Name: Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons olive oil; ½ lb ground mild Italian sausage; 2 cloves garlic ( minced); 4 oz sundried tomatoes, packed in oil; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes; ½ cup all purpose flour; 6 cups vegetable broth; 1 lb frozen cheese tortellini; 2 cups whole milk; 3 cups fresh spinach; Salt & Pepper (to taste)

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Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage is guaranteed to hit the spot this soup season, when the weather is cold and you are needing some comfort. This soup is not only hearty, but full of delicious Italian flavors. The soup is great for a quick weeknight meal or even lunch, because it can be made in just 30 minutes!

spoon holding tortellini from soup in a spoon

Homemade Soup from Scratch

Homemade soup is one of my favorite things to make during the Fall and Winter months. It’s warm and comforting and once you learn the basics, the flavor possibilities are endless. When thinking about soups, there are usually three different types of homemade soups: Creamy Thickened Soups, Thin Broth Soups, and Pureed Soups. I’ll give you one guess what category this Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage falls into. You got it, Creamy Thickened Soups!

tan soup bowl filled with creamy tortellini soup with a silver spoon

close up shot of creamy tortellini soup in a tan bowl

Creamy Thickened Soups

Creamy Thickened Soups are usually thickened by a roux and finished off with cream or milk to make it well, creamy. What’s a roux, you say? A roux is made up of equal parts of flour and fat that is then cooked together to both thicken and flavor a sauce or soup. A basic roux is the start to many good sauces and soup, and can even add extra flavor depending on how long it’s cooked. A white or blonde roux is the most common for thickening soups or chowders. A dark or brown roux has less thickening power, but more flavor because it is cooked longer. These are mostly used in Creole or Cajun cooking. Think Jambalaya. Once you have your roux cooked and your liquid added, then you can add in your main components, whether it be meat, pasta, vegetables, etc.

Thin Broth Soups

Thin Broth Soups usually start with a mirepoix. A mirepoix consists of onions, carrots and celery that are sautéed before adding liquid to it to help flavor the base of your soup. Mirepoix can also be used to add extra flavor to either a Creamy Thickened Soup or Pureed Soup. Once your liquid has been added (broth or stock), then add in your main components (meat, pasta, veggies, etc.) and season!

Pureed Soups

Pureed soups can start with a mirepoix or a roux, or both. They usually are made up of some type of vegetable, such as potato, butternut squash or even cauliflower. These soups generally aim for a smooth consistency, so they are blended after cooking to the desired texture.

ladle over a dutch oven filled with soup with tortellini and sausage

How to Make Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Now that you know all the steps to make a delicious homemade soup, let’s learn how to make this one!

You will start by cooking your aromatics in your fat. This begins with your Italian Sausage, and then your garlic, sundried tomatoes, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes for a bit of spice!
Next, you will whisk in your flour to make your roux.
Then, add in your broth to start the thickening process and make the liquid base for your soup.
Next, add in your tortellini and let it cook just until it’s done. HINT: They will float to the top when they are done.
Then, you will whisk in your milk and let it simmer a bit more for ultimate creaminess!
Lastly, you will stir in your fresh spinach and season with salt and pepper.

wooden spoon stirring italian sausage cooking in a pot

wooden spoon with sundried tomato, sausage and spices in a pot

What to Serve with Creamy Tortellini Soup

This homemade soup is definitely hearty and a meal in itself, but in case you are looking for a great side dish, salad or bread are always a good option to serve with soup. Try this Big Italian Salad by Jenn at Once Upon a Chef or this Arugula Salad by Erin at Well Plated. These Garlic Herb Breadsticks from Naomi at Knead Some Sweets are to die for as well! Lastly, here are some recipes from the blog, that would also go well with this soup:

Salad

Bread

overhead shot of a red dutch oven and a tan soup bowl both filled with creamy tortellini soup

More Homemade Soup Recipes…

If you liked this recipe for Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage, check out these other soups that we love to dig into during the cold weather months:

If you make this Creamy Tortellini Soup recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram as well, if you make any of my recipes. It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.

Happy Cooking!