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This tortellini soup recipe is packed with delicious ingredients, only takes 10 minutes to prep and is perfect all fall long.
SO hearty – so good!
Drop everything you’re doing and add this tortellini soup to your weekly menu plan! This seriously satisfying delicious soup recipe is perfect for chilly days or any day and is prepped in only 10 minutes.
With its cheese-filled tortellini, Italian sausage and tender vegetables, we have this tortellini soup recipe 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 an even easier (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.
- Versatile. Customize tortellini soup to your liking by adding different vegetables, proteins, or herbs and spices.
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
- ½ cup apple cider – NOT apple cider vinegar
- 4 cups chicken broth – 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 replace with an equal amount of Italian seasoning
- 2 medium zucchini – sliced and halved
- 16 ounces cheese tortellini – you can use frozen, fresh, or Barilla dry cheese tortellini. Try Three Cheese Tortellini, Mixed Cheese Tortellini, Spinach & Cheese Tortellini, or Sweet Italian Sausage Tortellini.
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.
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.
Complete The Meal
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Tortellini Soup Recipe
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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
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.
Easily change up the flavor and texture by adding 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.
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.
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.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months; just note that the tortellini may be a bit mushy but still delicious.
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!