Description
A cozy, creamy, and hearty weeknight soup made in the slow cooker. This foolproof recipe combines Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, spinach, and a rich tomato-cream broth for a comforting meal that requires minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot, bulk or links)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 package (9-12 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 bag (10 oz) frozen spinach
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for browning sausage)
Instructions
- Brown the sausage: If using bulk sausage, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through, then drain excess fat. If using links, skip this step or poke holes in them.
- Add base ingredients: Transfer the browned sausage to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on Low for 4 hours or on High for 2 hours until the onions are soft and flavors have melded.
- Add cream and spinach: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the heavy cream and frozen spinach. The spinach will wilt quickly.
- Cook tortellini: Add the refrigerated tortellini to the slow cooker. Cook on High for 10-15 minutes (or the last 30 minutes of the Low cycle) until the tortellini is tender but not mushy.
- Season and serve: Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately in bowls topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a crack of black pepper.
Notes
Brown the sausage for better flavor. Add cream and tortellini at the end to prevent curdling and mushiness. Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels. This soup does not freeze well due to the dairy and pasta; freeze the base only if necessary. For a vegetarian version, use veggie sausage and vegetable broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 980
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
Keywords: slow cooker soup, tortellini soup, creamy sausage soup, weeknight dinner, comfort food, easy recipes, family meals