Description
This hearty Sausage Tortellini Soup combines savory Italian sausage, tender tortellini, and nutrient-rich kale in a creamy, flavorful broth. Perfect for a comforting meal, this soup comes together in just 30 minutes and serves a crowd, making it ideal for family dinners or easy entertaining.
Ingredients
Main 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 pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon black 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
- Prepare the sausage and onion: Remove casings from sausage if using links. Cook and crumble the sausage with diced onions over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes until onions are soft and sausage is fully cooked. Drain excess grease. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute to release its aroma.
- Add flour: Sprinkle the flour over the sausage mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously to eliminate the raw flour taste and help thicken the soup later.
- Season the soup base: Stir in dried basil, oregano, cayenne pepper (if using), hot sauce, mustard powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, combining all the spices evenly with the sausage mixture.
- Add liquids: Pour in the chicken broth while scraping the bottom of the pot with a silicone spatula to loosen any browned bits for extra flavor. Slowly stir in the heavy cream, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and let it simmer gently.
- Cook the kale and tortellini: Add chopped kale and tortellini to the pot. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, or longer if your tortellini requires extra cooking time. If needed, add tortellini first and then kale during the last 5 minutes.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and season with salt starting with ¼ teaspoon, adding more as necessary to balance the flavors.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot. This soup pairs wonderfully with garlic bread topped with melted cheese for a complete meal.
Notes
- The mustard powder and hot sauce add subtle layers of flavor that enhance the overall soup, so don’t skip them even if hesitant.
- You can use either hot or mild Italian sausage depending on your spice preference.
- For a thicker soup, increase the flour slightly or reduce the broth by simmering longer.
- Kale adds nutrients and texture but can be substituted with spinach or Swiss chard if preferred.
- Frozen tortellini can be cooked directly in the soup; just allow extra simmer time as needed.
- Serve with crusty garlic bread with cheese for a delicious meal accompaniment.
