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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I made this today, the day before Thanksgiving for my family. It was a hit! I can’t say enough good about this. It was the perfect balance of a light cream broth and a little kick from the spice . Served with a salad and assorted condiments, it makes a well rounded and hearty meal on this cold, rainy day. Thanks so much for this!
You’re very welcome Pam! I’m so happy it was such a hit, definitely a perfect pre-Thanksgiving meal. Thanks so much for the great comments and review!🩷
This soup is amazing; just the right amount of heat! I have cooked it several times now and it’s great every time! This recipe is a keeper! Thank you for sharing it!
You’re very welcome Stacie, I’m so happy you’ve been enjoying this one! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!🩷
I made this last night and it’s officially my new favorite soup. It was even better the second day. I will definitely be making it again.
I’m so happy to hear that Erin!! I make this soup nonstop- so glad you feel the same way! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️
This recipe just popped up on my iphone and sounded really interesting. I have made it twice now, doubling it the second time, and using spinach instead of kale. I just love it as did my husband and our guests. She asked for the recipe immediately. I added about 3 parmesan rinds, but that was too many and I ended up not adding any salt at all.
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing. This recipe will be passed around a lot, I am sure.
You’re very welcome Barbara, I’m so happy you’ve been enjoying the soup! Thanks so much for the review!🩷
This soup was awesome! I used baby spinach because I’m not a kale fan, and I used hot italian sausage, so I skipped the red crushed peppers (glad I did, it was spicy). Other than that, I followed the recipe and it was such a great soup. Everyone in the house raved. Thank you for this great recipe that I will be making over and over again in the future.
You’re very welcome! Nice work making tweaks. My husband likes it with spinach too. He also would like the heat from the hot Italian sausage. Thanks so much for the great review!🩷
So delicious and so easy. Perfect for a fall or winter evening and you can’t go wrong with a one pot meal. Best soup I’ve ever made.
Nice work Sarah! I’m so happy it was such a success. I agree, you can’t beat a cozy soup during a chilly fall or winter evening. Thanks so much for the review💖
Made this soup one night and my husband loved it!! He asks for it at least once a week! I had been using spinach but was able to finally find kale!! So currently making it now and excited to have kale with it!
Also- we add mushroom into ours!! Hands down our top favorite soup!!
I’m so happy you and your husband are enjoying it Abbie! I love that you added mushroom, yummm! Thanks so much for the great comments and review!💖
This was sooo good, my fiance and I loved it! I added salt throughout the recipe instead of at the end. Super easy recipe.
I’m so happy to hear it was a success Zoie! Thanks for the great review!💖
Delicious! I have made this three times (with spinach) and my danuly loves it. Your recipes are so easy to follow!
Thanks so much for your support Kathleen! I’m so happy you’re enjoying the recipes!🩷
This soup was delicious and quick to make.
Wahooo, I’m so happy to hear that Julie, thanks so much for the great review!🩷