Creamy Tortellini and Sausage Soup in the Slow Cooker Recipe
A comforting and hearty slow cooker soup that combines savory Italian sausage, creamy cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach in a rich tomato broth with cream cheese for added creaminess. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal ready to warm you up.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb Italian sausage, browned and drained
Produce
- 3–4 cups fresh spinach
Canned Goods
- 2 (15oz) cans Italian diced tomatoes
Dairy
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
Frozen
- 1 (20oz) bag frozen cheese tortellini
Broth
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth (32 oz container)
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage until fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain excess fat to ensure a less greasy soup.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned sausage to the slow cooker. Add the two cans of Italian diced tomatoes (with juices), vegetable or chicken broth, and cubed cream cheese.
- Cook the Soup: Stir the ingredients gently to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the cream cheese to fully melt into the broth.
- Add Tortellini and Spinach: About 20-30 minutes before serving, stir in the frozen cheese tortellini and fresh spinach. Cover and continue to cook until the tortellini is tender and the spinach is wilted.
- Final Stir and Serve: Give the soup a good stir to ensure everything is well mixed. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy, flavorful tortellini and sausage soup.
Notes
- For a lower-fat option, use turkey sausage or chicken sausage instead of Italian pork sausage.
- Substitute fresh tortellini if available, adjusting cooking time accordingly to prevent overcooking.
- Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes can add a nice subtle heat to the soup.
- If you prefer a thicker consistency, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes to let some liquid evaporate.
- The soup stores well and tastes even better the next day after the flavors have melded.
Keywords: slow cooker soup, creamy tortellini soup, Italian sausage soup, comfort food, easy crockpot recipe