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This easy tortellini soup recipe is packed with delicious ingredients, only takes 10 minutes to prep, and is perfect all year long.
Our Fav Pasta in Soup!
Drop everything you’re doing and add this tortellini soup to your weekly menu plan because we guarantee you’re going to love it. This seriously delicious soup has our favorite pasta in it, is prepped in 10 minutes and is perfect for chilly days.
With its cheese-filled tortellini, Italian sausage, and tender vegetables, it’s on repeat all fall and winter long. Complete the meal with some fresh Dinner Rolls or take it up a notch and serve the soup in homemade or store-bought Bread Bowls.
For a set-it-and-forget-it (but different) version of tortellini soup, try our Crockpot Tortellini Soup!
Why We Love It:
- Hearty and satisfying. Tortellini soup is a filling meal that will leave your family feeling full and content 🙂
- Easy to make. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, tortellini soup is a perfect, easy dinner option.
- Add to it. Customize tortellini soup to your liking by adding different vegetables, proteins, or herbs and spices.
Easy Tortellini Soup Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 50 minutes
- 1 pound Italian Sausage, or 4 Italian Sausage links – Use a sweet sausage or a spicy sausage to add more flavor.
- For a VEGETARIAN version, remove the sausage and sauté the garlic for a minute before adding vegetable broth, cider, and other ingredients.
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic – (4-5 cloves of garlic) see How to Mince Garlic
- ½ cup apple cider – NOT apple cider vinegar
- 4 cups chicken broth – chicken stock or vegetable broth
- 1 (5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley – or an equal amount of Italian seasoning
- 2 medium zucchini – peeled and sliced
- 16 ounces cheese tortellini – frozen, fresh, or Barilla dry cheese tortellini. Try Three Cheese Tortellini, Mixed Cheese Tortellini, Spinach & Cheese Tortellini, or Sweet Italian Sausage Tortellini.
- optional additions. Add green beans, onions, corn, peas, celery, fresh baby spinach, and kale. For a spicy taste use spicy Italian sausage and sprinkle in some red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper.
Fresh Herbs
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.
How to Make Tortellini Soup
- SAUSAGE. Cook 1 pound sausage in a pan until browned and broken up.
- Add 4 teaspoons garlic and cook sausage for 1-2 minutes longer.
- BROTH. Move meat to a large pot. Stir in 4 cups broth, 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, ½ cup cider, 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 cup chopped carrots, 1 teaspoon basil, and 1 teaspoon oregano. Bring soup to a simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- VEGGIES. After 30 minutes stir in 2 medium zucchini sliced and 2 tablespoons parsley and simmer for 10-12 more minutes.
- PASTA. Add 16 ounces tortellini and cook for 7-10 more minutes. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
For busy days, try our Crockpot Tortellini Soup!
Perfect Tortellini
- 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.
- To avoid mushy tortellini, take the tortellini soup recipe off the heat as soon as the tortellini has finished cooking. Or, cook it separately and add it in at the end of the soup’s cooking time.
Make It Creamy!
Easily make this soup creamier by adding ⅓-½ cup heavy cream during the last 2-3 minutes of the cooking time.
Complete The Meal
Sides
Soups
Creamy Tortellini Soup
20 mins
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
30 mins
Italian Wedding Soup
35 mins
Crockpot Tortellini Soup
3 hrs 5 mins
Collections
Tortellini Soup Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage, or 4 Italian sausage links
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ cup apple cider, NOT apple cider vinegar
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced and halved
- 16 ounces cheese tortellini
Instructions
- Cook the sausage in a pan until browned and broken up.
- Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
- Move meat to a large pot. Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, apple cider, tomato sauce, chopped carrots, basil, and oregano. Bring soup to a simmer over medium heat, then cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes stir in the sliced zucchini and parsley and simmer for 10-12 more minutes.
- Add tortellini and cook for 7-10 more minutes. Top with grated Parmesan.
Notes
- Sausage: Use mild or spicy sausage depending on your preference.
- Tender Pasta: Do not overcook the tortellini so it stays tender. To avoid mushy tortellini, take the tortellini soup recipe off the heat as soon as the tortellini has finished cooking. Or, cook it separately and add it in at the end of the soup’s cooking time.
- Veggies: Slice veggies evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Thin Soup: Add extra broth if you prefer a thinner soup.
- Make it Creamier: Add ⅓-½ cup heavy cream during the last 2-3 minutes of the cooking time.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Cook according to the recipe directions, except do not add the tortellini. Cool 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.
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 leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze it for up to 3 months; the tortellini may be a bit mushy but still delicious.
I’m curious. If so many liked the original recipe so much, why was it changed?
I have been making this soup for years, but use red wine rather than apple cider. I have never tried with cider, but the wine adds an incredibly delicious element to the soup and is more readily available.
Excellent and delicious soup! The whole family loved it.
Our family loves this Tortellini Soup. Delicious!!
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.
Thanks for catching that. We will get the recipe updated.
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!
Original Recipe
Sausage ‘Tortellini Soup Recipe by lil luna
https://www.copymethat.com/r/saFBaggRo/sausage-tortellini-soup-ready-in-20-minu/
Ingredients
9.6 oz Sausage Crumbles (1 bag)
2 tbsp minced garlic
29 oz chicken broth (2 14.5 oz cans)
9 oz package refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 1/2 cup water
1 14.5 oz diced tomatoes (1 can)
1 cup fresh baby spinach chopped
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp garlic salt
pepper
shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Add sausage crumbles and garlic to a large pot and cook for 1 minute.
2. Stir in broth, water and tomatoes and bring to a boil.
3. Add tortellini and cook for 6-7 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to low and add spinach, basil, salt and pepper. Cook for a few more minutes and serve warm with shredded Parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
I prefer using the fully cooked Sausage Crumbles (Jimmy Dean makes them, but I’m sure there are other brands) for the sake of time and convenience! If you’d rather use fresh sausage, just cook until no longer pink before adding in the garlic and cooking for 1 minute.
Thank you so much for posting the old recipe!
Where can we find the original recipe?? Please post
Yes we need the original please!!!!
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!!
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!
Glad to hear the soup turned out delicious even with a few changes! 😉 Thanks for giving it a try!
Did the recipe change recently? I don’t remember the apple cider vinegar, carrots, and a few of the spices.
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!
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
It’s your site so do what you want but I’d really like the original
This look delicious but could I get the original recipe too.
I just made this soup and it was wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing this easy and delicious recipe! ❤️
This soup is delicious. My whole family loved loved it.
I use turkey sausage instead of the crumbles
Great soup – we made it this weekend. Packed with flavor perfect for a cozy day.
Exactly what I was craving. I made a batch and will keep it for lunch for the next few days!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that. Leftovers are the best too! 🙂
I LOVE tortellini, so I knew I had to try this soup as soon as possible. I’m so glad that I did because it is a new favorite. Thank you!
Amazing!
Love your recipes! Funeral potatoes is one of our new favorites!
This soup definitely gets 5 stars for being EASY! Next time I would like to try it with regular sausage instead of the precooked crumbles. But the flavor is amazing! My whole family loved it.
Tortellinis are a childhood favorite. The combination of those and meat and veggies is top notch!
This soup is so quick and easy to make! And, my whole family loved it!
I love a good tortellini, and this soup is delicious! I love that it’s easy. Another win. ♥️
I love tortellini! This soup was quick, easy, and so good. More things I love about the soup.
My kids love the combo of the sausage with the tortellini in this soup. And it’s so filling too!
This soup is soooo delicious! I’ve made it without the sausage as well & it’s also really good!
We love this recipe (Sausage and Tortellini Soup) and have been making it for years! I recently noticed that you have changed the recipe to Spinach instead of Zucchini, along with several other changes. We prefer that recipe, but unfortunately don’t have a copy of it. Can you email me the orginal recipe? Thank you so much!
Lynda
I am always changing soups, adding new ones, taking ones away, so not sure which one you are referring to. I do have this one with zucchini, https://lilluna.com/sausage-soup/. I hope this is the one you are looking for.
Easy and so good! Everyone loves the heartiness! I would recommend using the mini tortellini if you plan to freeze or keep for a few days.j
Thank you! Glad you tried it!
I love easy crockpot/slow cooker recipes! This one doesn’t disappoint! So yummy and filling and warmed me up on a cold winter night after teaching all day!!
It winter time☃️ Always have a pot of soup on the stove and this one did not disappoint !! Great flavor ⭐️
I made this soup a couple weeks ago with the cheese tortellini from Costco and it was amazing. Definitely will make again.
This is one of my family’s favorite soups!! Super yummy & quick!
We love this soup! Now that I have a gluten free eater in my home, we are desperately on the hunt for a good gluten free tortellini substitute!
This is our go to comfort meal or when one of us is sick! We like to add mozzarella pearls at the end instead of Parmesan. So yummy.
I made this last year & it was amazing! Its one of mY Hubby’s favorite dinners i make him! I Have even made it for friends they love it! I cook regular sausage & dont use spiNich.. but make garlic bread sticks to dip in the soup! Thx Delicious!!
Sounds good! I am so glad it’s his favorite! Thank you for letting me know that!
I’m sure This version of the soup is very good. But what happened to the original one with zucchini and carrots and italian sausage. That was my families favorite!!! I never wrote it down because i had it pinned. HElp!! I need the other version!!
This is the only other one I have..hopefully, it’s it..https://lilluna.com/sausage-soup/
Why did you change this recipe? The recipe onCe called for apple cider, ZUCCHINI, carrOts aNd Now thOse inGredients are gone and replaced with spinach.
I am always changing recipes, but not sure of any of these are what you were looking for…https://lilluna.com/chicken-tortellini-soup/, https://lilluna.com/italian-chicken-vegetable-soup/, https://lilluna.com/sausage-soup/
No, you’ve changed it. This might be good, but just NOT the same! Won’t stop me from trying others, though ?
Luckily I made a copy of the original recipe.
4 links Italian Sausage
4 tsp garlic minced
1/2 cup apple cider (not apple cider vinegar)
4 cups chicken broth
15 oz can tomatoes diced
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup carrots chopped
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tbs dried parsley
2 medium zucchini sliced
16 oz cheese tortellini
1. Cook sausage in a pan until browned and broken up
2. Add garlic and cook sausage for 1-2 minutes longer
3. move meat to pot. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cider, tomato sauce, carrots, basil and oregano. Bring soup to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes
4. After 30 minutes stir in zucchini and parsley and simmer for 10-12 more minutes
5. Add tortellini and cook for 7-10 more minutes. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Where is the original recipe? This is the same as the other one. You used to have one with carrots and zucchini.
I have this one that has those…https://lilluna.com/sausage-soup/. That’s probably the one you are thinking.
YoU used to have a tortellini sausage soup that had zucchini and carrots in it and chicken broth and tomatoes. Where is that recipe?
Is it any of these? https://lilluna.com/sausage-soup/ or https://lilluna.com/italian-chicken-vegetable-soup/
Great recipe! I don’t think you mentioned where to add the garlic salt. But I assume it’s with the other seasonings at the end 🙂
Yes, in step 4 🙂 Thank you & enjoy!!
I have made this soup so many times and Everyone loves it. It’s perfect for busy weeknights! This is a go-tO recipe for me and i alWays try to keep the ingredients on hand. So yummy with some crusty bread!
Thank you! I am glad you use it! Yes, it’s perfect with bread!
This is the first and only tortellini soup I make. So easy yummy and filling. My family and everyone just loves this delicious soup. I’m Making it tonight it’s suppose to pour down rain the next few days so I’ll be set. Thanks Lil Luna you never disappoint 😘
Awe, thank you so much for saying that!! So happy you like it!
This is a classic soup dish in our family. I especially love the tortellini which makes it hearty and very satisfying. If you like the taste of italian food you’ll like the taste of thIs soup.
Hi – just wondering, if Using fresh sausage, how many pounds (or links) would You use in place of the crumbles?
Can’t wait to trY it!
It is so tasty!! You for sure could use the fresh sausage or links. I am not sure the amount of package off the top of my head, but it probably compares to a smaller package of links. Really, there is no right or wrong for the amount. If you love sausage, add more, if not, you can always add less. Hope that helps!
my family loved everything about this soup. it had so much flavor & we love tortellini. I had never added it to soup & I will be from now on! It was hearty & so filling!
This recipe has become a staple in my
Family! My brothers family always requests it when they come over for dinner! Thank you for the recipe!
That’s a good sign 🙂 Makes me happy to hear! Thank you so much!
This is DELICIOUS!!!! Thank you for this recipe!
You are so welcome!! Thank you for trying it!
I made this soup for dinner last night and it was delicious! I added chopped carrots and celery, but otherwise prepared just as listed above. Quick and tasty! Perfect for a cold, rainy October night.
I love your recipes, Kristyn! I especially love this soup recipe. I made it last night and everyone enjoyed it!
Yay!! I love to hear that!! Thank you for trying it & letting me know 🙂
The Tortellini Soup looks like another winner. I hope I can find them at my grocery store. I will use the cheese ones and mild Italian sausage, and I think I will add some chopped onion to the soup.
Yes, I like to use the cheese ones too! I hope you find them & like it!!
Thank you so much for your helpful shearing post!Thank you so much for your helpful shearing post!
This is perfect for Fall! We love Tortellini soup – can’t wait to try this!
We do too & this is so tasty!! Thank you!
Totally adding this to our menu! Everyone in my family loves sausage, so I know it would be a hit!
It will, it is so tasty!! I hope your family loves it!
Umm… this is my new favorite soup! Can’t believe how fast it is too!
Isn’t it the best?! Thanks so much!!
I have made this delicious soup in the past, but I have always thought I was missing something, there are many different kinds of tomatoes in a can, In your opinion which can tomato taste the best.
I don’t know if I have a preference. I usually have whatever is on sale 🙂
Hello!
This soup looks amazing, I am going to make it this weekend but I would like to pair it with a side of some kind, like a bread or something crunchy….do you have any suggestions?
Bread would be great with it. Really any kind 🙂 Some nice french bread??
I love this recipe and finally I got it, yummy.I will made this soup today
Thanks you so much for sharing.
I love so many of your recipes. Keep in touch.
What is sausage crumbles? Who makes that? Where in the supermarket is it?
Instead of sausage links, it’s just crumbled up 🙂 Jimmy Dean makes it and I’m sure there are others. You could look for it by bacon. Hope that helps!
Making this recipe today. I was hoping to put it in the Crock-Pot to avoid the chaos of dinnertime with littles. I’m using fresh sausage that I’ve cooked already and dry tortellini instead of refrigerated. Do you have any tips for Crock-Pot? Like should I just put it all in at once or wait until 30min prior to dinner to add tortellini and spinach? I’m not confident enough in the kitchen to make the call myself.
I haven’t personally made it in the crockpot. I would just add it all in, since the tortellini is not cooked. Hope it comes out well!! Let me know what you think! Thank you!!
My Husband is coming from Paris this weekend and i’m gonna surprise him with the special soups.Thanks for providing the recipe
Oh, thank you for trying this recipe! I hope he likes it and enjoy your time together!
Thanks for the recipe,Was looking for this from a long time finally found it.
I’m glad you found it!! 🙂 Hope you enjoy as much as we do!
Care to tell if your husband liked it? making the same for my husband this new year
I made this soup today, I couldn’t find sausage crumbles so I used a roll of Italian sausage and I must say this soup was as good if not better tnan I’ve had at restaurants! This recipe is a for sure keeper. Thanks for sharing
That works just as well!! Thank you for letting me know!! So happy you like it!!
loved your recipes and Love tortellini soup Frases de Ano Novo 2017 | Frases De Feliz Ano Novo 2017
I hope you like it as much as we do!! Thank you!
Hi Kristyn,
Yes! Love tortellini soup and soup season!!
Thanks for sharing this easy recipe.
Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Amy
Thanks Amy!!! Hope you had a great weekend!