Description
A comforting and flavorful Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup featuring spicy Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach simmered in a savory broth enriched with cream and fresh thyme.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 12 oz spicy Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste (about ¼ teaspoon or less, optional)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 oz fresh spinach
- 4 tablespoons fresh thyme
Liquids and Pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 6 cups water
- 8 oz refrigerated three-cheese tortellini (Buitoni brand used)
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, high-sided pot over medium heat. Add 12 oz crumbled spicy Italian sausage and cook for several minutes, stirring until fully cooked. Drain excess grease from the pot. Sprinkle the sausage with 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning and 1 teaspoon paprika, stirring well to combine.
- Add Vegetables and Flavorings: Add the peeled and cubed large sweet potato, 5 cloves minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 tablespoon tomato paste to the pot. Stir everything together to combine the flavors.
- Add Water and Simmer: Pour in 6 cups of water. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring to dissolve the tomato paste. Once boiling, reduce heat to a visible simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 15 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender.
- Cook the Tortellini: Add 8 oz of refrigerated three-cheese tortellini directly to the simmering soup. Cover the pot and boil for 10 minutes over medium heat, following the tortellini package’s cooking time.
- Add Spinach and Finish Soup: Stir in 4 oz fresh spinach until it wilts slightly. Remove the pot from heat. Stir in ½ cup heavy cream to enrich the soup. Season with salt as needed and additional red pepper flakes for extra spice. Garnish with 4 tablespoons fresh thyme before serving.
Notes
- If the cream looks separated or grainy after cooling or refrigeration, warm the soup gently on the stovetop or microwave and stir well to restore its creamy texture.
- Adjust salt based on the saltiness of the sausage; some sausages may make added salt unnecessary.
- You can substitute sweet potato with butternut squash or regular potatoes if preferred.
- Use fresh tortellini for best texture; frozen or dried tortellini may require different cooking times.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a plant-based cream alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
