cheese make it absolutely perfect to warm you up from the inside out.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Dinner, Pasta, Sausage, Soup, Tortellini
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 368kcal
    Author: Amanda Gajdosik
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Soup Pot

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground hot Italian sausage
    • 3 carrots peeled and diced
    • 1 large white onion diced
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 4 cups chicken stock
    • 29 ounces diced tomatoes from two 14.5 ounce cans
    • 16 ounces cheese tortellini
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • Parmesan cheese for serving

    Instructions

    • In a large soup pot, or heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, brown the ground sausage over medium-high heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined bowl to drain and set aside.
    • Reduce heat to medium and add the carrot and onion, stirring to coat. Add a splash of the chicken stock to help deglaze the pan. Cook the vegetables until they just begin to become tender, about three minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the remaining stock and diced tomatoes. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil.
    • Stir in the tortellini and cooked sausage, making sure everything is well combined. Cook until tortellini are tender, about five minutes.
    • Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream.
    • Serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, if desired.

    Video

    Notes

    • Soup can be kept for up to two days before the tortellini totally fall apart.
    • If wanting to make and freeze this soup: omit the tortellini and cream in the beginning. Cool the soup and freeze. When ready to serve: thaw the soup, reheat and bring up to a boil in a large Dutch oven. Stir in the tortellini and cook until tender before removing from heat and stirring in cream.
    • As seen in the video: Alternatively, tortellini can be cooked to al dente in a separate pot and hot soup can be ladled over top when serving. This helps to avoid the tortellini becoming to soggy! 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2cups | Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 580mg | Potassium: 385mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2919IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 2mg

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Mary says

      September 10, 2023 at 7:51 pm

      5 stars
      This was pretty easy and delicious. I added more fresh garlic, basil and spinach. Sprinkled with red pepper. I will make again. My husband liked it! Enough leftovers for a few more meals.

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        September 10, 2023 at 10:05 pm

        Love to hear this, Mary! Thanks for rating and reviewing!

        Reply
    2. Karen says

      July 04, 2023 at 1:14 am

      5 stars
      Loved the soup but plan to tweak next time. Tossed in a few tbsp of cream cheese for more flavor, along with the Parmesan. Did not like the carrots, and felt they didn’t add anything to the recipe. Might add kale or spinach next time and maybe some red pepper flakes.

      Will definitely make again!

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        July 04, 2023 at 3:22 pm

        Hi Karen! So fun that you're making it your own! And I've heard of many people adding spinach or kale to it with great success! I bet the cream cheese made it ultra creamy! Thanks for reviewing 🙂

        Reply
    3. Meredith says

      February 07, 2023 at 2:56 am

      5 stars
      This soup is beautiful! Comes together quickly and easily, tastes great, and idk why I didn’t trust the “serves 12” in the directions, but it makes plenty for leftovers—that I’m honestly thrilled to have!

      Reply
    4. Pat says

      January 30, 2023 at 4:39 am

      5 stars
      I forgot the cream but was still delicious! Lower calorie too. Will definitely make again

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        January 30, 2023 at 3:17 pm

        The cream is really just an extra cherry on top, so I totally agree that it's still delish without it! So glad you enjoyed it, Pat! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Donna says

      January 25, 2023 at 8:07 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious soup. I added parsley, basil and red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Really tasty!

      Reply
    6. LJS says

      January 23, 2023 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      This was so tasty. Made it last week and we loved it so much. I got all the ingredients to make it again this week! I used Turkey sausage instead and 1/2&1/2 instead of heavy cream to cut out a few calories.

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        January 24, 2023 at 4:31 pm

        Those sound like great swaps! So glad they worked out for you! Happy soup season 🙂

        Reply
      • Beck Organ says

        March 10, 2023 at 3:02 am

        I'm planning on making this soup this weekend...curious to see how the half n half turned out...? I thought recipe called for half in half so that's what I bought only to look at the recipe later and see the heavy cream!!

        Reply
    7. Sherry says

      December 02, 2022 at 10:24 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! Is def in the rotation!

      Reply
    8. Evelyn says

      November 16, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      I added spinach right before serving. We enjoyed it very much. Will make again.

      Reply
    9. Sarah says

      November 14, 2022 at 2:47 am

      5 stars
      Love the soup!! Delicious! It absorbed a lot of the chicken stalk. What do I add to make it a little more liquidy (if that's a word) for leftovers?

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        November 14, 2022 at 1:32 pm

        Hi Sarah, Yes when the tortellini sits in the stock it absorbs a lot of it. When I'm reheating it I like to add a generous splash of stock to make the soup more liquid 🙂 You can also cook the tortellini separately and add them to each bowl when serving, if you'd like. But I'm lazy and don't usually like using two pots. Hope this helps!

        Reply
    10. Renee says

      November 13, 2022 at 6:25 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Will definitely be making often.

      Reply
    11. Janet Jenkins says

      November 06, 2022 at 6:54 pm

      5 stars
      This soup far exceeded my expectations. So easy & absolutely delicious. My entire family loved it!

      Reply
    12. Torii says

      October 14, 2022 at 9:20 pm

      5 stars
      I live by myself so making soups in the crisp fall here in Minnesota is one of my favorites! I cut the recipe in half because it’s just me eating it. I had everything on hand except spinach, so I grated the green of a zucchini and substituted for the spinach. Also added 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little zip. Smells very yum, and I’m really looking forward to enjoying a bowl for dinner. Quick and easy!

      Reply
    13. Charmaine says

      October 14, 2022 at 8:01 pm

      Oh my goodness this soup is amazing! Great for these fall days!
      Thank you so much for this deliciousness❤️

      Reply
    14. Candice says

      October 13, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious soup! All the kids loved it too. Going to be on our winter rotation for soups.

      Reply
    15. Sarah says

      October 05, 2022 at 1:04 am

      5 stars
      This is so so good. Super tasty and it came together quickly and easily. Highly recommend!!

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        October 05, 2022 at 3:41 pm

        LOVE hearing that Sarah! One of my favorite things about this soup is how quickly you can make it! Happy soup season! 🙂

        Reply
    16. Jennifer says

      September 30, 2022 at 3:21 am

      This soup was so easy and really good! Took 35 minutes from start to finish!

      Reply
    17. Kayla says

      November 03, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      5 stars
      Made this soup for dinner last night! Recipe was easy to follow and my husband (who doesn't like soup) admitted he liked it! 🙂

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 05, 2021 at 2:56 pm

        We're all about converting former soup haters with this amazing recipe! Thanks for making this, Kayla 🙂

        Reply
    18. Brittany C says

      October 03, 2021 at 1:47 am

      5 stars
      Finally got around to making this recipe! Not only easy to make but delicious!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 05, 2021 at 2:36 pm

        This is what I LOVE to hear <3

        Reply
    19. Kim says

      September 30, 2021 at 10:28 pm

      5 stars
      Second Time I am making this soup. The first go around was a huge family hit. I love it when Amanda helps me cook dinner 🙂

      Reply
    20. Jeff Kauffmann says

      September 30, 2021 at 2:35 am

      Absolutely delicious! We had the coldest temperature so far this fall. 59° this was perfect to kick off soup season!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        September 30, 2021 at 10:10 am

        Love to hear that Jeff! This is one of our favorite soup recipes to enjoy during the cold months too! 🙂

        Reply
    21. Shannon says

      September 27, 2021 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious!!! The tortellini holds up so well in the soup and the sausage adds a whole level of flavor! We will definitely be making again!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        September 28, 2021 at 10:17 pm

        This absolutely thrills me to hear, Shannon! Thanks for making the recipe 🙂

        Reply
    22. Kayla J. says

      November 20, 2020 at 12:17 am

      Just made this tonight & it was so great! Hubby & toddler approved. We substituted for turkey sausage, but it was still delicious. Will definitely be making it again through the winter!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 21, 2020 at 1:51 pm

        Ahhh! You have no idea how happy this makes me, Kayla! What a great idea to use turkey sausage!

        Reply
    23. Iheoma Nkemere says

      November 06, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      Loved this recipe, Amanda! Perfect for the cold weather, season while being incredibly filling. My roommate have been making our way through this soup for the past few days and it's gotten better with each serving

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 06, 2020 at 9:17 pm

        I am overjoyed to hear that Iheoma! Thanks for making it 🙂

        Reply
    24. Hilary Ann Leonard says

      November 04, 2020 at 6:45 pm

      So so good, Amanda. Will definitely be making this again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 04, 2020 at 7:10 pm

        I am so happy to hear that!

        Reply
    25. Momma Femali says

      November 04, 2020 at 3:49 pm

      So "souper" yummy and easy to make. My family loved it. We will be definitely adding it to the winter soup rotation.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 04, 2020 at 4:03 pm

        I am so happy to hear that Angie! <3

        Reply

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