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Creamy Tortellini Soup - My favorite cozy weeknight soup made in 30 min! Loaded with tender tortellini, sausage and kale! And it's so easy!

My favorite cozy weeknight soup made in 30 min! Loaded with tender tortellini, sausage and kale! And it’s so easy!

Creamy Tortellini Soup - My favorite cozy weeknight soup made in 30 min! Loaded with tender tortellini, sausage and kale! And it's so easy!

Have you seen the news? It’s apparently -50 degrees windchill in Chicago right now. I wish I was joking. Meanwhile, it was 69 degrees F here in LA today. How will Butters and I survive in the Windy City?

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.

Creamy Tortellini Soup - My favorite cozy weeknight soup made in 30 min! Loaded with tender tortellini, sausage and kale! And it's so easy!

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 and tricks for success

  • Use fresh tortellini. Fresh tortellini will cook much faster than dried or frozen tortellini, and will yield more softer pasta.
  • Add the cream slowly. Always add the heavy cream at the very end, pouring very slowly to prevent curdling.
  • Save leftover Parmesan rinds. Get more out of those expensive Parmesan cheeses by using up the leftover rinds! Adding a Parmesan rind slightly thickens the broth and adds a level of nutty richness to the soup.
  • Store tortellini separately for leftovers. When planning for leftovers, store the cooked tortellini separately from the soup to prevent it from soaking up all the broth.
  • Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
Creamy Tortellini Soup - My favorite cozy weeknight soup made in 30 min! Loaded with tender tortellini, sausage and kale! And it's so easy!

Tools For This Recipe

Dutch oven

Creamy Tortellini Soup: Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for the kale?

Swiss chard, baby spinach, collard greens, and cabbage are all great options.

What type of tortellini is best?

We love using fresh cheese tortellini for a more neutral base but your favorite tortellini would also work very well here.

Can I use dried (shelf stable) tortellini?

Absolutely! Dried tortellini can be cooked in a separate pot and added to the soup at the end of cooking time until warmed through.

What is heavy cream?

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.

Is this freezer friendly?

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

Creamy Tortellini Soup

My favorite cozy weeknight soup made in 30 min! Loaded with tender tortellini, sausage and kale! And it's so easy!
5 stars (481 ratings)

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
  • (3-inch) Parmesan rind, optional
  • 1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated three cheese tortellini
  • ½ bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
  • 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.

Video

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