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    30-Minute One-Pot Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

    By Julia | Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published: Nov 13, 2022 | 32 Comments

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    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach, Carrots, and Bacon Bits is the ultimate Autumn and Winter comfort food that can be made year-round. This quick and easy restaurant-quality dish is packed with veggies and is made in just 30 minutes in one pot. Pair it with a slice of crusty bread and a simple salad for a complete meal. Your whole family will love this comfort food.

    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Carrots in a white bowl.

     

    30-Minute One-Pot Soup

    This cozy and comforting soup is packed with Italian flavors and is one of my favorite dinners! It's the best soup for Fall and Winter when the nights get cold and you're craving something warm and cozy without having to spend a ton of time in the kitchen. Everything is cooked in 30 minutes in one saucepan: Italian sausage, vegetables, and cheese-filled tortellini which allows you to blend all the flavors together in a perfect combination. No need to precook the veggies or tortellini - they will cook right in the broth retaining all the flavor in the soup. In the end, there is only one pan to clean. What's not to like?  Italian sausage tortellini soup is a perfect recipe to make on a busy weeknight or for company. Try this recipe during a cozy season and it might become a new family favorite!

    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Carrots in a saucepan.

    Why you'll love it

    • Quick and easy. This one-pot meal takes only 30 minutes to make and requires only one saucepan. The cleanup is minimal which makes it a perfect dinner for busy weeknights or for company. This way you spend more time with your family and friends rather than in the kitchen!
    • Meal-prep-friendly. You can easily make this soup up to 4 days in advance. For best results, add tortellini and cream right before serving - everything else can be cooked beforehand.
    • Tortellini and sausage are a winning combo. When you combine cheese-stuffed pasta and spicy Italian sausage in a recipe, it's always a hit, never a miss. If you like this combination, you'll love Creamy Sausage Tortellini with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella cheese sauce.
    • Comfort food. This creamy Italian sausage tortellini soup is perfect to make through the Fall and Winter months when the nights are cold and you need cozy comfort food to warm you up.

    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Carrots in a white bowl.

    Main ingredients

    • Sausage. I used spicy Italian ground sausage which adds lots of savory flavors and a bit of heat to the soup. You can use sausage in casings - just remove the casing before cooking and crumbling the sausage.
    • Tortellini. I used cheese tortellini, you can also use agnolotti or ravioli instead. Gnocchi is also a great substitution.
    • Carrots. I used 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into thin coins.
    • Spinach is added right at the end until it wilts.
    • Italian seasoning combines just the right dried herbs and is perfect for seasoning the Italian sausage tortellini soup. You can also use Herbs de Provance.
    • Garlic is cooked in broth to create flavor along with carrots and Italian sausage.  I used 4 cloves of freshly minced garlic, but you can easily use even more!
    • Broth or water.  I use 5 cups of broth in this recipe.  You can use water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth.
    • Heavy cream.  1 cup of heavy cream is added right at the end to add creaminess to the soup. You can also use half-and-half, whole milk, or dairy-free unsweetened coconut milk.
    • Bacon bits. Use bacon bits or chopped cooked bacon. Or, crispy up the prosciutto in the oven for about 10 minutes, chop it up, then sprinkle it over the soup!

    How to make sausage tortellini soup

    Here is a quick overview of the recipe. For more details, scroll down to the recipe card.

    1) Cook sausage. First, you will add spicy Italian ground sausage together with Italian seasoning, chopped onion, and minced garlic to a large saucepan and cook until browned.

    2) Add broth and veggies. Then you will add chicken broth, diced carrots, and red pepper flakes, and simmer everything for about 10 minutes until the carrots are tender.

    3) Add tortellini and spinach and simmer for about 5 minutes until the tortellini is cooked and the spinach is wilted.

    4) Stir in the cream after you removed the soup from the heat. Season with salt and red pepper flakes.

    5) Toppings. Top with bacon bits (or cooked chopped bacon or cooked Prosciutto), grated parmesan cheese (optional), and fresh thyme.

    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Carrots in a white bowl.

    Variations and substitutions

    • Sausage. I used crumbled spicy Italian ground sausage. You can use mild or sweet Italian sausage. Or, use regular or spicy pork sausage (such as the Jimmy Dean brand). You can use sausage in casings - remove the casings and crumble the sausage as you cook.
    • Greens. This sausage tortellini soup will work equally well with spinach, kale, or Swiss chard.
    • Pasta. If you don't have tortellini, you can use Agnolotti or ravioli instead. Gnocchi is also a great substitution. Or, use short-shaped pasta, such as bow tie, fusilli, penne, or orecchiette.
    • Broth or water.  Use water, chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth.
    • Cream. You can use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. Or, use dairy-free unsweetened coconut cream/milk.

    Cooking tips

    • Can you make it meatless? Yes, use plant-based sausage, such as the Beyond Sausage brand. Or, simply use mushrooms instead of regular sausage. I recommend portobello as they have a rich, deep, and almost "meaty flavor".
    • Make it spicier. Italian sausage tortellini will taste even better with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
    • Toppings. When serving, top the soup with grated cheese (Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, or Asiago), fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, or cracked black pepper.

    How to make it gluten-free

    Because the sausage tortellini soup is made entirely from scratch, it's easy to adjust it and make it gluten-free. Omit the tortellini and use short-shaped gluten-free pasta, such as farfalle (bow-tie pasta), fusilli (spiral pasta), penne, or orecchiette. You can also use gluten-free ravioli.

    How to make it dairy free

    Replace the tortellini (because tortellini usually has cheese and other milk products) with dairy-free gluten-free pasta. I recommend short pasta, such as bow-tie, penne, fusilli, or orecchiette. And omit the heavy cream and use unsweetened coconut milk (or cream) instead. Also, don't use Parmesan cheese as a topping.

    Can you make it ahead?

    This soup is perfect for meal prep. It keeps well refrigerated for up to 4 days. Here are some tips on how to make it ahead:

    • Heavy cream. Prepare everything, except adding the heavy cream in the last step. Refrigerate the soup and add heavy cream only when ready to serve, when the soup is warmed up or hot, and removed from heat (to prevent the cream from separating).
    • Tortellini. For best results, you can also add tortellini right before serving.

    Storage and reheating tips

    • Refrigerate. Store leftover Italian sausage tortellini soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For best results, separate tortellini from the soup and refrigerate them separately to preserve their texture. However, you can keep tortellini in the soup, too, it's not a deal-breaker.
    • Reheat. Reheat the soup gently on the stovetop in a large enough saucepan over medium heat, stirring halfway through. Add a small amount of extra milk or heavy cream to add creaminess.

    What to serve with it

    Serve sausage tortellini soup with a slice of crusty bread and a simple green salad. Here are some of my favorites:

    • Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, Pecans, and Balsamic Dressing
    • Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese and Lemon-Honey Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Autumn Salad with Arugula, roasted Butternut Squash, dried Figs, toasted sliced Almonds, and Pomegranate Seeds.
    • Simple Spinach Salad with Pine Nuts, Parmesan Cheese
    • Arugula Salad with Pears, Apples, and Cashews

    Other soup recipes you might like

    • Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Mushrooms and Sweet Potatoes
    • Chicken and Spinach Soup with Beans and Vegetables (Spinach, Tomatoes, Carrots, Bell Peppers)
    • Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Sweet Potatoes
    • Black Bean Butternut Squash Soup
    • Carrot and Lentil Soup with Toasted Almonds
    • Creamy Shiitake Mushroom Soup
    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Carrots in a white bowl.
    4.84 from 66 votes

    30-Minute One-Pot Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

    Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach, Carrots, and Bacon Bits is the ultimate Fall and Winter comfort food that can be made year-round. This quick and easy restaurant-quality dish is packed with veggies and is made in just 30 minutes in one saucepan. Pair it with a slice of crusty bread and a simple salad for a complete meal. Your whole family will love this comfort food.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 6 people
    Calories per serving 613 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound spicy Italian ground sausage
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 yellow onion small, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 5 cups chicken broth or water
    • 3 carrots medium, diced into ½-inch coins
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 8 oz cheese tortellini
    • 4 oz fresh spinach
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 4 tablespoons fresh thyme
    • ⅓ cup bacon bits or chopped cooked bacon or cooked prosciutto
    • ⅓ cup parmesan cheese grated
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions 

    • In a large saucepan, cook sausage together with Italian seasoning, chopped onion, and minced garlic until browned.
    • Add chicken broth, diced carrots, and red pepper flakes, and bring to a boil.
    • Once the soup is boiling, reduce it to simmer (a visible boil), cover the pot with a lid, and cook for 10 or 15 minutes until the carrots are tender.
    • Add tortellini and spinach to soup in the pot, cover with a lid and boil on low simmer for about 5 minutes or until tortellini is cooked and the spinach is wilted
    • Remove the soup from the heat. Add the cream and stir it in.
    • Season with salt and more red pepper flakes (add spice especially if you did not use spicy sausage).
    • Top with bacon bits (or chopped cooked bacon), grated parmesan cheese, and fresh thyme.

    Notes

    • Use prosciutto as a topping. This recipe works great with cooked prosciutto! Cook prosciutto in the preheated oven at 375 F for about 10 minutes until crispy. Chop it up - and it will look like fine bacon bits! Sprinkle over the soup.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    30-Minute One-Pot Creamy Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    613
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    43
    g
    66
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    18
    g
    113
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.2
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    14
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    121
    mg
    40
    %
    Sodium
     
    1743
    mg
    76
    %
    Potassium
     
    563
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    30
    g
    10
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    27
    g
    54
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    7816
    IU
    156
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    18
    mg
    22
    %
    Calcium
     
    242
    mg
    24
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword italian sausage tortellini soup
    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Brenda Hedrick

      February 14, 2025 at 12:21 pm

      Another great recipe. This is a quick soup that can be prepared in no time. I did not change a thing in this recipe. Well almost...I added a little more red pepper flakes because I had mild Italian sausage. This recipe is a winner and I highly recommend for one of those nights where you have little time for prepping and cooking.

      Reply
    2. Joan

      February 03, 2025 at 10:29 pm

      We love this recipe! So yummy, warm and comforting. I added chopped bacon to the sausage, onion and garlic. The bacon flavor permeated the soup. We loved the combination of flavors with the tortellini.
      My husband says this recipe is a keeper!!

      Reply
    3. Linda

      March 30, 2024 at 5:59 pm

      I made this tonight with a few modifications... I used Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage and Turkey Bacon. I also used Cashew Milk instead of cream. The Cashew milk has a thicker consistency, not as thick as cream, but still pretty good. It was delish, thank you, Julia!

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 31, 2024 at 1:34 pm

        Linda, thank you so much for sharing your delicious changes! That is so helpful to me and other readers who might want to try the same!

        Reply
    4. Karie

      February 27, 2024 at 4:05 am

      Another hit recipe in our house! Everyone loved this and the dish was pretty simple and inexpensive. I'll be making this again. -Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 12, 2024 at 7:00 pm

        Karie, I am so glad everyone loved this soup!! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Sharon Turner

      February 26, 2024 at 6:57 pm

      This was amazing!! Hubby and I both agreed to the 5 star rating! Leftovers the next day were just as delicious. Thank you for sharing. I have been going over so many of your recipes and can't wait to try them!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 12, 2024 at 7:07 pm

        Thank you, Sharon, so glad you enjoyed this soup!! I hope you try some of my other recipes and love them, as well! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Donna

      January 22, 2024 at 6:01 pm

      Made this for first time today and loved it. I used Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream. Very tasteful and filling on a cold winter’s day. Freezing left overs so hopefully it will be good second time around!

      Reply
      • Julia

        January 23, 2024 at 11:50 am

        Donna, so glad you loved this soup! Thank you for sharing your feedback about using Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream. Glad it worked well!

        Reply
    7. Katie

      January 14, 2024 at 9:19 pm

      In the middle of a winter snow storm in Michigan and this was the perfect dinner to eat as the snow and temps drop outside. Absolutely amazing. Something I will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Julia

        January 17, 2024 at 7:17 pm

        Katie, you are very welcome! So glad this soup kept you warm during the blizzard! ❤️❤️

        Reply
    8. Catherine Perkins

      November 23, 2023 at 6:18 pm

      Julia, I just wanted to let you know that I shared this outstandingly delicious recipe with my son and my sister. I’m definitely looking forward to trying many more of your recipes.

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 24, 2023 at 9:12 pm

        Catherine, I am so glad your family loved this dish - thank you for your wonderful feedback! I hope you enjoy my other recipes as much as this one. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Catherine Perkins

      November 22, 2023 at 8:08 pm

      Hi Julia! I made this recipe for dinner tonight. It tasted like a soup you would be served in an up market restaurant. So easy and scrumptious! Thank you

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 23, 2023 at 2:20 pm

        Catherine, your comment made my day - thank you! ❤️ Happy Thanksgiving! ❤️

        Reply
        • Catherine Perkins

          November 23, 2023 at 6:14 pm

          For Thanksgiving dinner today with my family I made your Sausage stuffed spaghetti squash. Everybody loved it! Your suggestion to score the squash and make long piercings and cook to soften it was a great tip. Made my job so much easier!! Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family!

          Reply
          • Julia

            November 24, 2023 at 9:13 pm

            Catherine, thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughtful feedback! ❤️ Glad you loved the spaghetti squash recipe and that you found my little tips helpful! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you! ❤️

            Reply
    10. Deanna

      December 13, 2022 at 6:55 pm

      Made this soup and it was excellent. Bonus is its easy to make. Served with garlic bread. Will definitely make this one again.

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 23, 2022 at 3:42 pm

        Deanna, I am so glad you enjoyed this! 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share this positive comment and Happy Holidays! 🙂 🙂 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen Nardella

          November 22, 2023 at 9:19 am

          Can I ask does this soup minus the tortellini be frozen well?

          Reply
          • Julia

            November 23, 2023 at 2:36 pm

            Karen, yes, this soup freezes well!

            Reply
    11. Gabriella

      December 06, 2022 at 9:14 pm

      Made this for the seniors at my senior center today and they absolutely loved it! Most of them said they want me to make it again. Great soup for a cold day and it’s pretty healthy!! Definitely trying some more of your recipes.

      Reply
      • Julia

        December 07, 2022 at 9:42 pm

        Gabriella, your comment makes me really happy. I am so glad the seniors at the senior center loved this soup. And how caring and wonderful of you to take such good care of them. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Kelly

      November 16, 2022 at 11:45 am

      I made this today! It's really flavorful and filling. Because it's got tortellini, you can just forego the bread. I sprinkled some Pecorino Romano on top. It is definitely a keeper.

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 19, 2022 at 3:34 pm

        Kelly, thanks for trying this recipe, and glad you loved it! Pecorino Romano cheese on ton is a nice touch!

        Reply
    13. Heather

      November 15, 2022 at 11:53 pm

      I make something like this (but with kale) all the time but never added bacon. It's a good use for my bacon bits other than in a salad! Thank you for sharing - it's delicious!

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 19, 2022 at 3:34 pm

        Heather, this soup is delicious with either bacon or toasted prosciutto. Enjoy!

        Reply
    14. Irma

      November 14, 2022 at 10:28 am

      This is a must-try. I will have to make it gluten-free though!

      Reply
      • Julia

        November 19, 2022 at 3:00 pm

        Irma, This would be good with store-bought gluten-free ravioli or just gluten-free pasta (short-shaped like bow-tie or fusilli).

        Reply
      • Tracey

        November 27, 2022 at 6:43 pm

        Can this be frozen?

        Reply
        • Julia

          December 06, 2022 at 1:20 am

          Tracey, I am not a fan of freezing food with cream in it. Here are my recommendations if you want to freeze this soup:

          ➡️ Do not add cream. If you would like to freeze sausage tortellini soup, do not add any cream. Heavy cream tends to separate and become grainy if frozen. Freeze the soup in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
          ➡️ Freeze the soup in usable portions. Divide it into 4 or 6 containers. Don't freeze it in a single large container.
          ➡️ Leave space in the container. When freezing the liquid recipes, like soups, leave the space in the container (about 2 inches) as the soup will expand as it freezes.

          Reply

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    Julia is the author of JuliasAlbum.com (a food blog focused on easy dinner recipes, pasta dishes, salads made with seasonal ingredients). In this photo, Julia is pictured wearing a yellow sweater against an Autumn background.

    Hi, I'm Julia!

    I am a full-time food blogger living in beautiful Colorado. I focus primarily on savory recipes (protein-based & fiber-rich main dishes, pasta, salads) using fresh & seasonal ingredients. A food blogger since 2012, I help home cooks create well-balanced and visually appealing dinners (many of which are 30-minute ONE-PAN meals). Find out more about me and my cooking philosophy. 

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