Ingredients
Equipment
Method
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.
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.
