🎉 Introduction
Golden Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup is the definition of fall comfort food. It’s warm, hearty, and deeply satisfying, with pillowy cheese tortellini, savory Italian turkey sausage, fresh spinach, and a lightly creamy broth infused with garlic, herbs, and vegetables. Every spoonful feels like wrapping up in your favorite sweater on a crisp autumn evening.
This soup comes together in one pot, making it perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or relaxed family dinners. It’s rich without being heavy, cozy without being bland, and balanced enough to keep you going back for just one more bowl.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large soup pot or Dutch oven
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Ladle
🛒 Ingredients
Sausage & Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
Pasta & Greens
- 1 package (18–20 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 3 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Finishing Touches
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Brown the sausage
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add turkey sausage and cook, breaking it up, until browned and fully cooked.
Remove excess grease if needed.
Step 2: Sauté vegetables
Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot.
Cook 4–5 minutes until softened.
Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Build flavor
Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
Add Italian seasoning, thyme, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes.
Step 4: Add broth
Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
Simmer 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
Step 5: Cook tortellini
Add tortellini directly to the soup.
Simmer 5–7 minutes, stirring gently, until pasta is tender.
Step 6: Make it creamy
Lower heat and stir in cream, Parmesan cheese, and spinach.
Simmer 2–3 minutes until spinach wilts and soup is silky.
Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 6–8
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: ~40 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. ❄️
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Add a splash of broth or milk when reheating, as tortellini absorbs liquid.
- For freezing, freeze without tortellini and add fresh pasta when reheating.
🥄 Variations
- Extra Creamy Autumn Soup
Add an extra ¼ cup cream and more Parmesan. - Spicy Sausage Version
Use spicy turkey sausage and extra red pepper flakes. - Mushroom Lover’s Twist
Add sliced mushrooms with the vegetables. - Lighter Version
Use milk instead of cream and reduce Parmesan. - Tuscan-Style Upgrade
Add sun-dried tomatoes and a pinch of oregano.
❓ 10 FAQs
- Can I use frozen tortellini?
Yes — add 2–3 extra minutes of cook time. - Why turkey sausage?
It’s flavorful, lighter, and perfect for soups. - Is this soup very thick?
It’s creamy but still brothy — easily adjustable. - Can I make this ahead?
Yes — just add tortellini when reheating. - Can I use kale instead of spinach?
Absolutely — add it a few minutes earlier. - Does the soup get thicker overnight?
Yes — add broth when reheating. - Can I make it dairy-free?
Use plant-based cream and skip Parmesan. - What bread pairs well?
Garlic bread, crusty sourdough, or dinner rolls. - Is this kid-friendly?
Very — mild, creamy, and comforting. - Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes — add tortellini and cream during the last 30 minutes.
🏁 Conclusion
Golden Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup is everything we crave when the weather cools — hearty, creamy, and deeply comforting. With savory turkey sausage, tender tortellini, and fresh spinach in a rich broth, it’s a one-pot meal that feels special yet easy enough for any night of the week. Cozy, flavorful, and guaranteed to warm you from the inside out, this soup deserves a regular spot in your fall rotation.

Golden Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup – Cozy bowls of tender pasta, savory sausage, and leafy greens in a creamy, comforting broth
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add turkey sausage and cook, breaking it up, until browned and fully cooked.
- Remove excess grease if needed.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot.
- Cook 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Add Italian seasoning, thyme, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
- Add tortellini directly to the soup.
- Simmer 5–7 minutes, stirring gently, until pasta is tender.
- Lower heat and stir in cream, Parmesan cheese, and spinach.
- Simmer 2–3 minutes until spinach wilts and soup is silky.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. ❄️ Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave. Add a splash of broth or milk when reheating, as tortellini absorbs liquid. For freezing, freeze without tortellini and add fresh pasta when reheating.🥄 Variations
Extra Creamy Autumn SoupAdd an extra ¼ cup cream and more Parmesan. Spicy Sausage Version
Use spicy turkey sausage and extra red pepper flakes. Mushroom Lover’s Twist
Add sliced mushrooms with the vegetables. Lighter Version
Use milk instead of cream and reduce Parmesan. Tuscan-Style Upgrade
Add sun-dried tomatoes and a pinch of oregano.
❓ 10 FAQs
Can I use frozen tortellini?Yes — add 2–3 extra minutes of cook time. Why turkey sausage?
It’s flavorful, lighter, and perfect for soups. Is this soup very thick?
It’s creamy but still brothy — easily adjustable. Can I make this ahead?
Yes — just add tortellini when reheating. Can I use kale instead of spinach?
Absolutely — add it a few minutes earlier. Does the soup get thicker overnight?
Yes — add broth when reheating. Can I make it dairy-free?
Use plant-based cream and skip Parmesan. What bread pairs well?
Garlic bread, crusty sourdough, or dinner rolls. Is this kid-friendly?
Very — mild, creamy, and comforting. Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes — add tortellini and cream during the last 30 minutes.