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Nourishing tortellini soup is packed with healthy ingredients like sausage and veggies swimming in a savory tomato broth.

I love soup recipes, and tortellini is one of my favorite simple ingredients to add to soups. Take, for example, our Creamy Tortellini Soup, Crock Pot Spinach Tortellini Soup, or this one with sausage and veggies!

A bowl filled with tortellini soup.


SO hearty – so good!

I’m telling you right now to drop everything you’re doing and add this tortellini soup to your weekly menu plan!

It is seriously so delicious and is a very satisfying soup recipe, perfect for chilly days or any day.

It’s hearty and delicious, filled with sausage, zucchini, and basil. Plus, tortellini is the perfect addition to soup (we are also obsessed with our creamy Spinach Tortellini Soup).

We hope you love it as much as we do.

A white bowl filled with tortellini pasta.

Follow These Simple Steps

Sausage tortellini soup is so filling and worth the wait!

SAUSAGE. Cook sausage in a pan or dutch oven until browned and broken up.

Add minced garlic cloves and cook sausage for 1-2 minutes longer.

VEGGIES. Move meat to a pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cider, tomato sauce, carrots, basil, and oregano. Bring soup to a simmer, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes stir in zucchini and parsley and simmer for 10-12 more minutes.

PASTA. Add tortellini and cook for 7-10 more minutes. Top with grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Version

For busy days, make tortellini soup with sausage in a crockpot!

COMBINE. Brown the sausage with the garlic and add it to the slow cooker. Pour in the apple cider, chicken broth, tomatoes, to tomato sauce, carrots, zucchini, and herbs.

COOK. Stir, add the lid, and cook for 4-5 hours on LOW or HIGH heat for 7-8 hours. Add the tortellini during the last 30 minutes of the cooking time.

If you had been cooking on LOW heat, turn the setting to HIGH for the last 30 minutes.

Sliced veggies in a pot of broth on the stove.

Variations

Sausage. Use a sweet sausage or a spicy sausage to add more flavor. Or, make it vegetarian by removing the sausage and sauté the garlic for a minute before adding the broth, cider, and other ingredients.

Tortellini. Try different tortellini. Here are some of our favorites:

  • Three Cheese Tortellini
  • Mixed Cheese Tortellini
  • Spinach & Cheese Tortellini
  • Sweet Italian Sausage Tortellini

Add some heat. For a spicy taste use spicy Italian sausage and sprinkle in some red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper.

Make it creamy. Add ⅓-½ cup heavy cream during the last 2-3 minutes of the cooking time. 

Herbs. Replace the dried basil, oregano, and parsley with an equal amount of Italian seasoning.

  • Replace the dried herbs with their fresh counterpart. Use one tablespoon of fresh herbs for every teaspoon of dried herbs. 

Veggies. Toss in some favorite vegetables for added flavor and texture such as green beans, onions, corn, peas, celery, fresh baby spinach, and kale.

Chunky soup filled with tortellini and veggies in a pot.

Make it a freezer meal!

This tortellini soup recipe makes a great freezer meal.

FREEZE. Cook the tortellini sausage soup according to the recipe directions, except do not add the tortellini. Cool the soup and place it in an airtight freezer container or use freezer bags.

Uncooked tortellini can be stored in a separate bag. Label and store both bags in the freezer for up to 6 months.

To reheat. Thaw and heat the soup in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the soup is hot add the tortellini pasta and simmer for 12-15 minutes and serve.

STORE. Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat.

  • Microwave: Heat for 30 seconds, and stir. Continue to heat in 10-second increments stirring in between until warm.
  • Stovetop: Heat over medium heat until hot.

What to serve it with?

Tortellini soup with sausage is filling on its own but pairs perfectly with bread and salads.

Here are some of our favorites:

Close up of a bowl filled with tortellini soup and garnished with herbs.

Recipe FAQ

How can I keep tortellini from getting mushy?

To keep the tortellini from getting mushy, take the soup off the heat as soon as the tortellini has finished cooking. Or, you could cook it separately and add it in at the end of the soup’s cooking time.

How can I tell when tortellini is done cooking?

One of the signs that tortellini is done cooking is when it floats to the surface of the hot water. It is best when cooked al dente.

Can I use fresh herbs in this soup?

You can replace 1 teaspoon of dried herbs with 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs. For this soup, add the fresh herbs during the last 10-15 minutes of the cooking time.

For more tortellini recipes, check out:

4.99 from 94 votes

Tortellini Soup Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Sausage Tortellini Soup is hearty, delicious, and full of healthy, tasty ingredients. Best part, it's on the table in no time!!
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound Italian Sausage, or 4 Italian Sausage links
  • 4 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup apple cider, NOT Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp dried parsley
  • 2 medium zucchini, sliced and halved
  • 16 oz cheese tortellini

Instructions 

  • Cook sausage in a pan until browned and broken up.
  • Add garlic and cook sausage for 1-2 minutes longer.
  • Move meat to a large pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cider, tomato sauce, carrots, basil, and oregano. Bring soup to a simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook for 30 minutes.
  • After 30 minutes stir in zucchini and parsley and simmer for 10-12 more minutes.
  • Add tortellini and cook for 7-10 more minutes. Top with grated Parmesan.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 541kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 1487mg, Potassium: 513mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 3719IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 166mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
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Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!



About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




97 Comments

  1. Looks interesting. But if we cook the sausage for 2 minutes, then add tomatoes and cook for 30 more, then add zucchini and cook for 7-10 minutes, then add tortellini for the last 7-10 minutes we’ve gotten to 45-51 minutes. But your cook time at the top of your recipe post indicates 12 minutes. Maybe that was the old recipe… Please update because I thought I’d be able to get this meal on the table much sooner.

  2. 5 stars
    I am so sad that you changed the recipe before I remembered to write it down. Is there anyway I could get a copy of the old recipe? Thanks!

  3. I bet this recipe is great, I’ll definitely have to try it sometime! Is there any way I could be sent the old recipe for this soup? My family really fell in love with that one! Thank you!!

  4. 5 stars
    This is the best soup! We had a couple screw ups lol!!! Read directions wrong thought it said tbsp of oregano and basil caught it on the oregano, oh well, and the apple cider happened to be caramel flavored, lol!!! It’s crazy how good it is. We really don’t like Italian savage so we used regular Jimmy Dean sausage it is so so good. Oops, I said that already lol!

  5. Did the recipe change recently? I don’t remember the apple cider vinegar, carrots, and a few of the spices.

    1. Yes, we updated this recipe in August 2023. We regularly go back and re-test recipes and update. We love these changes! Hope you do too!

      1. I’m sure this new variation is wonderful but the other was my daughter’s absolute favorite. She’s requested it for her birthday dinner and I don’t have the other recipe written down anywhere. Would you be able to send it to me or direct me to where I might find it? Thank you so much!

        -Lacey

  6. 5 stars
    I just made this soup and it was wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing this easy and delicious recipe! ❤️