Description
A cozy, creamy, and cheesy slow cooker soup featuring savory Italian sausage and tender tortellini, perfect for easy weeknight comfort meals.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet or mild Italian sausage, casings removed (or turkey sausage for lighter option)
- 1 pound cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 150g)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 50g)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until no longer pink and nicely browned, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer the sausage to the slow cooker and drain excess fat if needed.
- In the same skillet, add diced onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Add the sautéed onions and garlic to the slow cooker along with crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours until flavors meld and broth is hot.
- About 20 minutes before serving, stir in the cheese tortellini and fresh spinach. Cover and cook until tortellini is tender and spinach has wilted. Add a few extra minutes if using frozen tortellini.
- Just before serving, stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with extra Parmesan, cracked black pepper, or chopped fresh basil if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Brown the sausage first for best flavor. Add tortellini in the last 20 minutes to prevent mushiness. Add cream and Parmesan at the end to avoid curdling. Adjust salt carefully due to broth and sausage salt content. Use fresh Parmesan for best texture. Spinach adds nutrition and color. For vegetarian, use plant-based sausage and vegetable broth. For gluten-free, use gluten-free tortellini. If soup is too thick after adding cream, thin with broth or water; if too thin, cook uncovered to reduce.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
Keywords: slow cooker soup, creamy sausage soup, tortellini soup, comfort food, easy dinner, Italian sausage, cheesy soup