Description
Slow-cooker magic brings Italian-inspired Creamy Tortellini Soup to life with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Hearty cheese-filled pasta, tender vegetables, and rich cream combine for a comforting meal that warms souls and satisfies hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound Italian sausage, crumbled
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 1 package (20 ounces) cheese tortellini
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sear ground sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown, ensuring no pink remains. Carefully drain excess fat.
- Transfer browned sausage to crockpot and incorporate frozen tortellini, diced tomatoes, fresh spinach, chicken broth, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Gently blend ingredients for uniform distribution.
- Set crockpot to low temperature and allow mixture to simmer for 4-5 hours, or alternatively use high setting for 2-3 hours until pasta reaches desired tenderness.
- Approximately 30 minutes prior to serving, introduce heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir thoroughly to integrate and allow sauce to gradually thicken and develop rich, creamy consistency.
- Once sauce reaches desired creaminess, remove crockpot from heat. Ladle into serving bowls, garnishing with additional Parmesan cheese and optional fresh chopped herbs like basil or parsley for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Check sausage quality by ensuring it’s fully browned and no pink remains, which prevents potential foodborne illness.
- Opt for fresh or frozen cheese tortellini instead of dried pasta to maintain better texture and prevent overcooking.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and selecting a lighter sausage variety like turkey or chicken sausage.
- Customize vegetarian-friendly by replacing sausage with plant-based protein crumbles or mushrooms for similar hearty texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 493 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg