Description
Hearty crockpot tortellini soup with sausage delivers comfort in a bowl for chilly evenings. Rich Italian-inspired ingredients meld together, promising a satisfying meal that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage
- 16 oz (453 g) cheese tortellini, fresh or frozen
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken broth
- 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream
- 1 can (14.5 oz or 411 g) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear ground Italian sausage in a skillet, eliminating surplus fat to enhance flavor concentration.
- Transfer browned sausage into slow cooker, combining with aromatic chicken broth, zesty diced tomatoes, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, robust Italian seasoning, and fiery red pepper flakes.
- Allow ingredients to meld together, simmering on low temperature for 4-6 hours or high temperature for 2-3 hours, developing rich, deep flavors.
- Introduce cheese-filled tortellini and fresh spinach leaves approximately 30 minutes before cooking completion, ensuring pasta maintains ideal texture and greens retain vibrant color.
- Gently incorporate velvety heavy cream during final 10-15 minutes of cooking, creating a luxurious, silky soup consistency.
- Perform final seasoning assessment, adjusting salt and pepper levels to personal preference, ensuring harmonious taste profile.
- Ladle steaming soup into serving bowls, presenting a comforting, hearty meal ready to be enjoyed immediately.
Notes
- Customize meat options by swapping Italian sausage with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner protein choice.
- Prevent tortellini from becoming mushy by adding them closer to the end of cooking time, ensuring they maintain a perfect al dente texture.
- Use fresh spinach instead of frozen for a brighter color and more vibrant flavor profile in the soup.
- Balance spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes to suit individual heat preferences, making the dish adaptable for sensitive palates.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg