Description
Hearty Crockpot Tortellini Soup combines Italian sausage and cheesy pasta in a rich, comforting broth that promises warmth from first spoonful. Simmering slowly with herbs and vegetables, this one-pot meal delivers robust flavors that invite hungry diners to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 package (9 oz / 255 grams) refrigerated tortellini
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) heavy cream
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups spinach leaves (optional)
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes
Seasonings and Oils:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sear ground sausage in a skillet with olive oil, meticulously breaking the meat into fine, uniform crumbles while rendering excess fat.
- Transfer browned sausage into the crockpot, incorporating diced onions, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, savory chicken broth, and aromatic Italian seasoning. Thoroughly blend ingredients to ensure even distribution.
- Secure crockpot lid and allow mixture to simmer on low temperature for 6-7 hours or accelerate cooking on high setting for 3-4 hours, developing rich, layered flavor profiles.
- Approximately 30 minutes prior to serving, gently fold in velvety heavy cream and delicate cheese-filled tortellini, enabling pasta to absorb surrounding flavors and achieve perfect tender consistency.
- Introduce fresh spinach leaves into the soup, permitting them to gracefully wilt and integrate within the warm liquid. Taste and calibrate seasoning with nuanced salt and pepper adjustments.
- Ladle steaming soup into serving bowls, presenting a comforting and robust meal ready to be savored immediately.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by using fresh Italian sausage with higher fat content for richer taste and deeper meat profile.
- Consider using pre-cooked tortellini to prevent overcooking and maintain perfect pasta texture during slow cooking process.
- Make gluten-free by substituting regular tortellini with gluten-free cheese or meat-filled pasta options and ensuring broth is gluten-free certified.
- Reduce calories by using turkey sausage, low-fat cream, and adding extra vegetables like zucchini or kale for nutritional boost without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg