Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe

There’s something truly special about a soup that feels like a full meal, a complete embrace in a bowl.

This sausage tortellini soup is exactly that, a hearty and flavorful one-pot wonder that comes together with surprising ease.

Why This Soup is a Weeknight Hero

We all have those evenings where the goal is simple: get a deeply satisfying dinner on the table without a huge production.

This soup was born from exactly that need, delivering rich, rustic flavor in a timeframe that feels almost like a magic trick.

Ingredients Needed for the Recipe

Gathering these simple components is the first step toward a fantastic meal.

Each one plays a specific role in building the soup’s comforting layers of flavor and texture.

• Pork Sausage: The star of the show, it provides a savory, spiced foundation and rich, flavorful fat for cooking.
• Yellow Onion & Garlic: These aromatics create the essential flavor base, becoming sweet and fragrant as they sauté.
• Chicken Stock: Opt for stock over broth if you can, as it offers a deeper, more robust backbone for the soup.
• Canned Diced Tomatoes & Tomato Paste: Together, they bring a bright, tangy acidity and concentrated tomato depth.
• Dried Oregano & Basil: These classic Italian herbs infuse the broth with their warm, earthy essence.
• Granulated Sugar: Just a touch is all you need to perfectly balance the sharpness of the tomatoes.
• Red Pepper Flakes, Black Pepper, & Kosher Salt: This trio lets you fine-tune the heat and seasoning to your personal taste.
• Cheese Tortellini: These little pasta parcels deliver a delightful, cheesy surprise in every single spoonful.
• Baby Spinach Leaves: Added at the very end, they wilt gently into the hot soup, contributing a fresh, vibrant touch.

The Right Pot for the Job

Using a heavy-bottomed pot, like a Dutch oven, makes a noticeable difference here.

It distributes heat evenly, preventing any scorching and allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.

How to make Sausage Tortellini Soup?

The process is straightforward, but a few key techniques build the incredible flavor.

Just follow these steps, and you’ll have a steaming pot of comfort ready in no time.

Step 1 – Brown the Sausage

Heat a skillet over medium heat and form the sausage into small, rustic balls with your hands.

Cook them in two batches to ensure they brown properly and cook through, then set them aside on a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 2 – Sauté the Aromatics

In that same skillet, using the glorious rendered sausage fat, cook the chopped onions until they become soft and translucent.

Stir in the pressed garlic and let it cook for just 30 seconds more, until its fragrance fills your kitchen.

Step 3 – Build the Broth

While the onions are cooking, combine the chicken stock, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, dried herbs, sugar, and spices in your large soup pot.

Bring this mixture to a lively boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer uncovered for about ten minutes to let the flavors get acquainted.

Step 4 – Combine and Crush

Stir the sautéed onion and garlic mixture into the simmering broth.

Now, take a potato masher and give everything a few gentle presses to lightly crush the tomatoes and onions, which helps thicken the soup slightly.

Step 5 – Cook the Tortellini and Finish

Add the cheese tortellini to the pot and cook it according to the package directions.

In the final minute of cooking, stir in the reserved sausage and the fresh spinach, just until the spinach wilts.

Step 6 – Serve Immediately

Ladle the hot, steaming soup into deep bowls.

This is the moment where a chunk of crusty bread for dipping becomes absolutely non-negotiable.

Tips

A few small touches can elevate this soup from great to absolutely exceptional.

Don’t be afraid to make it your own with these simple suggestions.

• For a more complex flavor, deglaze the onion pan with a splash of white wine after sautéing, scraping up all the browned bits.
• Always taste your soup just before serving and adjust the salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes to suit your palate.
• If you have leftovers, the soup often tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had more time to mingle.
• A final garnish of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh herbs adds a wonderful finishing touch.
• If your soup thickens too much upon standing, simply loosen it with a small splash of additional chicken stock when reheating.

Ingredient Swaps and Variations

The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility, so feel free to adapt it based on what you have on hand.

A different protein or vegetable can give the soup a whole new character with minimal effort.

• For a lighter option, try using Italian turkey sausage or even ground chicken seasoned with fennel and red pepper flakes.
• If you’re not a fan of spinach, chopped kale or Swiss chard are robust greens that work wonderfully in this soup.
• Feel free to experiment with different tortellini fillings; a three-cheese or mushroom version would be delightful.
• To add more substance, a can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans can be stirred in with the tortellini.

Storing and Reheating Your Soup

This soup makes for fantastic leftovers, but the pasta requires a little special consideration.

With a simple trick, you can enjoy it days later without the tortellini becoming mushy.

• For the best texture, store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
• When reheating, do so gently on the stovetop over low heat to prevent the tortellini from breaking down.
• If you plan to freeze the soup, it’s best to do so before adding the tortellini and spinach for optimal results.
• You can also cook and freeze the tortellini separately, then add them to individual portions when you reheat.

Print Recipe

Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe

Author: Kelsey Perez Cooking Method: Simmering Cuisine: Italian Courses: Dinner, Lunch

Difficulty: easy Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 30 mins Total Time 45 mins

Servings: 6 Estimated Cost: $ 15 Calories: 420

Best Season: Fall, Winter

Description

This Italian sausage tortellini soup is hearty, flavorful, and ready in under an hour. Packed with spicy pork sausage, tender cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach in a rich tomato-basil broth, it’s the ultimate comfort meal. Serve it with crusty bread for a complete, satisfying dinner that feels like a hug in a bowl.

Ingredients

Servings

• 1 package (16 oz.) pork sausage (Jimmy Dean All Natural Regular Pork Sausage or similar)
• 1.5 cups chopped yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic (pressed)
• 4 cups chicken stock (or low-sodium broth)
• 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes (with juice)
• 1 can (5 oz.) tomato paste
• 1 tbsp dried oregano leaves
• 1 tbsp dried basil leaves
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar (to balance acidity)
• 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
• 0.75 tsp kosher salt
• 10 oz cheese tortellini (dried, frozen, or refrigerated (adjust cooking time accordingly))
• 3 oz fresh baby spinach leaves

Instructions

1. Brown the Sausage

   Heat a skillet over medium heat. Form small sausage balls by pressing the sausage together with your hands and dropping them into the hot pan. Cook in two batches, browning all sides and cooking through completely. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

2. Sauté Aromatics

   In the same skillet, sauté the chopped onions in the leftover pork fat until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the pressed garlic and sauté for 30 seconds more.

3. Build the Broth

   Meanwhile, in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven, combine the chicken stock, diced tomatoes (with juice), tomato paste, oregano, basil, sugar, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil.

4. Simmer and Blend

   Add the onion-garlic mixture to the pot. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Use a potato masher to lightly crush the tomatoes and onions into the soup for added texture.

5. Cook Tortellini and Finish

   Add the tortellini and cook according to package directions (usually 7–9 minutes for dried). Stir in the cooked sausage and fresh spinach. Cook just until the spinach wilts, about 1–2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

6. Serve

   Serve immediately with crusty bread and optional grated Parmesan or fresh basil on top.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6

---

Amount Per Serving

Calories 420kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 23g36%

Saturated Fat 8g40%

Cholesterol 60mg20%

Sodium 1100mg46%

Potassium 720mg21%

Total Carbohydrate 32g11%

Dietary Fiber 4g16%

Sugars 6g

Protein 22g44%

---

Calcium 120 mg

Iron 3 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

• Make it richer: Add a splash of dry white wine when sautéing onions and garlic.
• Storage tip: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat with a splash of broth to loosen.
• Customize it: Swap spinach for kale or add white beans for extra heartiness.
• Make it lighter: Use turkey sausage and low-sodium broth to reduce fat and sodium.

Keywords: sausage tortellini soup, Italian soup, quick dinner, one-pot soup, cheesy tortellini soup