Description
A cozy, creamy crockpot soup featuring Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach simmered to perfection for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Italian sausage (spicy or mild)
- 9 ounces cheese tortellini (refrigerated or frozen)
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned (packed in oil preferred)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium recommended)
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or mix of basil, oregano, and thyme)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Transfer sausage to the crockpot.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onion for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Transfer onions and garlic to the crockpot.
- Add chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the crockpot. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours to let flavors meld.
- About 20 minutes before serving, stir in cheese tortellini and fresh chopped spinach. Pour in heavy cream or half-and-half. Cover and cook until tortellini is tender and spinach is wilted.
- Stir the soup and taste. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. For thicker soup, cook uncovered for 5-10 minutes. Optionally, add a splash more cream for silkiness.
- Ladle into bowls and serve hot, optionally with crusty bread or hot honey pizza.
Notes
Brown the sausage and sauté onions and garlic before adding to the crockpot for deeper flavor. Add tortellini near the end to prevent overcooking. Use fresh spinach last to keep it vibrant. Adjust creaminess by substituting half-and-half or adding Greek yogurt off heat. For gluten-free, use gluten-free tortellini or pasta. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
Keywords: crockpot soup, Tuscan sausage soup, tortellini soup, creamy soup, comfort food, slow cooker recipe, easy dinner