Description
This Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup is a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired dish featuring savory ground Italian sausage, tender cheese tortellini, and a rich creamy broth with fire-roasted tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup combines robust flavors and a velvety texture, garnished optionally with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild), casing removed if using links
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 29 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
Liquids
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 16 ounces cheese tortellini (fresh recommended)
Optional Garnishes
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Brown Sausage: In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground Italian sausage by breaking it into crumbles. Cook until thoroughly browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease from the pot.
- Sauté Vegetables: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the pot and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant, stirring often to prevent burning.
- Add Broth and Tomatoes: Pour the low-sodium chicken broth and the undrained fire-roasted diced tomatoes into the pot. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook Tortellini: Once boiling, stir in the cheese tortellini. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the tortellini are tender and cooked through, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Cream: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Allow the soup to heat through gently for 2-3 minutes without boiling, until the cream is warmed and the soup is creamy.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Fresh cheese tortellini is recommended for best texture, but frozen can also be used; adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Heavy cream adds richness—substitute with half-and-half for a lighter option if preferred.
- Fire-roasted tomatoes provide a smoky depth of flavor but can be replaced with regular diced tomatoes in a pinch.
- Drain excess grease from the sausage carefully to keep the soup from becoming too oily.
- For a spicier soup, use hot Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes to taste.
