You've just found the BEST creamy tortellini soup with Italian sausage, spinach and Italian seasonings in a light cream broth dusted with fresh Parmesan.
It's cozy, comforting and flavorful, so it checks all of the right boxes! It'll be your new favorite cooler weather creamy soup, I promise.
How to make creamy tortellini soup
Featured Ingredients
- Onion, celery and carrots: Mirepoix is essential for most soups! Also known as aromatics.
- Garlic: Use as much or as little as you like. Garlic obviously adds immense flavor!
- Italian sausage: You can use pork or turkey or a mix.
- Dried oregano: Not the ground oregano, but dried leaves. It's amazing here!
- Spinach or kale: Any green will work, actually.
- Fresh tortellini: Grab a container or bag of fresh cheese tortellini. I love the spinach kind.
- Stock: Use unsalted chicken stock or make your own.
- Evaporated milk: My trick for making a rich creamy soup without adding any or as much cream or half and half. It's a brilliant trick!
- Parmesan: Grate some on top before eating. YUM!
Equipment Needed
- Cutting board and chef's knife.
- Measuring cups (liquid) and spoons, unless you want to wing it.
- A Dutch oven or soup pot.
- A wooden spoon.
- Bowls and spoons, plus a ladle, for serving.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or stock pot to medium heat.
- Add onion, celery and carrot and saute 8-10 minutes, until soft.
- Stir in garlic, then sausage and saute 7-8 minutes, until sausage is browned, using a spatula to break it into pieces.
- Stir in the oregano, spinach, salt and peppers and saute until spinach has wilted, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
- Add the tortellini and cook 6-7 minutes, until tortellini is cooked.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk and corn starch until dissolved.
- Pour mixture into the pot and simmer 3-4 minutes, until thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Spoon into bowls and top with Parmesan and greens or fresh herbs, if desired.
Recipe Substitutions and Alterations
- Mirepoix: To save time, use frozen diced onions, carrots and celery.
- Garlic: Although freshly chopped is best, used pre-minced garlic jarred in olive oil for a shortcut.
- Italian sausage: Use turkey instead of pork for a lighter option.
- Spinach: Use chopped kale or any dark leafy green (like chard or mustard greens).
- Tortellini: If you can't find tortellini, use your favorite shaped pasta instead.
Nutrition Considerations
- To make it gluten free: Use gluten free tortellini or gluten free pasta instead of regular. Be sure all other packaged ingredients are gluten free.
- To make it dairy free: Use dairy free milk or cream instead of evaporated milk. Use nutritional yeast or dairy free Parmesan instead of Parmesan.
- To make it vegetarian: Use plant-based ground sausage.
- To make it lower sodium: I've already cut back on sodium by using unsalted stock, but you can lower the sodium content even more by using ground pork or turkey and adding a few teaspoons of fennel to it while sauteing.
Cozy soup recipes:
- Old-Fashioned Ham and Cabbage Soup with Potatoes
- Instant Pot Split Pea & Ham Soup
- Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup
- Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
- Zuppa Toscana
- Loaded Cheesy Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Beef & Barley Soup
Creamy Tortellini Soup
The best creamy tortellini soup with Italian sausage, spinach and Italian seasonings made with a light cream broth dusted with fresh Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10-15 mins
- Cook Time: 30-35 mins
- Total Time: 40-50 mins
- Yield: Serves 8
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stove-Top
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1-pound ground Italian sausage (pork or turkey)
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano leaves
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 cups unsalted chicken stock
- 9-ounce package fresh cheese tortellini
- 12-ounce can low fat evaporated milk
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- Freshly grated Parmesan, for topping
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or stock pot to medium heat. Add onion, celery and carrot and saute 8-10 minutes, until soft.
- Stir in garlic, then sausage and saute 7-8 minutes, until sausage is browned, using a spatula to break it into pieces.
- Stir in the oregano, spinach, salt and peppers and saute until spinach has wilted, about 3-4 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
- Add the tortellini and cook 6-7 minutes, until tortellini is cooked.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk and corn starch until dissolved. Pour mixture into the pot and simmer 3-4 minutes, until thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Spoon into bowls and top with Parmesan and greens or fresh herbs, if desired.
Notes
Storage Tip: Store soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅛ of recipe
- Calories: 283
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 39mg
Angelica 55 says
umm this looks amazing! Creamy and filling. I will need to make this for the upcoming cooler days later in the fall and winter. Great to pack for a lunch at work too.
Julie Andrews says
Hi Angelica! It definitely is deliciously creamy and satisfying 🙂 Enjoy!