Creamy Chicken Sausage, Tomato, and Tortellini Soup
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I am so thrilled to be back in the kitchen and here with you today to share this Creamy Chicken Sausage and Tortellini Soup. It’s a fabulous, comforting one pot meal recipe that freezes beautifully for a quick thaw and eat meal!
For the first time in the history of my life, I actually craved a hot, hearty soup in July this year. The weather had been dreary for days. Rain, clouds, and general gloom were hanging over the city, and all I wanted was a great big bowl of comforting soup.
So against every bit of common sense and seasonal awareness within me, one mid-July day I dragged out my giant dutch oven and set about making this Chicken Sausage, Tomato, and Tortellini Soup. Every time I use my dutch oven I feel like a true medieval woman, throwing odds and ends in a giant cauldron, and boiling them together in the back of some filthy old tavern in Europe.
Okay, maybe my imagination gets the best of me sometimes, but there is something incredibly satisfying about making a big ol’ pot of soup. This one is filled with chicken sausage, tomatoes, onion, garlic, zucchini, and baby spinach. It tastes summery, but a touch of cream, Parmesan, and cheesy tortellini makes this hearty and filling enough to serve year round. If you’re making this long after the basil plants have surrendered, feel free to sub dried herbs and/or replace the fresh spinach with a bag of frozen spinach.
I wasn’t kidding about this making a giant pot of soup. It could easily serve a crowd, but it’s also great for freezing. We enjoyed this in July, and then I sealed up the leftovers and stuffed them in the freezer, imagining my future newborn-baby-momma-self might look back and thank my pregnant-in-July self for this bit of foresight. Turns out, having a few quick weeknight meals on hand is invaluable when it’s 7:30, you’re bouncing a crying baby, there’s spit up on your yoga pants, and the hangry is imminent.
The key to freezing this soup is to omit the tortellini. On the first night we made this, I only added enough tortellini for our two bowls. When I reheat it, I just dump it back in my cauldron, bring the mixture to a boil, and add the remaining tortellini. This keeps the pasta from getting super soggy, and, let’s be real, nobody likes soggy pasta.
I hope you enjoy this cauldron of goodness as much as our family does!
Creamy Chicken Sausage, Tomato, and Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 links chicken sausage (I used a garlic and mozzarella variety, sliced)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 14 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 large zucchini (sliced)
- 19 ounces frozen tortellini
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil (roughly chopped)
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley (roughly chopped)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Additional basil and Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Coat the bottom of a large dutch oven with olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until softened, about 6-7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant. Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook , stirring occasionally until heated through.
- Stir in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the zucchini and cook for 2 minutes, then add the frozen tortellini and cook for another 5 minutes, or until tortellini is tender and hot clear through.
- Remove the mixture from heat, and stir in the spinach until wilted. Stir in the cream, Parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese for topping, if desired.
Notes
- The key to freezing this soup is to omit the tortellini. On the first night we made this, I only added enough tortellini for our two bowls. When I reheat it, I just dump it back in my cauldron, bring the mixture to a boil, and add the remaining tortellini. This keeps the pasta from getting super soggy, and, let’s be real, nobody likes soggy pasta.
Nutrition
Looking for more meals great for new moms? Try this comforting Johnny Marzetti recipe!
This is a lovely soup. I’ve made it for a casual “company’s coming” dinner a couple of times and it did not disappoint. I put tortellini in before the zucchini and use 1 can of fire roasted tomatoes for a more Smokey flavor. Delicious!
So glad you enjoy it! Thanks for coming back to let us know!
Hi!!I made this and we loved it!!! I just did a few substitutes that fit our wants. I did turkey sausage and browned it with the onions and garlic and then substituted zucchini for baby tomatoes! Even the dog jumped on the table to eat some of it LOL. He’s still in training. Thanks for sharing this recipe, it’s a good one we will continue to make at your house!
Thanks so much for the kind review! I’m so glad the whole family (and the dog!) enjoyed it! 🙂
this is one of my favorite recipes! i make it all the time and especially love how many veggies are included. thank you so much!!!
I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for coming back to let me know. It always makes my day!
nutritional value of this soup?
Made this tonight…delish!!!!!
So glad you like it. I usually use one of these to calculate nutrition: https://www.caloriecount.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
My niece just gave me this recipe, she said it is wonderful. Her daughters don’t like soup, but this one is there fav. and ask for it all the time. I’m going to make it for a soup summit our church has in the fall. I’m hoping to win for the best tasting soup.
Hi Danette,
I’m so glad your niece and her family likes this so much! I hope you enjoy it as well, and best of luck with the soup summit!
We got our first real cold snap here a few days ago and I made this soup for me and my husband’s family. It was delicious and it’s become an instant addition to my arsenal.
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to let me know!
I’m so excited to try this and the other soups. It’s rainy and the nor’easter end hurricane Juaquin is pounding our jersey shore. My bones hurt and this is going to make hubby and I feel warm and cozy. Thank you Lindsay. I’m mamaswags02 on Instagram. I love following you. I’ve learned so much and my whole family is happier and healthier because of you.
Hi Faith-Anne! I meant to reply to this comment last week, but it got buried in the pile. Thank you so much for your kind words. They made my day! I hope you and your family enjoy these soups and they help warm you up this winter!
Welcome back, lady! You were definitely missed. This soup looks absolutely amazing. I’m adding it to my menu next week! Pinned.
Congratulations on the new baby. It must be lively in your house right now. And this soup is lovely. I’d make a giant pot of this soup too; I love creamy soups.