Description
A hearty and comforting Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup featuring Italian sausage, tender vegetables, flavorful tomatoes, and creamy cheese tortellini, slow-cooked to perfection for a warming meal perfect for any day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
- 4-5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2-3 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper (more to taste)
- ¼-½ tsp crushed red pepper
Pasta and Greens
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 2 large handfuls spinach
Dairy and Garnish
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓-½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatics and sausage: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sauté until onions become translucent and the garlic is fragrant. Add Italian sausage, breaking it into chunks as it cooks. Brown the sausage thoroughly and drain any excess grease to keep the soup lean.
- Assemble ingredients in the crockpot: Place chopped carrots and celery at the bottom of the crockpot. Layer the browned sausage and onion mixture on top. Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, and chicken broth (starting with 4 cups, add more later if needed). Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper over the mixture. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Slow cook the soup: Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, allowing flavors to meld and vegetables to soften perfectly.
- Add tortellini and finishing ingredients: About 20-30 minutes before serving, increase the crockpot to high if it was on low. Stir in spinach, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and cheese tortellini. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini is al dente but not mushy.
- Final touches and serve: Once the tortellini reaches desired tenderness, switch the crockpot to warm or remove from heat to avoid overcooking. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if using. Serve warm with extra parmesan cheese on the side.
Notes
- Adjust chicken broth quantity depending on desired soup thickness; add broth after cooking for thinner consistency.
- Drain sausage grease thoroughly for a less greasy soup.
- Use refrigerated tortellini as frozen tortellini may alter cooking times.
- Fresh basil is optional but adds a nice fresh flavor.
- Keep tortellini cooking time monitored to avoid mushy pasta.
- Leftovers reheat well and may thicken; add broth or water when reheating if needed.
