Sausage Tortellini Soup
This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a 30 minute meal that’s easy to make with sausage, kale, simple seasonings, broth, and cream!
Be sure to serve this with a side of Garlic Bread with Cheese or Biscuits!

Sausage Tortellini Soup
Wait until you taste this soup. This is one you will undoubtedly add to your favorite list of soup recipes, especially because it’s a 30-minute meal that’s got vegetables, protein, and pasta all in one bowl!
You may scratch your head when you see that I’ve got hot sauce and mustard powder on the ingredients list, but trust me. They enhance the other flavors in the recipe and add a very subtle touch that creates a great base for this soup. Once you try it, you’ll see what I mean!
Check out my PRO tips below on how to add even more flavor to this soup, and what you can use if you don’t have kale on hand!
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cook the sausage, onions, and garlic. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add basil, oregano, hot sauce, mustard powder, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Add chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.

Add kale and tortellini. Cook 3-5 minutes. Taste and add salt if desired. Transfer to serving bowls and add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Pro Tips
- For even more flavor, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth and let it simmer and flavor the soup. If any remains at the end of cooking, it can be discarded. Salt will likely not need to be added if you do this.
- 2-3 cups of Spinach can be used instead of kale, stir it in once the tortellini is cooked and let it wilt, about 30 seconds. If you use frozen spinach, let it thaw and pat it dry prior to adding it.
- I use RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini for this recipe. I also use Texas Pete hot sauce or Frank’s Hot Sauce.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 51!
- For a similar recipe with a twist, try my Sausage Gnocchi Soup! And be sure to try my Marry Me Chicken Soup as well- it also has tortellini!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 3+ months.
- Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. I recommend boiling the tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls if you plan on having leftovers.
- Be sure to try my chicken tortellini soup recipe next!
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 4 quart Soup Pot: The perfect size for this recipe.
- Spice Rack– This is the one I have, it’s a snap to measure out your seasonings quickly and easily. (Big time saver.)
- Kitchen Scale: In case you need to weigh the sausage. (I use this all the time.)
- Measuring Spoons– To measure out the seasonings.
- Pinch Bowls– I measure out my seasonings ahead of time and add them to these small bowls so they’re ready to go when it’s time to add them.
- 16 oz. storage containers – I use these to store/freeze my soups. They have 8 oz. sizes as well. They’re stackable, leak proof, and dishwasher/microwave safe.
Try These Next
- BEST Clam Chowder
- Tomato Basil Pasta
- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Pasta Primavera
- Meatball Soup
- Marry Me Chicken Pasta
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Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 pinch cayenne, optional
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups kale, chopped
- 2 cups tortellini, just under 10 oz. (refrigerated or frozen)
- Salt/ to taste
Instructions
- Note: The mustard powder and hot sauce are so subtle in this soup but help enhance the other flavors, so although you may be hesitant to add them, I highly recommend it!
- Remove the casings from the sausage if you purchased links. Cook and crumble the sausage and diced onions over medium-high heat until the onions are softened and the sausage is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Drain grease. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add basil, oregano, cayenne, hot sauce, mustard powder, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Slowly stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
- Add the kale and tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes. (If your tortellini needs longer cooking time, add the tortellini first, then the kale during the last 5 minutes.)
- Taste the soup and add salt if desired. Start with ¼ tsp and add more after that if needed.
- Transfer to serving bowls and serve! (This is great with Garlic Bread with Cheese!)
Notes
- I use RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini for this recipe. I also use Texas Pete hot sauce or Frank's Hot Sauce.
- For even more flavor, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth and let it simmer and flavor the soup. If any remains at the end of cooking, it can be discarded. Salt will likely not need to be added if you do this.
- 2-3 cups of Spinach can be used instead of kale, stir it in once the tortellini is cooked and let it wilt, about 30 seconds.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 51!
- For a similar recipe with a twist, try my Sausage Gnocchi Soup! And be sure to try my Marry Me Chicken Soup as well- it also has tortellini!
Crock Pot Method:
- Brown the sausage/onions on the stove top and add the flour as outlined in steps 2 + 3.
- Transfer everything except for the cream, tortellini, and spinach to the slow cooker.
- Cook it on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-7.
- Stir in the kale toward the end and let that heat up for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn heat off. Temper the cream in the microwave for 45 seconds and stir it in slowly>
- Add cooked tortellini to serving bowls and ladle soup on top!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 3+ months.
- Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. I recommend boiling the tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls if you plan on having leftovers.
- Be sure to try my chicken tortellini soup recipe next!
Nutritional information an estimate and is per serving. Each serving is 1 cup, and this recipe makes approximately 10 cups.
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Holy sh**. This is the best thing I’ve ever cooked. 10/10 you are a gem for sharing ❤️
I am sooooo happy that you love it Savannah!!! YOU are a gem for leaving this review! Thank you!!! -Stephanie
Loved this soup. I tired it with spinach and no cayenne. If you have onion at home it does not matter what kind. I used a sweet onion that my mom had at her house. Soon I will try kale. One of my new favorite soups.
I’m so glad that you loved the recipe and were able to make it with what you had on hand! Nicely done, and thank you so much for the review as well- I really appreciate it! -Stephanie 🙂
Wonderful recipe! I wonder if i can make it using Small camping Burner?
It seems as though it would operate similarly to a traditional stove, so it should work! 🙂
This soup was so hearty and flavorful! Even the picky eaters in our house asked for seconds. We served it with cheesy garlic bread and a small salad and it was GONE. I made it again 3 days later because the family kept asking for it. This is a wonderful recipe for a cool Fall day. Bonus, the ingredients aren’t expensive either! I had most everything in my pantry or fridge already. I highly recommend this recipe.
I am sooo happy that it was such a hit Annaliese, picky eaters and all! I love that you made it again 3 days later, that’s the ultimate compliment! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it!! -Stephanie
I love this recipe I’ve made it quiet a few times now. I’m a dairy-free girl and this one is easy to substitute for except for trying to get tortellini without cheese filling. I just might be using bolognese ravioli instead?
I’m so glad that you love the recipe! And that’d be just fine! Ravioli is a little more prone to falling apart so just handle gently, but it would be delish!
My hubby loved it, but not so much me. Hence, 4stars. I added parm and fresh basil to the top — overall, still a little lacking in flavour complexity. Thanks for mixing it up, a little different than other sausage tortellini soups.
I’m so glad that your husband loved it! The seasonings and flavor enhancers in this soup are meant to add complexity, maybe you could add a teaspoon of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce next time for a little umami! 🙂
Another hit! You are making me look like a very good cook. Thank you
Awesome job! I think you deserve some credit too 😉. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Made it for my family tonight and they loved it!
That’s so great to hear! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
WOW! This absolutely hit the spot! I’m so glad I found this recipe to kick off my fall soup season! I used spinach also, it’s what’s in the fridge. I’m a Texas Pete girl too, and added a few more splashes to my bowl, delish!
Hey Jennifer! I’m soooo happy that you have a new soup for your soup rotation! (Texas Pete buddies, that’s awesome!)- Thank you for the review, you’re the best!!
Wow! My family loved this soup and slurped it up fast! I was surprised how much I loved the pasta in the soup. This has definitely hit the rotation. It was really quick and easy to pull together! I am never disappointed when I try a recipe from The Cozy Cook! I love the Pro Tips too! Thank you!
Thanks so much for your support Wendy, I love that you’re enjoying the recipes!💖 This has become one of my favorite soups. Like you said, it’s pretty slurp worthy!
This is my favorite from Olive Garden. Made it tonight with hot turkey sausage and used spinach …no kale in the fridge! We loooovvvveeeedddd it so much! As my husband said….”definitely a do over”! Thank you!!
I’m so happy your husband said that Jen, nice work😃! My husband would really appreciate the hot turkey sausage, he loves a little kick. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!