Sausage, Spinach & Tortellini Soup
Nothing beats a cozy bowl of hearty soup that brings the whole family together around the dinner table! This comforting sausage, spinach, and tortellini soup is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious and filling. You’ll love how it combines all your favorite flavors in one satisfying bowl that’s ready in just 40 minutes.
Recipe Details
Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 30 minutes, Additional Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 40 minutes, Serves: 6 people.
Nutrition Profile: Low-Fat
Nutrition Facts (per serving): 337 Calories, 12g Fat, 34g Carbs, 22g Protein
Ingredients You’ll Need
Olive oil: Just 1 tablespoon to get everything started. This helps brown the sausage perfectly and adds a lovely flavor base.
Italian turkey sausage: You’ll need 12 ounces with the casings removed. Pick hot or mild based on your family’s taste – both work great!
Yellow onion: One medium onion chopped up gives you about 1½ cups. I love how onions make everything smell so good when they’re cooking.
Garlic: 1 tablespoon minced garlic adds that perfect aromatic touch. Fresh is best, but the jarred stuff works too!
White wine or rosé: ¼ cup (2 ounces) adds amazing depth to the soup. Don’t worry – the alcohol cooks off completely.
Crushed tomatoes: One 28-ounce can of no-salt-added crushed tomatoes creates that rich, comforting base we all love.
Chicken broth: 4 cups of unsalted chicken broth makes the soup nice and hearty. Low-sodium works perfectly here.
Three-cheese tortellini: One 9-ounce package of refrigerated tortellini makes this soup extra filling and delicious.
Kosher salt: Just ⅛ teaspoon to bring all the flavors together perfectly.
Fresh spinach: 3 cups packed and roughly chopped adds beautiful color and nutrition. Baby spinach works great too!
Fresh basil: 2½ tablespoons chopped fresh basil finishes everything with that perfect Italian touch.
How to Make Sausage, Spinach & Tortellini Soup
Step 1: Heat your olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook it, stirring to crumble, until it’s lightly browned – about 7 minutes. The kitchen will smell amazing!
Step 2: Add your chopped onion to the pan. Cook it, stirring often, until it gets nice and soft – about 3 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for just 1 minute, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn.
Step 3: Pour in the wine and let it cook undisturbed until most of it evaporates – about 1 minute. This step adds such great flavor!
Step 4: Add the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth to your pan. Bring everything to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes.
Step 5: Increase the heat back to medium-high and add your tortellini and salt. Bring it to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini is tender – about 7 minutes.
Step 6: Add the spinach and stir gently until it wilts – this only takes about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in that fresh basil. You’re done!
Easy and Quick Sausage, Spinach & Tortellini Soup Version
Want to make this even faster? You can use pre-cooked Italian sausage links! Just slice 12 ounces of cooked sausage and add it when you would normally add the raw sausage. This cuts about 5 minutes off your cooking time. You can also use frozen tortellini instead of fresh – just add an extra 2-3 minutes to the cooking time. Super easy!
Serving Ideas
This soup is pretty much a complete meal all by itself! Serve it with some crusty garlic bread or warm dinner rolls for dipping. A simple side salad with Italian dressing makes it feel like a restaurant meal. The soup tastes even better the next day, so don’t worry about making the whole batch!
Storage
Store your leftover soup in the fridge for up to 4 days in a covered container. To reheat, just warm it gently on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You can also microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes. The tortellini might get a little softer after storing, but it still tastes great!
Substitutions
No turkey sausage? Regular Italian pork sausage works perfectly too! You can swap the spinach for kale or Swiss chard if that’s what you have. Instead of white wine, try using an extra ½ cup of chicken broth. Cheese tortellini can be replaced with meat tortellini or even regular pasta like small shells or rotini.
Pro Tips
- Make ahead tip: Cook everything except the tortellini, then add the pasta when you reheat to keep it from getting mushy.
- Flavor boost: Add a parmesan rind while the soup simmers for extra richness – just remove it before serving.
- Texture trick: Don’t overcook the spinach – it should just wilt and stay bright green.
- Wine substitute: If you don’t want to use wine, chicken broth works great instead.
FAQs
Can I freeze this soup?
You bet! But here’s the thing – the tortellini doesn’t freeze super well. I’d recommend freezing the soup base without the pasta, then adding fresh tortellini when you reheat it. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What if I can’t find turkey sausage?
Sure! Regular Italian pork sausage works just as well. You can also use chicken sausage or even crumbled ground turkey seasoned with Italian herbs. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious!
Can I make this vegetarian?
Absolutely! Skip the sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You might want to add some extra herbs like oregano and thyme to make up for the missing sausage flavor. Maybe throw in some diced bell peppers for extra texture!
How do I keep the tortellini from getting mushy?
Great question! Don’t overcook the tortellini – it should be tender but still have a little bite to it. If you’re making this ahead, cook the tortellini separately and add it to individual bowls when serving. This keeps it perfect every time!
Final Thoughts
I hope your family loves this cozy soup as much as mine does! It’s become one of our go-to dinners when we want something warm and comforting. Let me know how it turns out for you – I’d love to hear about any fun variations you try!
