This easy Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup is warm and loaded with comforting, hearty flavor for the perfect hands-off weeknight dinner the whole family can enjoy all season long. In just 10 minutes, this soup will be prepped and ready to cook all day and make your house smell incredible too!
There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day to a warm soup that’s been simmering away for hours, and this Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup is one of those recipes our family makes on repeat during the fall and winter. Easy to make, hands-off, and with just a few of simple ingredients, this comforting soup is perfect for chilly nights, cozy weeknight dinners, and make-ahead meals.
The crockpot does all the work for you, slow-cooking Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach in a tomato broth for the ultimate cozy, slow-cooker soup that’s stick-to-your-ribs delicious. In fact, we think this slow cooker Sausage Tortellini Soup tastes just as good — maybe even better the next day, so I always hope we have leftovers! This is one of our family favorites, and we hope it becomes one of yours, too.
If you like this comforting recipe, be sure to try our warm and cozy Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup and this hearty Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Tortellini for an easy twist on the classic.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy, Hands-Off Recipe: Thanks to the simple method, the crockpot does most of the work for you here, so you can have dinner on the table with minimal effort.
- Family Favorite Meal: This is one of our family’s go-to recipes that’s warm, hearty, and so satisfying after a long day outside, or simply to cozy up to for an evening inside together.
- Great for Leftovers: If you have leftovers of this soup, consider yourself lucky. This soup hold up especially well, so it’s great for meal prep and easy dinners later in the week.
- All-in-One Soup: This recipe is loaded with vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, and fresh spinach, alongside of sausage and tortellini, so it’s an all-in-one meal — you get everything you need in one pot.
Ingredients
- Italian Sausage: Brown this first for the best caramelized flavor and texture. Use your favorite variety — sweet, spicy or mild works.
- Onion, Carrots & Celery: Base aromatics to flavor the soup.
- Garlic: For even more flavoring in the broth.
- Crushed Tomatoes & Diced Tomatoes: Some of our favorite store-bought canned pantry staples to keep on hand. These give the soup depth of flavor and color.
- Chicken Broth: For the savory base of the soup.
- Cheese Tortellini: Use your favorite fresh variety, found in the refrigerated section.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: This is optional, but adds a rich, creaminess to the soup.
- Baby Spinach: For fresh flavor and a pop of color.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste. Adjust the seasoning as you go, and at the very end.
How To Make Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup
1. Add the sausage and chopped onion to a skillet and saute for about 7 minutes
2. Add the garlic in towards the end so it doesn’t burn.
3. Add the sausage mixture to your Crockpot.
4. Meanwhile, chop your carrots and celery.
5. Add all ingredients EXCEPT the tortellini, spinach, cream, and salt and pepper to the Crockpot.
6. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-7 hours
7. About 30 minutes prior to serving- add in your cheese tortellini, cream and spinach – TIP: I set the heat to HIGH for these last 30 minutes
8. Give it a stir occasionally throughout the cook
9. Season with salt and pepper as needed prior to serving. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Add the garlic last. Add this in only during the last minute or so of sautéing the sausage and onion, because it burns easily and can turn bitter tasting.
- Add the tortellini, cream and spinach towards the end. Hold off on adding the tortellini, cream, and spinach to the slow-cooker until the last 30 minutes of cooking. Adding them too early can turn the tortellini mushy and dull the freshness of the spinach.
- Switch the crockpot to high for the final 30-minutes. Switch from the low setting to the high setting during the last 30 minute stretch so the tortellini cooks through in time.
- Stir occasionally. Do this during the full cook time to keep the sausage and vegetables from settling unevenly or sticking to the bottom.
Variations & Substitutions
- Make it Spicy: Use spicy Italian sausage in place of mild for extra heat and more kick.
- Try Another Leafy Green: Swap in kale for the spinach for a slightly heartier green.
- Lighten It Up: Opt to leave out the heavy cream for a lighter, broth-based version. It’ll be just as tasty, without the creamy note. You can also add in half and half or milk for a slightly lighter option.
- Use a Different Pasta: Try adding a different stuffed or filled pasta, like ravioli, in place of tortellini, for another equally as delicious flavor profile. They’re available in so many different meat and cheese varieties.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover cooled soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally, and serve hot.
We don’t recommend freezing this soup as the texture of the tortellini can turn mushy, but this is a great make-ahead meal — prep and cook it in advance, let it cool, then store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Leftovers are even better, so reheat as instructed above for dinner the next day, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely. Follow the same instructions, and add the tortellini in towards the final 10 minutes of cooking, so they come out al dente instead of mushy.
Yes — omit the heavy cream for an equally delicious, slightly lighter, savory, broth-based soup instead.
Adding the tortellini and spinach towards the end of cooking prevents the pasta from turning mushy and soft, and keeps the greens fresh in flavor, color and texture.
Sure – just be sure to add them towards the final 30 minutes of cooking. You may need to add an additional 5 minutes to their cook time to ensure they’re warm and cooked through.
More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Divan
- Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork
- Crockpot Cheeseburger Casserole
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Creamy Crockpot Sausage and Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
Method
- Add the sausage and chopped onion to a skillet and saute for about 7 minutes
- Add the garlic in towards the end so it doesn’t burn
- Add the sausage mixture to your Crockpot
- Meanwhile, chop your carrots an celery
- Add all ingredients EXCEPT the tortellini, spinach, cream, and salt and pepper to the Crockpot.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-7 hours
- About 30 minutes prior to serving- add in your cheese tortellini, cream and spinach – TIP: I set the heat to HIGH for these last 30 minutes
- Give it a stir occasionally throughout the cook
- Season with salt and pepper as needed prior to servingEnjoy!
Notes
- Store cooled soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally, and serve hot.
- This is a great make-ahead meal — prep and cook the soup in advance, let it cool, then store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Leftovers are even better, so reheat as instructed above for dinner the next day.