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This Crockpot tortellini soup with sausage is a comforting and easy to prepare slow cooker soup! It has Italian sausage, tomatoes, cheese tortellini, a splash of cream, and spinach.
You may also enjoy my Italian Sausage Orzo Soup or this Easy Zuppa Toscana next.
Why you’ll love it
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m a big fan of pasta and Italian sausage in soup like in my Lasagna Soup. It’s just such an undeniably tasty combo! In this slow cooker tortellini soup we’ve also got plenty of spinach in a rich tomato broth.
This cozy tortellini soup with sausage is the perfect meal to come home to. Get everything ready in the morning, and then pop the tortellini in while you’re unwinding after work. It’s really easy to make, and this soup will quickly become a family favorite.
What you’ll need
- Italian sausage – I chose mild. You can buy bulk meat, or take the sausage out of the casings.
- Onion, garlic, celery, and carrots – the aromatic foundation for many tasty soups. I like to use sweet (Vidalia) onions.
- Canned tomatoes – we’re using both crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes
- Chicken broth – for more savory flavor
- Tortellini – tortellini package sizes vary, so use anything around the amount I suggest. I use the refrigerated kind.
- Heavy cream – a touch of cream really enhances the texture and taste
- Spinach – for a pop of freshness and contrast
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- This is my 7-quart Crockpot slow cooker model.
- Here’s my favorite skillet for the sautéing step.
- My trusty can opener works great for the tomatoes, and this garlic press making mincing garlic effortless.
How to make slow cooker tortellini soup with sausage
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a skillet add the sausage and onions, and sauté until the meat is browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Discard any excess fat. Stir in the garlic until fragrant. Transfer the skillet contents to your Crockpot, and add in the celery, carrots, tomatoes, and broth.
Cook on low or high depending on your preference. When it’s about half an hour from being done, add in the tortellini, cream, and spinach. Stir occasionally. Season with salt & pepper as needed.
Pro tip
If you really need to, you could skip the step where you sauté the sausage and onion (I have tested similar recipes where I’ve just thrown raw sausage into the slow cooker), but I do recommend that step if possible because it imparts more flavor into this dish. You can also drain some of the fat if needed.
Substitutions and variations
- I made this a creamy tortellini soup, but, with that said, you can leave the cream out, and it’ll still taste delicious. I don’t recommend subbing for something with a lower fat content like half-and-half because it could curdle, though.
- Use spicy Italian sausage if you want a little heat to this soup, or add in crushed red pepper flakes.
- Want to make it on the stovetop? Try my similar Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup.
What to serve with this soup
- This Crockpot Italian sausage tortellini soup is delicious served with fresh parmesan grated over top!
- I love to pair it with a big Caesar salad with my 10-Minute Caesar Dressing and Garlic Croutons. Spring mix with my Creamy Pesto Dressing works too.
- Round out the meal with a slice of fresh crusty bread or my Cheesy Garlic Bread.
Leftovers and storage
- Store leftovers of this creamy tortellini soup for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Keep in mind that the pasta will soak up the soup the longer you leave it, so if you are reheating leftovers, you may need to add more chicken broth if needed.
- If you want to make this soup ahead (or freeze it), I suggest waiting to add the tortellini, cream, and spinach until you’re ready to eat it.
Hope you’ll love this tortellini soup with Italian sausage! Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask. Please leave a star rating and review below if you made it, or tag me on Instagram.
Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Italian sausage see note
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 medium carrots sliced or chopped
- 2 sticks celery chopped finely
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 (9 ounce) packages refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream optional
- 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the sausage meat and onions to a skillet. Sauté for about 7-8 minutes, breaking the sausage meat up with your spoon, until browned. If needed, spoon out some of the excess fat.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the sausage mixture to your Crockpot.
- Add the carrots, celery, canned tomatoes, and chicken broth to the Crockpot. Keep in mind that if you want the soup to cook in 3-4 hours, the carrots will have to be chopped pretty finely. If you're cooking it for 7-8 on low or 4-5 hours on high, you can chop them larger.
- About 30 minutes prior to serving, add in your cheese tortellini, cream, and spinach (I set the heat to "high"). Give it a stir occasionally. Season with salt & pepper as needed prior to serving.
Notes
- Use ground sausage meat or whole sausages (take the sausage meat out of the casings). Feel free to use spicy sausage!
- The leftovers of this soup do soak up the broth a lot, so this soup is best eaten when it’s fresh. I suggest adding more chicken broth to leftovers if you need to. Or, add the tortellini in when reheating if you plan on having lots of leftovers.
- This is the 7-quart Crockpot I used to make this recipe. My Crockpot was pretty full by the time I added the tortellini.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is so amazing!!! I used fire roasted diced tomatoes was the only thing I changed
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!! 😀
Easy & delicious! It’s so good that I’ve made it multiple times and recommended it to my friends and family.
I’m thrilled to hear that, Mallory!! 😀 Thank you!
Hi Natasha! Planning on making this tomorrow night! I bought bagged tortellini in the dried pasta section. I’d rather cook the pasta with the broth (would I alter any ingredients?) but curious if you think I should cook it separately? Thanks!
Hi Laura! Honestly, I have never actually cooked with dried tortellini before. Since this is a slow cooker version of the soup, I think you could probably cook it in the soup just fine, but I am not sure when exactly to add it in. I would say at least an hour before the soup is done so it cooks through, but possibly even longer. Let me know how it goes!
I made this for a work potluck but took out the celery and carrots. Everyone loved it and I used cream cheese instead of the heavy whipping cream.
I’m so glad it was a hit, Liz!!
Made this 2x for my family. They loved it and were shocked I cooked something so good! Lol. I did leave out the carrots because I don’t think that goes good with this. One time I made with cream cheese one time I made with whipping cream. Both turned out great.
That’s great!!
I was just going to ask if it can be made w/o celery & carrots. 👍
I don’t have any & don’t feel like running out to buy
Yes it’s a very flexible soup 🙂
This soup is so easy, so tasty and filling.Personally I would omit the carrots the next time
I’m glad you liked it! Yes, you could for sure leave the carrots out next time.
I am so excited to try this today! Thank you Natasha and I am sure that it will be excellent. Anything in my slow cooker is good. Good winter recipe.
Let me know how it went! 😀 Enjoy!
Made this tonight. Omitted carrots and celery and subbed with butternut squash. Mistakingly bought the crushed tomatoes with basil but would recommend as the soup came out amazing! 10/10 recommend.
Wonderful! Thank you!
Such a delicious soup and so easy!! The whole family loved it.
I’m so happy to hear that!! 😀 Thank you!
This soup is a staple in our house! My family loves it and I’ve made it several times for guests and they always ask for the recipe. So delicious!
Wonderful!! Thank you, Piper!
If you’re making this and think it will last more than one meal, do you think it’s better to cook the tortellini separate and add it in before eating the soup?
Yes indeed!
Can I use kale and if so should I cook it differently?
Hi! Sure, kale would be good. I think it probably should be ok if you add it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking time, but I haven’t tested so I’m not entirely sure how long it’ll take to soften up as it does take longer than spinach. Maybe give it a 15 min head start before adding the tortellini etc.?