Description
Creamy slow cooker tortellini soup brings Italian comfort to your kitchen with minimal effort. Cheese-filled pasta and hearty vegetables simmer together, creating a rich meal you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 package (9 oz / 255 g) refrigerated cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) diced tomatoes (with juices)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving
- Optional: Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Sear and Crumble: Thoroughly brown Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking into fine, uniform pieces until completely cooked.
- Aromatics Infusion: Sauté diced onions and minced garlic with the meat, developing deep, rich flavor profiles and releasing intense fragrance.
- Slow Cooker Transformation: Transfer seasoned meat and vegetable mixture into slow cooker, tilting skillet to eliminate excess grease.
- Liquid Foundation: Combine chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, and Italian herbs, stirring to create a harmonious base, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Flavor Development: Cover slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing ingredients to simmer and meld for 4-6 hours, creating a robust and complex taste.
- Pasta Integration: During final 30 minutes, introduce tortellini into the simmering liquid, gently stirring to prevent clumping and ensure uniform cooking.
- Final Touches: Add fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to delicately wilt into the soup, then season with salt and pepper to enhance overall flavor profile.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the hearty soup into warm bowls, generously sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and serve alongside crusty bread for a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Sausage Selection: Choose lean Italian sausage to reduce excess grease, or opt for turkey sausage for a lighter version.
- Herb Enhancement: Crush dried Italian herbs between your palms before adding to release more intense flavors and aromatic oils.
- Tortellini Timing: Add tortellini only in the last 30 minutes to prevent overcooking and maintain perfect pasta texture.
- Vegetarian Adaptation: Substitute sausage with plant-based crumbles or extra vegetables like mushrooms for a meat-free alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg