Easy Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Kale Recipe: A Cozy Bowl

Tortellini soup bursts with hearty flavors that promise warmth and comfort during chilly evenings.

Robust ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of textures and aromas that awaken your senses.

Tender pasta pillows nestle among vibrant greens and savory meat, revolutionizeing a simple dish into a memorable meal.

Italian-inspired culinary traditions shine through each carefully balanced spoonful, promising satisfaction with every bite.

Home cooks adore these one-pot wonders that deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Nutritious and filling, this soup represents a perfect balance between indulgence and wholesome eating.

Dive into a bowl that tells a story of rustic comfort and culinary creativity.

Why Tortellini Soup with Sausage Tastes So Hearty

• Savor Hearty Comfort: This soup delivers a perfect balance of protein-packed sausage, tender tortellini, and nutrient-rich kale in one satisfying bowl that warms you from the inside out.
• Quick and Simple Cooking: Requires just one pot and basic ingredients, making it an effortless meal that comes together in under 30 minutes- ideal for busy weeknight dinners or last-minute meal preparation.
• Nutrition-Packed Flavor Explosion: Combines lean protein from sausage, vitamins from kale and vegetables, and carbohydrates from tortellini, creating a well-rounded meal that's both delicious and nutritionally balanced.
• Versatile Winter Wonder: Perfect for cold days, this soup offers multiple textures- soft tortellini, hearty sausage, and slightly crisp kale- that make every spoonful interesting and comforting.

The Ingredients That Build Tortellini Soup Flavor

• Sausage: Hearty meat that adds rich, savory flavor and provides protein to the soup.
• Chicken Broth: Liquid base that creates depth of flavor and provides essential cooking liquid.

• Carrot, Onion, Celery: Classic soup mirepoix that builds foundational vegetable flavor and adds nutritional value.
• Kale: Nutrient-dense leafy green that brings earthy taste and vibrant color to the soup.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that enhances overall taste profile with its distinctive sharp flavor.

• Tortellini: Cheese-filled pasta that adds texture and makes the soup more substantial.
• Thyme: Herb that contributes subtle, earthy notes and complements the sausage.
• Bay Leaf: Aromatic herb that provides gentle background flavor during cooking.
• Olive Oil: Cooking fat that helps sauté vegetables and develop deep flavors.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance the soup's overall taste.

Putting Together a Soul-Warming Tortellini Soup

Step 1: Prepare Cooking Vessel

Select a large, sturdy pot or dutch oven. This will be your soup’s home for delicious transformation.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat

Crumble sausage into the pot

Cook until meat turns golden and crispy, about 10-12 minutes

Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat

Transfer browned sausage to a separate plate

Step 3: Sauté Vegetable Base

Return pot to medium heat

• Carrots
• Onions
• Celery

Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Stir occasionally

Cook until vegetables soften and edges begin to caramelize, roughly 5-7 minutes

Step 4: Enhance Aromatic Layers

Introduce minced garlic

Sprinkle fresh thyme

Add bay leaf

Sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes

Step 5: Build Soup Foundation

Pour in chicken broth

Bring liquid to a gentle simmer

Let broth bubble softly for 5 minutes

Step 6: Create Hearty Soup

Fold in chopped kale

Return cooked sausage to pot

Add tortellini

Simmer until pasta reaches perfect tenderness

Adjust cooking time based on pasta type (fresh or frozen)

Step 7: Final Seasoning and Serving

Taste and adjust salt and pepper

Ladle into warm bowls

Serve immediately for maximum comfort and flavor

Tips for Making It Richer and Better

• Sausage Selection: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor for the best taste profile in your soup.
• Vegetable Prep: Dice carrots, onions, and celery uniformly to ensure even cooking and balanced texture throughout the soup.
• Kale Technique: Remove tough stems from kale and chop leaves into bite-sized pieces for tender, easy-to-eat greens.
• Broth Boost: Use homemade chicken broth or low-sodium store-bought version to control salt levels and enhance overall soup depth.
• Tortellini Timing: Add tortellini near the end of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain perfect pasta texture.

Storing and Reheating Soup Without Losing Flavor

• Refrigerate: Store leftover soup in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Freeze: Preserve soup without tortellini for maximum 2 months. Pasta might become mushy when thawed, so add fresh tortellini when reheating.
• Reheat: Warm gently on stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add splash of chicken broth to restore moisture and prevent sticking. Microwave in short intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.

Best Matches for This Cozy Tortellini Dish

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: A medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese complements the hearty sausage and rich flavors of the tortellini soup, cutting through the richness while enhancing the meal's warmth.
• Serve with Crusty Garlic Bread: Crispy, golden-brown Italian bread rubbed with fresh garlic provides the perfect crunchy texture and soaks up the savory broth, creating a delightful accompaniment to the soup.
• Match with Crisp Parmesan Salad: A light, zesty salad with fresh parmesan shavings and a lemon vinaigrette offers a bright, refreshing contrast to the soup's robust and comforting profile, balancing the meal's overall flavor.
• Add Herbal Prosecco Spritzer: A light, bubbly prosecco mixed with fresh herbs like basil or thyme creates a refreshing drink that cleanses the palate and complements the soup's hearty Italian-inspired ingredients.

New Takes on Tortellini Soup You Should Try

• Quick Veggie Swap: Replace sausage with plant-based crumbles or mushrooms for a vegetarian version that maintains rich, hearty flavors.
• Creamy Comfort Edition: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or cream cheese before serving to create a luxurious, velvety soup texture.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Substitute kale with spinach and add diced sun-dried tomatoes and a sprinkle of feta cheese for a Mediterranean-inspired profile.
• Spicy Kick Remix: Incorporate red pepper flakes, chorizo instead of traditional sausage, and add a dash of smoked paprika to elevate heat and complexity.

Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Kale Recipe

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4.7 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty tortellini soup blends Italian comfort with rustic charm, combining spicy sausage, tender kale, and cheesy pasta in a rich broth. Warm bowls invite winter comfort, delivering satisfying flavors that comfort and nourish with each delicious spoonful.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein:

• ½ pound bulk mild Italian sausage

Vegetables:

• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bunch curly leaf kale (about 6 ounces), large veins removed and torn into large pieces

Liquid and Seasonings:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 10-ounce package fresh or frozen spinach tortellini
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Warm a spacious cooking vessel with olive oil over medium-high temperature, preparing for a rich, hearty soup preparation.
2. Crumble sausage into the heated oil, breaking meat into small fragments while browning thoroughly until achieving a deep golden color and releasing aromatic flavors, approximately 10-12 minutes.
3. Extract browned sausage using a perforated utensil, transferring to a separate plate while maintaining the flavorful rendered fat in the cooking vessel.
4. Return pan to medium heat and introduce chopped carrots, onions, and celery, seasoning with salt and pepper for enhanced taste profile.
5. Gently sauté vegetable medley, stirring periodically, allowing ingredients to soften and caramelize around edges, creating a flavor foundation, roughly 5-7 minutes.
6. Incorporate minced garlic, fresh thyme, and bay leaf, stirring briefly to activate their aromatic essence and infuse the base with herbaceous complexity.
7. Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, bringing liquid to a gentle simmer and allowing flavors to meld for approximately 5 minutes.
8. Introduce torn kale leaves, previously cooked sausage, and tortellini to the simmering broth, cooking until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.
9. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed, ensuring balanced flavor throughout the soup.
10. Ladle piping hot soup into serving bowls, presenting a comforting and nutritious meal ready to be enjoyed immediately.

Notes

• Maximize flavor by browning sausage completely before removing from the pan, which helps develop rich, deep taste profiles.
• Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
• Layer ingredients strategically: start with meat, then aromatics, followed by broth and pasta to build complex, balanced flavors.
• Fresh tortellini cooks faster than frozen, so adjust simmering time accordingly to prevent overcooking and maintain pasta’s delicate texture.
• Use low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels, allowing you to season gradually and prevent an overly salty final dish.
• Add kale near the end of cooking to preserve its vibrant color, nutrients, and prevent wilting into mushy greens.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg