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Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach

This Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach is creamy, savory, and perfectly balanced with spice and sweetness. Featuring hearty Italian sausage, tender tortellini, velvety cream, and fresh spinach, it’s a one-pot recipe that delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz sausage such as spicy Italian sausage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika regular or smoked
  • 1 large sweet potato or 2 small, peeled and cubed
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 6 cups water or substitute with broth for richer flavor
  • 8 oz tortellini three-cheese, such as Buitoni brand
  • 4 oz fresh spinach
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 4 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped

Method
 

  1. Brown the Sausage:
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until browned, about 5–6 minutes.
  3. Add Aromatics:
  4. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, and tomato paste. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, allowing the spices to bloom and the tomato paste to deepen in color.
  5. Add Vegetables and Liquid:
  6. Toss in the cubed sweet potatoes and pour in the water (or broth). Stir well, scraping any flavorful bits off the bottom of the pot. Bring to a gentle boil.
  7. Simmer:
  8. Reduce heat to medium-low and let the soup simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender and fragrant.
  9. Add Tortellini:
  10. Once the sweet potatoes are soft, add the tortellini. Cook according to package instructions, usually 4–6 minutes, until the pasta is tender and floating.
  11. Finish with Spinach and Cream:
  12. Stir in the fresh spinach and heavy cream. Let the soup simmer for an additional 2–3 minutes until the spinach wilts and the broth turns creamy.
  13. Season and Serve:
  14. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle with fresh thyme just before serving.

Notes

  • Active Time: 20 minutes
  • Passive Simmer Time: 25 minutes
  • Substitute chicken or vegetable broth for extra richness.
  • For a thicker soup, reduce liquid slightly or mash a few sweet potato chunks before adding tortellini.