Ingredients

Italian Sausage - I use mild or sweet Italian sausage, but if you want a kick of spice, you can use hot Italian sausage.

Cheese Tortellini - You can use the 20 ounce package of refrigerated tortellini or the smaller 9 ounce package depending on how much tortellini you want in your soup.

Canned Tomatoes - I use a mix of whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce to give this soup a flavorful chucky texture.

Onion

Spices - Garlic and basil give this soup a classic tomato basil flavor.

Heavy Whipping Cream - Adding this at the end of cooking gives this soup a velvet texture and creamy flavor.

How to Make Tomato Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage

This hearty soup comes together quickly, so get ready! First, brown the sausage in a large Dutch oven. This sausage tortellini soup recipe makes a big batch of soup, so you will want to use a big enough pot.

Next, add the chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes on medium-high heat until they are softened. Add the salt, pepper, basil, oregano, garlic, and flour to the pot and cook stirring frequently for one minute.

The flour will allow this soup to thicken quickly without having to cook it for a long time, so don't skip this step. Slowly add in the chicken stock, stirring frequently so the flour and stock mix well and don't clump together.

Then add in the can of whole tomatoes and break them up with a potato masher or fork. This will leave chucks of tomatoes to give this soup a thick, chunky texture. Next, add the remaining tomatoes and brown sugar.

Bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes. After simmering, add the cheese tortellini and cook according to package directions. Finally, stir in heavy whipping cream and mix well.

If you're wondering what to serve with this, click the link to find 21 side dishes for chili and soup!

A large black pot with browned ground sausage.

Step 1: Brown Italian sausage in a large pot.

A large black pot with ground sausage and sautéed onions.

Step 2: Add onions and sauté for a few minutes until softened.

A large black pot with ground sausage, sautéed onions, garlic, and spices.

Step 3: Add garlic, spices, and flour to the pot and cook for one minute.

A Dutch oven with chicken stock newly added to the soup base of sausage, vegetables, and spices.

Step 4: Slowly pour in chicken stock while stirring so the flour doesn't clump.

A Dutch oven with canned tomatoes newly added to the soup base of sausage, vegetables, and spices.

Step 5: Add canned tomatoes and brown sugar. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15-20 minutes.

A Dutch oven full of a red tomato soup and tortellini.

Step 6: Add tortellini and cook according to package directions.

A Dutch oven full of a red tomato soup and tortellini. A measuring cup is pouring white heavy cream into the soup to make it creamy.

Step 7: Turn off the heat and stir in heavy cream to make this soup creamy.

Variations

Add vegetables like spinach, celery, and carrots for a thicker soup full of hidden veggies!

Fresh or frozen tortellini will work well in this soup. Make sure to cook according to package directions.

For a spicier soup use hot Italian sausage and add in some red pepper flakes.

We like chucky soup, but if you want this tomato soup to be silky smooth, use an immersion blender before adding the tortellini.

Storing & Freezing Tomato Tortellini Soup

Let the tomato tortellini soup with Italian sausage come to room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or up to 4 days. Reheat soup in the microwave or on the stovetop.

To freeze, store the cooled soup in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you plan to freeze this before making it, I wouldn't freeze it with the tortellini. Thaw overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add the tortellini when reheating it.