Creamy Tortellini Soup
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Creamy tortellini soup made with Italian sausage, cheese-filled tortellini, kale, and Parmesan rind for extra richness. A cozy comfort food recipe ready in just 30 minutes.

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This creamy tortellini soup is one of the most popular Damn Delicious recipes. A quick and hearty Italian-inspired soup with sausage, kale, and tender tortellini simmered in a Dutch oven.
I’ve loaded up on parkas and electric blankets for myself and Butters. But I don’t know, guys. It’s going to be a dicey winter for us Californians.

But what I do know is this – have as much of this creamy tortellini soup as possible until the polar vortex passes. That and all the crusty bread to sop up all this creamy goodness.
Oh, and the wine. That helps warm you up too, no?
Tips for the Best Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage
- Use fresh tortellini. Fresh cheese tortellini cooks quickly and keeps the soup creamy without becoming mushy.
- Add the cream slowly at the very end to prevent curdling and to keep your tortellini soup creamy and smooth.
- Save leftover Parmesan rinds. Adding them while simmering in a Dutch oven gives this creamy tortellini soup a nutty depth of flavor.
- Store tortellini separately for leftovers. Store cooked tortellini separately when meal prepping or freezing so the soup doesn’t lose its creamy broth.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with homemade crusty bread or garlic knots for dipping—classic sides for creamy tortellini soup.

What to Serve with Creamy Tortellini Soup
Tools For Making Tortellini Soup
Dutch oven or large cast iron pot – essential for simmering creamy tortellini soup evenly.
Dutch oven
Tortellini Soup: Frequently Asked Questions
Swiss chard, baby spinach, collard greens, and cabbage are all great options.
We love using fresh cheese tortellini for a more neutral base but your favorite tortellini would also work very well here.
Absolutely! Dried tortellini can be cooked in a separate pot and added to the soup at the end of cooking time until warmed through.
Heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) has one of the highest fat contents with about 36-40% fat. Half and half or whole milk are suitable substitutes, but will yield a lighter result.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers without the tortellini and heavy cream (cream soups tend to separate when frozen) in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop, adding cooked tortellini and heavy cream when serving.

Creamy Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (3-inch) Parmesan rind, optional
- 1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated three cheese tortellini
- ½ bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess fat.
- Stir in garlic, onion and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken stock, tomato sauce and Parmesan rind, if using. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in tortellini; cover and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in kale until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and basil until heated through, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately.
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My go to soup for a rainy or cold day!! I always add a bit more kale and have started adding carrot and it turns out great. I think zucchini would also be tasty if you’re looking to add more veggies!
Do not skip the parmesan rind! So easy and so good! 10/10 will definitely make again 🙂
Yummy! I added more stock, cream, a tablespoon of tomato paste, zucchini and used mini ravioli from Trader Joe’s. Delicious and the ravioli didn’t absorb the liquid for leftovers
This recipe was delicious!! I have to admit that I had to make some changes due to some picky eaters. But whatever way you fix this wonderful soup…it will be good!
So good and so easy! Came out perfect!
Phenomenal soup!
My family and I love this so much, definitely one of our favorites on a cold rainy day!
I’m on my 3rd round of this soup in about 5 weeks! Delicious. Quick. Filling.
I loventhe aroma of it cooking on the stove too!
Thanks for a great recipe!
My husband says he dreams about this soup!
Hi! I was wondering what everyone served with the dish? Salad or Sandwich ideas would be wonderful. Thanks!
Crusty bread!
Grilled cheese
So good! A favorite in my house and so easy!
We make this on repeat. My husband requests this soup all the time. It is probably our favorite soup recipe ever and so, so easy!! I never leave reviews, but I have to for this recipe as much as I come back to it over and over. It’s a keeper!
This is one of my favorite recipes!! Truly! I come back over and over.
Starting a weight loss journey and now tracking calories. Any idea what the calories are on this per pot or serving?
You just have to find the calories of heavy cream and pasta and sausage
Easy peasy
Such a fantastic recipe! The combination of ingredients is just perfect, and your instructions make it look so effortless. Can’t wait to make it soon!
Great Soup
One of my favorites
So tasty & so quick to make on a weeknight! Thanks for another great recipe!
Could you use frozen kale ????
I use frozen all the time, works fine. Great soup!!
Socks knocked all the way off! This was so good and so quick/easy. I followed the recipe with zero changes. Bowl licking good! This is officially in regular rotation. Amazing!
And not for nothing, but it also super affordable. You wouldn’t know it by the taste.
I doubled recipe. I did add bacon and a little dry mustard. Delicious!
Another spectacular dish from DD. I am Celiac so I it GF using Taste Republic refrigerated GF tortellini and GF flour instead of AP flour. It’s one of the few recipes I have adapted that doesn’t taste or feel (texture) GF. To lighten it up a bit sometimes, I have also made it using ground chicken Italian sausage. I use the recipe from the Chef de Home website and make a half batch (1 lb). It’s equally tasty with the chicken. I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
This is one of my go to dishes when it is cold outside or I just want something cozy. My whole family loves it and it is so easy– I have also brought this as a meal train dish for postpartum moms and it is always a hit!!
This soup was delicious! I made it exactly as written. Thanks again, Chungah and team.