Easy Crockpot Sausage & Tortellini Soup
Crockpot Sausage and Tortellini Soup is the easiest and most delicious soup to whip up and is pure comfort food! With just 6 simple (and cheap!) ingredients, this is sure to become one of your favorites.
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup is one of my favorite recipes. Over the years, it’s become the #1 most popular recipe on Mimosas & Motherhood, too!
If you’re a big fan of easy, family-friendly meals, you’ve got to try this creamy crockpot sausage and tortellini soup.
Loaded with cheese tortellini, Italian sausage, yummy veggies and NO heavy cream, this creamy soup is something my family loves to enjoy year round. It’s THAT good!
I’ve always been a big fan of hearty soups, especially ones that are super simple to make. This easy crockpot sausage and tortellini soup is the perfect addition to your soup rotation this year.
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A few years ago, I challenged myself to make a new soup every single week during autumn. I completely fell in love with how this creamy and delicious slow cooker sausage tortellini soup turned out.
It’s comforting, heart and one of the easiest soup recipes prepare. Made with Italian sausage, tomatoes, spinach, cheese tortellini and cream cheese, this quickly became one of my favorite recipes ever.
This is one of those simple and quick to throw together recipes that WOWS friends and family when you make it for them. Plus, there’s the added bonus of the way this incredible soup makes your house smell too while cooking!
This is the perfect soup to come home to! Just throw everything in the crockpot in the morning except for the tortellini and spinach. They cook quickly once you get home while you’re unwinding.
This is one of my very favorite slow cooker recipes, and I think will become one of yours, too. I like to serve it with Texas toast, and it tastes even better as leftovers! Your entire family will love these easy tortellini soup.
Ingredients Needed for Slow Cooker Sausage Tortellini Soup
To make this delicious one pot tortellini soup, you’ll only need 6 main ingredients:
- Italian sausage, browned and crumbled or chopped (hot Italian sausage or mild Italian sausage both work great!)
- Diced tomatoes
- Spinach
- Chicken broth
- Cream cheese
- Frozen cheese tortellini
You’ll also need seasoning. I like to use salt, black pepper, garlic powder and creole seasoning. Remember that you can scroll down for the full recipe card with all of the measurements.
How do you make sausage and tortellini soup?
To make this crockpot tortellini soup, you’ll start by crumbling the Italian sausage in a large skillet with onions and a little Italian seasoning and cooking on medium heat until browned.
Drain out most of the fat and add the sausage mixture into the crock pot with everything except for the tortellini and spinach. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4.
About 30 minutes before you plan on serving the soup, add the cheesy tortellini and spinach!
Cover and continue to cook for about 30 minutes, until the tortellini are ready. Stir well and serve!
One of the best parts of about this recipe is that not only is it easy to customize and make changes, but it also still tastes delicious if you realize you forgot to grab an ingredient or two at the store.
The real star of this recipe is the broth. The Italian sausage helps to give it a truly amazing flavor, but as someone who has forgotten to defrost the meat before a busy morning I’m happy to tell you the broth still tastes amazing without it, too!
If you’re wondering, both sweet Italian sausage and spicy Italian sausage work great with this creamy tortellini soup with sausage and spinach. It really comes down to personal preferences.
I use chicken broth or chicken stock, but you can also use vegetable broth or stock as well. I also have found that fresh spinach tends to work best for this recipe.
I usually use baby spinach for this creamy tortellini soup recipe. If you have frozen spinach, just be aware it might make the broth a little more watery. Add extra seasoning to taste!
If Italian sausage isn’t your thing, you can also substitute with brown ground beef, turkey or even shredded rotisserie chicken. If you’re a vegetarian (or forgot to defrost the meat you want to use, which we all know is true #momlife), this tortellini soup recipe is also amazing without any meat at all!
I prefer to use frozen cheese tortellini for this recipe, but you can also used dried tortellini or fresh tortellini. Just be aware that cook times will vary if you mix it up. Fresh pasta will be ready sooner and require less extra cooking time.
Also really any tortellini flavor is great for this soup, as long as it’s in the Italian flavor family.
This recipe comes together with tomatoes and spinach, but could easily have more veggies added for a fuller flavor. Things like carrots, celery, pumpkin, kale, zucchini and sweet potato are all great options!
More of my Favorite Soup Recipes:
Creamy Garlic White Chicken Lasagna Soup
Sweet Potato, Bacon & Kale Soup
A few notes before you get started on your Crockpot Sausage & Tortellini Soup:
- Once the soup is cooked, be sure to turn off the crockpot instead of leaving it set to warm. The tortellini will continue to cook if you leave it on, which could mean your soup gets overcooked.
- If your cream cheese isn’t totally melted, give it a few good stirs!
- You don’t have to use frozen tortellini, but if you choose to use a refrigerated option know that the soup will cook a little bit faster.
- If you like your soup a little spicy, I recommend adding 2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes with the other seasonings at the beginning!
- This soup would also taste great with a little parmesan cheese sprinkled on top!
- This soup is great as leftovers. Just be sure to store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
This recipe is SO easy and simple to make, and is a great recipe for busy weeknights. This has become our most loved family favorite! I love that you basically just throw the majority of things in the crockpot, and then add the last 2 ingredients 30 minutes before serving.
This hearty soup can also easily be made on the stove top or in an Instant Pot instead. This is one of those simple recipes that tastes even better the next day, too!
Love easy recipes? Don’t have a slow cooker? You can easily snag one on Amazon with free Prime shipping! (Get 30 days free here) We actually have three crockpots in our house, which I know sounds like overkill, but honestly it comes in SO handy when we want to make more than one dish!
They’re perfect for meal prepping for the week, or for when you’re hosting a large group at your place.
Love slow cooker recipes? Be sure to also check out Super Simple Slow Cooker Shrimp & Grits and Simple and Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast!
Frequently Asked Questions about Slow Cooker Tortellini and Sausage Soup
Can you freeze tortellini soup?
Yes, you can! This soup makes a great freezer meal when frozen correctly. I actually freeze a few servings of this creamy soup every time I make it, as it makes a huge amount.
To freeze tortellini soup, first allow the soup to cool fully to room temperature. For best results, I recommend using these soup freezing trays with lids.
I personally own and love these soup freezing containers! They make it so easy to freeze homemade soup. Just pour the soup into the silicone containers, put the lid on and freeze.
Once totally frozen, pop out the frozen cubes of soup and transfer to an airtight container, ziplock bag or reusable freezer bag. Soup is good frozen like this for at least 6 months!
As this is a cream based soup, I recommend slowly warming up the soup on the stovetop, or allowing the entire serving to defrost in a new container in the refrigerator before heating.
Easy Crockpot Sausage & Tortellini Soup
Easy Crockpot Sausage & Tortellini Soup
If you’re a big fan of easy, family-friendly meals, you’ve got to try this creamy and delicious crockpot sausage and tortellini soup. With just 6 simple (and cheap!) ingredients, this is sure to become one of your favorites.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage, browned, drained and chopped
- 1 15 oz can Italian diced tomatoes, (add a 2nd can if you really love tomatoes!)
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth, 32oz container
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 1 20oz bag frozen cheese tortellini
- 3-4 cups fresh spinach
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tbsp black pepper
Instructions
- Add the sausage, broth, diced tomatoes (1 or 2 cans, depending on how much you like tomatoes!), cubed cream cheese and seasonings to your slow cooker. Stir well, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours (or until the cream cheese has completely dissolved).
- Stir in the spinach and frozen tortellini. Cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the pasta is done to your liking.
- Serve immediately! Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Once the soup is cooked, be sure to turn off the crockpot instead of leaving it set to warm. The tortellini will continue to cook if you leave it on, which could mean your soup gets overcooked. Slow cookers are great for locking in the warmth after cooking, so don't worry about your soup getting cold as long as you keep the lid on!
- You don’t have to use frozen tortellini, but if you choose to use a refrigerated option know that the soup will cook a little bit faster. I recommend checking to see if they're finished cooking after 15 minutes instead of 30 in this case.
- If you like your soup a little spicy, I recommend adding 1-2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes with the other seasonings at the beginning. Be sure to taste as you go, as different people prefer different amount of spice.
- No Italian sausage? No worries! This soup tastes great without the added meat too. You can also substitute for any leftover meat you might have, like shredded chicken, turkey or ground beef. If you are using leftover protein, add it into the soup mixture when you add the frozen tortellinis so that it doesn't overcook and dry out.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 450Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 13gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 1030mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 17g
This creamy sausage tortellini soup is perfect for a cold winter night, rainy day or honestly ANY time you’re craving comfort food! This flavorful soup is truly such a delicious meal. Our family makes this at least once a week during cooler months, and even my toddlers love it!
Let me know in the comments any questions you have about this easy crockpot sausage and tortellini soup! And remember to pin this recipe for later so you can find it easily =)
Looks delish!
It’s really is! It was even better for leftovers the next day.
This looks amazing! I am really getting in the soup mood lately. Here in Wisconsin, USA, September didn’t waste any time. We went from 80’s to 50’s this last week and I am not acclimated yet! Need to warm up 🙂
This soup is perfect for that! It oddly has dropped a lot here in Atlanta too, and this soup was so great to make this weekend with the slight chill in the air.
This look s so yummy! Great for those busy weekends.
It really is! I love how easy it is to whip up, and that it tastes amazing the next day too 😉
This sounds yummy! We don’t do soups very often, but I think my kids would even like this one. Do you think subbing some other kind of pasta (my husband has a gluten intolerance, so tortellini is hard) would work?
Absolutely! I know Trader Joes and Whole Foods have some great gluten free options. You can even use a fresh gluten free pasta, but just know you will need less than 30 minutes for it to cook in that final step.
This looks wonderful!
It’s so yummy and easy!
yum! This looks incredible! My family will love it!
I hope they do! My family has already asked for it again!
This looks delicious and easy. I have a son out on his own searching for easy and delicious recipes this might be a good one for him.
It’s super simple AND affordable, which I know so many of us are looking for these days.
We love tortellini but wouldn’t have thought to put it in a soup. Looks delicious.
I had never thought of it either before a friend recommended it! It was SO good!
This looks yummy! I will be adding it to my crock pot rotation!
I’m so glad to hear that! I hope you love it =)
I love soup in the fall! This looks easy but delicious. Thanks!
We do too! I hope you love it.
This looks great! We love trying new recipes!
I hope you enjoy it!
I wish someone made gluten free tortellini, this soup sounds yummy.
There are a few super tasty gluten-free tortellini brands out there! Check out Udi’s, which you should be able to find at Target.
We are big tomato fans in our house unless it’s salsa or spaghetti sauce. Should I substitute tomatoes for tomato paste or just not add it? Thank you.
Hi Lacy! The recipe calls for diced tomatoes, not tomato paste. Just want to be sure you saw that in case this was an error! I wouldn’t recommend adding in tomato paste as the diced tomatoes are really what makes a difference. If you don’t like them, just leave them out! =)
This recipe is SO GOOD! I call it sausage pizza soup! I can’t wait to make again!
You are so sweet! I’m so thrilled you love it.
My absolute favorite soup recipe! Thank you for this!
We have made this twice for our large family and it is delicious every time! It’s cost efficient for feeding 5 adults and 2 kids plus super simple and easy to throw together while running after two crazy kids. I also love I can count on the leftovers to warm me up on these cold days! Thank you Siobhan for this recipe!
Also, we cut the cream cheese in half just to save on calories and I added a little chopped onion and minced garlic and just did a little lesson garlic salt and onion powder. Adds a little more heartiness to the soup! A splash of half and half or heavy cream doesn’t hurt either! So yummy!
Made it with spicey Italian sausage and was not disappointed! It’s become a regular in our dinner plans.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I love using my crock pot for soups. There’s something wonderful about smelling it throughout the day as it cooks!
I’m so glad I discovered this recipe! It is so delicious and we loved it all winter long. As I decided to make it again on this rainy cold spring day, I did want to ask a question. I have a hard time getting my cream cheese to melt. Any suggestions?
I had the same problem with the cream cheese not melting, so about 4 hours into the cooking, I stirred the soup, pressing down on the cheese clumps to break them up. Then I let the soup cook the rest of the time. When it was time to add the pasta and spinach, I stirred it again and it was nice and smooth. I hope this helps.
Great tip!
Hello – haven’t made the soup yet, but your printed recipe says “East” crockpot sausage & tortellini soup instead of “Easy” – you might want to correct that.
WOW! Thank you Denise! You are the first person to catch that typo, and I really appreciate it! =)
Hi! I’m trying this today since it’s chilly outside. The top narrative says low for 7/8 or high for 3/4, and later in the actual recipe, it says low for 4. What have you found to be the best time for this?
Hi Kelsey! I’m sorry about that! So you can cook it on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 with basically the same results. It depends on your schedule or your slow cooker! Since everything in the broth is cooked before you start the slow cooker, you’re really just letting the flavors blend together and giving the cream cheese time to melt =)
I can’t find frozen tortellini – would the normal refrigerated ones work?
Thanks!
Hi Tessa! yes, the refrigerated ones work great. Just be aware they cook much faster, so add them in the last 10 minutes or so!
Hi there! I can’t find the frozen tortellini. Would the normal refrigerated ones work?
Thanks!
Hi Tessa! yes, the refrigerated ones work great. Just be aware they cook much faster, so add them in the last 10 minutes or so!
I would like to make this in an instapot since I am gone for too long of a period to use a regular slow cooker, however, I’m concerned about the cream cheese. Should I add it after it’s pressure cooked to avoid having it curdle?
Hi Lisa! Yes, I would wait to add the cream cheese. You’re really just trying to get it to melt in the sauce, so that should work fine!
Is there a way I can modify this for my Instant Pot?
Hi Lola! I am working on creating a new recipe for Instant Pot because so many people are asking!
I made this for my family last night and it was absolutely delicious! As advertised, it was super easy, creamy and flavorful. I used a mixture of andouille sausage and alligator sausage because that was what I had on hand. Because my family likes things spicy, I added a bit of dried pepper flakes as well. The spicy sausage took the flavor profile over the top! I liked that although the soup was creamy, it wasn’t overly creamy or thick. I will be making this little gem again. Thanks for a wonderful recipe.
I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed it!
You mention cooking the sausage with onion but onion isn’t listed in the ingredients, so I just wanted to ask about that. Thanks!
Opps, you’re very right. The onion is optional. I sometimes dice half an onion and brown it with the sausage, but many people didn’t like the flavor with the soup so I took it off the ingredient list. We still do it in our home though 😉
Could you use a can of Rotel Tomatoes in place of the second can of diced tomatoes?
Absolutely! Just be sure that it doesn’t have any Mexican flavoring!
This recipe is amazing! Just made it last week and my boyfriend has asked me to make it again. Thank you so much for posting it.
I’m so glad you both enjoyed it so much! =)
I’d like to make this for hunting this weekend, but thinking I need to make two crockpots of it, a double batch in each…would a double batch fit in a stand size crockpot? Thanks so much!
Great idea! It *should*, but an easy way to double it is by doubling the chicken broth and adding extra seasonings by taste. You don’t necessarily need to add more cream cheese unless you like it extra creamy! The extra tortellini is added at the very end, so you should be able to eyeball it =)
Has anyone used light cream cheese?
Hi Amy! You can absolutely use light cream cheese, but it doesn’t melt as easily. You’ll need to work harder to help those pieces melt down, like squishing them with the back of a spoon while stirring. If possible, try to use the full-fat or even the whipped cream cheese to make it a more blended broth =)
How would this hold up being cooked and kept on warm for a few hours? I am planning on making for an event but we have a bit of travel time and it would be sitting on warm for a few hours.
Hi Elena! The broth will hold up well, but don’t add the tortellini until no more than 30 minutes before serving. They will overcook and be mushy otherwise!
This has become one of those staple soups we take when we have soup nights with our friends. We’ve actually started to feel guilty for bringing it because the only soup that gets eaten is this one. It’s seriously soooo good. I am always sending out the recipe every where we take it. This recipe is a staple in our house and a crowd pleaser!
This makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad you and your friends love this recipe. It’s my very favorite soup recipe too! =)