Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Cream Cheese
This Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Cream Cheese is packed with flavors from Italian sausage, tender tortellini, creamy cheese, and nutrient-rich spinach. For winter, it is perfect because it is warm and full of flavors.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 1 lb Italian sausage mild or spicy
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional, for spice
- 1 8 oz block cream cheese, cubed
- 1 20 oz package refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 3 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
For Garnish (Optional):
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley chopped
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
Prepare the Sausage and Aromatics
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and crumbled. Drain any excess grease and transfer the sausage to your crockpot.
Combine Base Ingredients
- Add diced onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), dried basil, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes to the crockpot. Stir well to combine.
Slow Cook the Base
- Cover and cook the mixture on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours to let the flavors meld together.
Add Cream Cheese, Tortellini, and Spinach
- About 30 minutes before serving, add the cubed cream cheese to the crockpot. Stir occasionally until the cream cheese has melted into the broth.
- Gently stir in the cheese tortellini and fresh spinach.
Finish Cooking
- Cover and cook on low for 20-30 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender and the spinach has wilted. The soup should be creamy and well-blended.
Serve
- Ladle the Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Cream Cheese and Spinach into bowls.
- Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and cracked black pepper. Serve with crusty bread for dipping.
Notes
- Choosing Sausage: Use mild or spicy Italian sausage based on your heat preference. For a leaner option, substitute with ground turkey sausage.
- Tortellini Variations: Fresh or refrigerated tortellini works best. If using frozen tortellini, allow extra time for it to cook.
- Cream Cheese Melting: To ensure smooth melting, soften the cream cheese at room temperature before adding it to the crockpot sausage tortellini soup with cream cheese.
- Extra Veggies: Add chopped carrots, celery, or zucchini for added nutrition and flavor.
- Thicker Soup: For a thicker consistency, stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water before adding the tortellini.