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
Get My Free E-Book!
- I’ve got a FREE e-Book with 7 super popular dinner recipes! Click here to join my email list and I’ll send your e-Book right over!
- And be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, & Facebook!
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.
Get my Cookbooks! 









This turned out so good! I did make a few adjustments:
I added fresh Parmesan cheese, 4 cups of kale, 1/2 tsp of seasoning salt, 1/2 tsp paprika, and the juice from half of a med size lemon. The lemon is what took it to next level and added the brightness I was looking for.
This recipe was so great that I wrote it down and put in the recipe box.
I’m so happy that you loved it Crissy! The lemon at the end is a fantastic idea, I’ll have to try that next time! 🙂 Thank you so much for the review!! -Stephanie
This is one of my favorite soup recipes. I could eat it once a week!
Thank you for sharing! 😃
I’m sooo happy to hear that Kim! I’m with you there- I could eat it every week as well! Thank you so much for the review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
A family favorite now that the weather is getting cooler. We opt for spinach instead of kale. If I don’t have a cheese rind, I add a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan. Delicious !
I am sooo happy that you loved the soup Dawne!! This is one of my first soup choices for the cold weather! Thank you so much for the review! -Stephanie
Excellent, absolutely fabulous! Thank you for sharing this! It turned out great.
I’m so glad that you loved it Jennifer, thank you so much!!!
Good! Easy meal prep! Definitely a fall comfort food 🥰
I’m so happy that you loved the soup Rachel! Thank you so much for the review! -Stephanie
Hands down the BEST tortellini soup recipe out there. It was so good that my double batch was is already gone! This is definitely going to be a weekly staple at my place all fall/winter long. It’s like a warm hug in a bowl! The only thing I altered was the amount of hot sauce…I added MORE because we like it calliente! The mustard really did make all the flavours pop! Definitely 5/5!
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments Jenny! I’m extra proud of this one. My husband would appreciate the extra hot sauce! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review💖
I was looking for a tortellini soup that doesn’t have tomatoes (a kiddo doesn’t like them) and saw this one. My search engine showed it had a 5.0 average out of 432 reviews. How could I choose any other? I made it according to the recipe EXCEPT (bear with me) I used ravioli instead of tortellini because I had it, and I did not have any cayenne pepper. Otherwise it was according to the recipe so I can truly say that THIS SOUP IS DELICIOUS. I made it for my coworkers who all raved about it. My husband dropped by my workplace and I said “try this”. He did, and proceeded to tell me how good it was as he finished off my bowl! Then he texted me when he got home to tell me one more time how good it is. The flavor lingers nicely. The seasoning is perfectly balanced and provides a deep, rich flavor. There is a hint of heat from the crushed red peppers but not more than even the tamest palate could tolerate. I probably shouldn’t eat this every day with the sausage and heavy cream, but I’ll definitely be making it frequently – especially during SOUP season!
Hi Heather-Mae!! I am sooooo happy that it was a hit with everyone!! SUCH a nice thing to make this for your coworkers, and I’m so happy that your husband loved it as well! I make this often, I can’t get enough- and I’m glad you have a new soup for your regular rotation! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
This soup was great and very easy. Wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m so happy that the soup was a hit!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it!! -Stephanie
Quick, easy and delicious.
I did sub out 2% lactose free milk for the heavy cream. It was still thick, rich and hearty.
Thanks!
You’re very welcome Mindy, I’m so happy you enjoyed it with the heavy cream. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!💖
It is not often that I am satisfied with the ingredients as listed. I usually add a bunch of my own spices and seasonings and always salt and pepper.
I always follow a recipe to the T and adjust as I see fit. I followed this one as well, just as it called for, taste tested, and was like wow! I love it just as it is! Well done! This has such a lovely taste. I was a bit nervous about the heat it calls for, but it didn’t actually make the dish hot. A tad bite, but was very complimentary to the rest of the ingredients. Thank you! I’ll be making this again.
P.S. this is the first review I’ve ever left on a recipe 😉
Thanks so much for the great comments Corrie, I really appreciate it! This is one of my favorite soups and I love being able to share it with everyone. Thanks again!💗