When it comes to tortellini recipes, sausage tortellini soup is all that! It’s a thick hearty aromatic tortellini soup with plenty of wholesome veggies and savory sausage to boot. All you need is some warm fluffy bread to wipe up the bottom of the bowl and maybe a little something to drink.
Sausage tortellini soup is one of those bold flavorful pasta recipes that gets requested over and over again because it’s just that good. This recipe makes a wholesome meal and it’s sure to be a bold new cold-weather favorite.
Let me show you why!
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What I Love About Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe
I love this sausage tortellini soup recipe because it’s easy to throw together and it’s full of cheesy goodness. Plus, it’s full of wholesome veggies, savory sausage and lots of fragrant spices to amp up the flavor profile. Here are even more reasons to love it!
- Plenty of cheesy yumminess
- Lots of wholesome veggies and savory sausage
- Easily customizable recipe
- Makes a hearty lunch or dinner
- Layers of incredible flavor in every bite
Recipe Notes
Building all that yummy flavor into this recipe happens in a few simple steps. The good news is that the prep is minimal. Here’s how the magic happens!
First, sauté your veggies in the same pot you cook your sausage in. Yes, you must sauté your veggies. I know it’s all going into the same pot, but this step is instrumental in building fond and flavor.
You’ll also be simmering your hearty sausage tortellini soup until it thickens up and the veggies are cooked. Be sure to use medium-low heat and allow only a gentle bubbling since you’ll be stirring occasionally.
Ingredient Notes
Using wholesome quality ingredients in your sausage tortellini soup recipe goes a really long way. It doesn’t require anything out of the ordinary, just a few kitchen staples in the right proportions. Here’s what you need.
Meat – I like to use Italian sausage in this recipe. You’ll need a pound of this spice-infused full-flavored meat. It just adds so much savory flavor to the whole dish.
Sauce – The sauce is a classy blend of beef stock, crushed tomatoes, red wine, and tomato paste in just the right amounts.
Veggies – Diced carrots and zucchini give your polished soup plenty of texture, vitamins, and minerals. It also injects some massive flavor where it’s not expected! Be sure to sauté them.
Alliums – Garlic and onions add so much flavor to your dish. They also need to be sautéed until fragrant.
Spices – An intricate combination of Italian seasonings, bay leaf, black pepper, and sugar lend a flavor that is out of this world!
Cheese – Now we’re getting to the good stuff! Adding a cup of parmesan to your soup gives it a creamy cheesy quality that is simply irresistible.
Tortellini – Oh the classic bowl-shaped pasta! I like to use cheese stuffed tortellini in this recipe. It’s cooked right in the soup to pick up all that awesome flavor.
Storing Tips
Your sausage tortellini soup recipe will keep best in an airtight container in the fridge – if there’s anything left over. It may surprise you how quickly this gets gobbled up but it’s best to reserve the 2-hour serving rule recommended by the FDA.
You’ll also want to keep a little beef broth on hand. The soup will thicken a bit as it sits and adding a little beef broth is the best way to thin it out for serving.
Can You Freeze This?
Kind of. You can prepare this without the pasta and freeze it that way. When you thaw for your serving, soup put it on the stove with some beef broth and toss in your cheese tortellini to cook.
Make Ahead Tips
We’re all busy and prepping ahead saves time. The Italian sausage needs to be cooked the day your soup is made but the veggies and alliums can be chopped before-hand. Just be sure to store them separately. Mason jars work really well for this.
If your schedule is jam-packed, you can always go with the freezing method, so you only need to toss in the tortellini on serving day.
How Long Can You Keep This?
Something magical happens to all those robust flavors as they mingle in the fridge. Your sausage tortellini soup recipe will stay fresh and vibrant for up to 4 days in the fridge. Just be sure it’s stored in an airtight container with a secure lid.
Recipe Variations
Tweaking this sausage tortellini soup is really easy because there’s already so much intense flavor. There are a lot of things you can do but here are a couple of options.
- Use different types of sausage-like sweet or spicy
- Add your favorite veggies like mushrooms
- Try using different types of tortellini pasta
- Top it with a dollop of sour cream
Can I Add Spinach?
Technically you can add spinach to your sausage tortellini soup, but it’ll be overpowered by the tomato. If you’re trying to sneak more greens into your diet or you just really like spinach, you can try making spinach tortellini soup that’ll get gobbled up as soon as it hits the table! Kale works really well too!
Can I Use Chicken Instead?
You kind of need the savory sausage in this sausage tortellini soup with the crushed tomatoes. If chicken tortellini is what really floats your boat make chicken tortellini soup instead. It’s got that salty savory satisfying flavor that goes oh so well with chicken on a cold blustery day.
Can I Add Tomato To This Recipe?
There are crushed tomatoes in this sausage tortellini soup recipe which is part of what makes it so robust. However, with a few small substitutions, you can make a tomato tortellini soup that will knock your socks off! It’s awesome with a grilled cheese sandwich too.
Can I Make This Creamier?
Nothing fills you with a warm fervent glow like creamy tortellini soup. It’s like a big warm hug in a bowl. Simply add a little cream to your sausage tortellini soup and Viola!
You can also take things in a totally different direction with creamy chicken tortellini soup. This one can’t go into the freezer but there won’t be any leftovers.
Can I Turn This Into Salad Recipe?
Okay, here’s where I draw the line. You can’t turn sausage tortellini soup into a salad, but I can certainly understand the craving for a tangy tortellini salad. Sausage tortellini soup is ideal for a scrumptious fall meal that really satisfies.
Save the salad for holiday get-togethers and summer picnics! Tortellini pasta salad is a polished hearty salad that eats like a meal and it’ll do the trick.
Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian Sausage
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 6 cups beef stock
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, plus extra for passing
- 1 (10-ounce) package fresh cheese tortellini
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute Italian sausage, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until sausage is no longer pink. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Pour off and discard all but 2 tablespoons of pan dripping.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions then cook for 3 minutes. Add the carrots to the onions and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the beef stock, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, red wine, zucchini, Italian seasoning, black pepper, sugar, bay leaf, Parmesan cheese, and cooked sausage stirring to combine. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 40 minutes or until the soup has thickened and the vegetables are tender. Remove and discard bay leaf.
- Add the tortellini to the soup and cook until the pasta is tender about 8 minutes. Adjust seasoning. Ladle into individual bowls and serve, passing with extra Parmesan cheese.
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More Tortellini Recipes…
No other pasta is surrounded by so much history and flavor than the little round tortellini and there are a million ways to serve it up. People just love this round stuffed pasta and dishes that feature it are always a hit.
Whether you need a quick cozy dinner or a polished potluck dish, you can reach for tortellini! Here are some of my favorite tortellini recipes that are as flavorful as they are hearty.
- Tortellini Alfredo – Italy’s favorite pasta in a scrumptious cream sauce.
- Tortellini Carbonara – A simple yet creamy, cheesy, savory summer meal.
- Tortellini Al Forno – Cheesy tortellini swimming in creamy bacon sauce.
- Baked Tortellini – You can literally taste Italy in this yummy dish!
Conclusion
Sausage Tortellini soup is a tantalizing blend of wholesome ingredients that jolts your taste buds into submission. This stuff is so good it’s almost hard to describe. Vibrant robust layers of flavor fill your bowl and practically dance down to your tummy.
I love making a big batch of this stuff when it’s really cold outside because I know how much the family enjoys it! Sausage Tortellini soup is a savory full-flavored meal that doesn’t disappoint, and I just know you’re going to feel the same way!
Did you just use the mild Italian sausage to make this soup? Have you made this using the spicy Italian sausage?
Hi Marsha. Yes, I’ve made it both ways and love it either way. My family prefers mild so that is what I generally use. 🙂
At what point do you add the cooked sausage?
Hi Georgina. In step 3 <3