Chicken sausage and cheese tortellini make this soup hearty without much fuss. Brown the chicken sausage, get some real color on it, then toss in diced onion, carrot, tomato, and a good shake of Italian seasoning. Pour in chicken broth, simmer, then drop in the tortellini. Don’t overcook, just until they float and look plump. Stir in spinach or kale right at the end. Go creamy with a splash of half-and-half, or keep it brothy. Serve steaming hot, topped with grated Parmesan and a chunk of crusty bread.
Key Takeaways
- Browning the chicken sausage deeply gives the soup its backbone and savory flavor.
- Drop tortellini in at the end so they don’t get soggy; add greens last for color and nutrients.
- The recipe flexes easily for diets, add-ins, and texture, creamy, spicy, chunky, or light.
What Is Chicken Sausage and Tortellini Soup?
Essential Ingredients Breakdown
Sausage and Pasta
The workhorse is chicken sausage tortellini, with sliced or crumbled sausage carrying fennel, garlic, herbs, and enough salt to flavor the broth. Use a pound for a six-person pot. Cheese tortellini (about 10 to 12 ounces) goes in last. Fresh tortellini is best for a delicate bite. You can use frozen or shelf-stable if that’s what you’ve got, but watch the texture.
Vegetables and Aromatics
A classic start: onion, carrot, and celery (mirepoix). Dice them small, about half an inch. Garlic, three or four cloves, minced, should be real, not jarred. Leafy greens matter: fresh spinach wilts fast and gives color, or you can chop kale if you want it toothier. Zucchini’s good, if you want more bulk.
Liquid Components and Seasonings
Broth: chicken or low sodium vegetable, four to six cups. Tomato base is important for depth, one can of diced tomatoes and a tablespoon of tomato paste does the trick. Seasonings: Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, maybe red pepper flakes for heat. A bay leaf if you’re feeling fancy.
Creamy Elements and Garnishes
For creamy chicken sausage soup, add half a cup of heavy cream, half-and-half, or milk. Or skip it for a broth-based tortellini soup. Garnish with basil, parsley, grated Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if you want extra heat.
Step-by-Step Preparation Process
Preparing Ingredients
Start with a big cutting board. Dice one onion, one or two carrots, a stalk of celery (if you have it), and mince the garlic. Slice or crumble your sausage. Keep tortellini in the fridge until you’re ready to use it, don’t let it stick together.
Cooking the Sausage and Aromatics
Heat a splash of olive oil in a Dutch oven. Throw in the sausage and brown it hard, five to eight minutes, until you get crispy edges.[1] This builds the soup’s flavor. Drain extra fat if there’s a lot, but don’t wipe the pot clean. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Stir and cook until soft, about five minutes. Garlic goes in last, just until you smell it, about a minute. Don’t let it burn.
Building the Soup Base
Push the vegetables and sausage to the side. Add a tablespoon of tomato paste and stir until it darkens, about a minute. Dump in the diced tomatoes, then shake in Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. Pour in the broth. Bring it up to a boil, then drop to a simmer for fifteen to thirty minutes. You’ll see the color deepen.
Adding Tortellini and Greens
Tortellini cooks in just a few minutes, three to six, depending on size and if it’s fresh or frozen. Drop it in, stir, and watch for when it floats or feels tender. In the last minute, stir in big handfuls of spinach or kale. They’ll wilt down right away.
Creamy Variation (Optional)
If you want creamy tortellini soup, whisk a spoonful of flour into half a cup of milk or cream, then pour it in slowly while stirring. Or just dump in the cream at the end and stir until warmed through. Don’t boil after adding cream, it could split.
Final Touches and Serving
Taste and add salt or pepper if needed. Ladle into big bowls. Shower with chopped basil or parsley and a heap of Parmesan. Red pepper flakes on top if you want a kick. Serve with crusty bread or a green salad.
Tips for Optimal Flavor and Texture
- Use fresh or refrigerated tortellini, they stay tender, never mushy.
- Brown the sausage deeply for flavor.[2] Don’t skip this.
- Adjust broth for thickness. Less for a stew, more for soup.
- Store leftover tortellini separately, or it will soak up all the broth.
- For a vegetarian version, swap vegetable broth and skip sausage, add more beans or mushrooms.
- Want it spicy? Try hot Italian chicken sausage or double the red pepper flakes.
Dietary Adaptations
This soup easily fits different eats.
- For a lighter soup, use low-fat chicken sausage, skip the cream, and add extra vegetables.
- Need it dairy-free? Use dairy-free tortellini and skip Parmesan.
- Prefer gluten-free? Look for gluten-free tortellini and sausage.
- For meal prep, keep tortellini and soup base separate until serving.
Serving Suggestions
Credit: The Mediterranean Dish
Soup’s good on its own, but better with sides.
- Soup’s good on its own, but better with sides, especially when you’ve got a bowl of something like sausage pasta.
- Crusty bread, ideally sourdough, for dunking.
- Simple green salad with lemony vinaigrette.
- Roasted vegetables or antipasto platter if you’re feeding a crowd.
- For drinks, go with a mild red wine, sparkling water, or a light Italian lager..
Nutritional Profile and Customization
Chicken sausage tortellini soup is high in protein, especially with cheese tortellini and plenty of sausage. Calories run about 350 to 450 per bowl, depending on cream and portion size. You get vitamin A and C from carrots and greens, some calcium from the cheese, and iron from spinach or kale.To customize, try:
- Adding beans for more fiber
- Swapping kale for spinach for a sturdier green
- Using whole wheat tortellini for more nutrients
- Making it spicy with hot sausage or extra chili flakes
Portion and Ingredient Quantities
For a family of six, use these measures:
- 1 pound Italian chicken sausage (about 4–6 links)
- 10–12 ounces fresh or refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 onion, diced
- 1–2 carrots, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14–15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4–6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 4–5 cups spinach or kale
- 1–2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional)
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, basil, parsley, and Parmesan for serving
Additional Considerations for Enhanced Experience
Meal Planning and Storage
Soup base keeps in the fridge for up to four days. To keep tortellini from getting mushy, store it separately and add when reheating. Freezes well without the pasta, but cooked tortellini gets soft after thawing.
Seasonal and Regional Variations
Use whatever vegetables are good, summer squash, zucchini, or even corn. Try different chicken sausages: garlic, spinach-feta, or roasted red pepper for a twist. In colder months, make it creamier and add extra greens for heartiness.
Complementary Side Dishes and Pairings
- Garlic bread with a little cheese melted on top
- Chopped antipasto salad
- Roasted Brussels sprouts or asparagus
- For appetizers: olives, roasted nuts, or caprese skewers
Conclusion
Chicken sausage and tortellini soup might be the kind of meal that forgives a cook’s mistakes, which is rare. Brown the sausage until it’s got some color, toss in fresh tortellini if you can find it, and don’t let the pasta go mushy. The broth, creamy or clear, your call. Store the pasta separate if you want leftovers to hold up. Bread on the side, and you’ve got a dinner that fills everyone up.
FAQ
What makes chicken sausage and tortellini soup a good weeknight meal?
Chicken sausage and tortellini soup is perfect for a weeknight chicken soup because it’s fast, filling, and easy to make. Recipes like one pot chicken sausage soup or quick tortellini soup cut down on dishes. You can use fresh or frozen cheese tortellini soup options and toss in vegetables like spinach or kale. It’s a comforting tortellini soup that doesn’t take much effort but tastes like it does. You also get great protein from the chicken sausage, making it a high protein tortellini soup that keeps you full without spending hours cooking.
How can I make a creamy tortellini soup with chicken sausage?
If you want a creamy tortellini soup, start with a creamy chicken sausage soup base by adding milk or cream to the broth. Creamy spinach tortellini soup is great with wilted greens, while creamy tomato tortellini soup brings in a little acidity. You can also go for creamy chicken pasta soup if you want extra richness. These creamy chicken soup styles work well with chicken sausage and cheese tortellini for a cozy, satisfying bowl that’s perfect when you want something filling but easy.
What’s the best way to make a healthy tortellini soup using chicken sausage?
For a healthy tortellini soup, go for chicken sausage soup with spinach or chicken sausage vegetable soup. Light chicken sausage soup focuses on using broth based tortellini soup options instead of cream. You can also turn it into a low carb chicken sausage soup by cutting down on pasta and adding more greens like kale. Protein packed tortellini soup made with lean chicken sausage keeps you full without feeling heavy. Chicken sausage healthy recipes often include lots of veggies, simple seasoning, and quick cooking times.
Can I make chicken sausage and tortellini soup in one pot?
Yes, you can make a one pot chicken sausage soup in about 30 minutes. It’s an easy tortellini soup recipe where you brown the chicken sausage, toss in broth and veggies, and finish with tortellini. Many people like simple tortellini soup or sausage and tortellini soup easy versions for fast dinners. You can switch flavors by making Italian sausage tortellini soup or tomato tortellini soup. One pot chicken soup ideas like this are also perfect for chicken sausage meal prep since it reheats well.
What are some creative chicken sausage dinner ideas using tortellini?
Chicken sausage with tortellini makes weeknight dinners simple and fun. Try chicken tortellini skillet meals for quick and easy soup recipes that don’t need much cleanup. A hearty winter soup like chicken sausage and kale soup is great when it’s cold. For rustic tortellini soup, go with tortellini soup with Italian flavors or chicken sausage tomato soup. For family friendly soup, creamy chicken sausage soup or tortellini soup with vegetables are kid-friendly. You can also use tortellini soup meal prep ideas for fast chicken sausage quick meals during busy weeks.
References
- https://sweetsavoryandsteph.com/tortellini-soup-with-chicken-sausage-and-spinach/
- https://damndelicious.net/2025/01/24/sausage-tortellini-soup/
Related Articles
- https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/chicken-sausage-tortellini-soup/
- https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/chicken-sausage-and-tortellini/
- https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/chicken-sausage-pasta/
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I’m Mary R. Q. , a seasoned professional chef dedicated to elevating home cooking experiences. Through my expertise in the culinary arts, I provide practical cooking tips and insightful reviews of kitchen utensils on my blog, milkwoodrestaurant.com. As a passionate advocate for transforming everyday meals into extraordinary culinary adventures, I aim to empower home cooks with the knowledge and tools they need to create delicious and memorable dishes. I’m also an author of the book “1,001 Kitchen Tips & Tricks: Helpful Hints for Cooking, Baking, and Cleaning (1,001 Tips & Tricks)” which is sold on Amazon. Join me on a flavorful journey as we explore the art of cooking and the essential tools that make it a joy.
