Sausage Tortellini Soup (2024)

One of the handiest things you can keep in your freezer is a bag of frozen tortellini. On those nights when you have absolutely no time to cook, you can just toss it in a pot of boiling water, heat up some sauce, and have a passable dinner ready in 10 minutes.

But on nights when you do have time to cook, that’s when those little tortellini really get a chance to shine. Because instead of just tossing them on the table, you can serve them up in a soup with a full supporting cast of Italian favorites.

Some mild Italian sausage, browned with onions and garlic. Canned beef broth and crushed tomatoes. Diced carrots and sliced celery. And a generous dose of Italian seasonings: basil, parsley, pepper, and salt.

This Sausage Tortellini Soup is way more than just tortellini; it’s an entire Italian feast in one bowl. It’s rich, savory, hearty, and satisfying. And the real beauty part is, even with all those ingredients, it only takes about 40 minutes to make. So it’s the perfect dish to enjoy on those nights when you have some time to cook, but not a whole lot.

Can you make this soup vegetarian?

Sure, you just have to make two substitutions. For the sausage, use a vegetarian Italian sausage like Field Roast or Tofurky. And for the beef broth, substitute two cups of water plus two tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce. You can even go all the way and make it vegan by substituting plain pasta for the tortellini. Add cooked pasta a few minutes before the end of the cooking process, or add dry pasta along with the broth and veggies.

Is there a way to prepare the soup ahead of time?

You can do most of it ahead of time by chopping all the veggies and having them ready to go. Or you can make the whole recipe right up to the point where you add the tortellini, then refrigerate it. When you’re ready to serve it, put the pot on the stove, reheat it, and toss in the tortellini.

Can you freeze the sausage tortellini soup leftovers?

You can, but be warned that the pasta may get a little mushy. Let the soup cool completely, then ladle it into freezer containers or large freezer bags. If you use bags, squeeze out the air and zip them up securely, then store them flat on their sides. You can thaw these out in lukewarm water when you’re ready to use the leftovers.

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

TOOLS USED FOR THIS EASY SAUSAGE TORTELLINI SOUP

Dutch Oven: Here is the soup pot used for this recipe.
Cheese Grater: Top your soup with fresh grated cheese.

How to Make Sausage Tortellini Soup

Ingredients you will need:
mild Italian sausage
onion
garlic
low sodium beef broth
crushed tomatoes
water
carrots
celery
dried parsley
dried basil
salt
pepper
cheese tortellini , refrigerated or frozen
Toppings
grated Parmesan cheese
fresh parsley, diced

1. In a large pot, brown sausage over medium/high heat. Drain meat and add in onions and garlic. Cook, stirring for about for 2-3 minutes until onions are tender.
2. Next add broth, tomatoes, water, carrots, celery, parsley, basil sand and pepper. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
   Add tortellini 5 to 10 minutes before serving and cook until tender (times depend on if you use frozen or refrigerated pasta).