Well, it’s definitely soup weather. Especially Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini & Sausage Soup. This creamy soup combines sausage, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and cheese tortellini to create an easy crockpot meal for cold nights like this one.
In my last post, I joked about not being surprised if we had a blizzard next, after waking up to a dusting of snow in mid-October yesterday. Because, 2020.
Well, guess what? 😫
While I was at work the next day, I got this alert on phone:
I mean, really.
We ended up with between 3 and 9.5 inches of snow in areas all around here. I hadn’t even pulled my winter coat out yet! I had no snow scraper in my car yet! It’s mid-OCTOBER. I wasn’t ready for this.
And now, it’s supposed to be in the 70s by later this week. I guess even Mother Nature has lost her mind this year.
So, it seems clear that we’re going to need lots of cozy soup recipes over the next few months to help us cope. Let me fix you up with a good one…
Let’s Make Some Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini & Sausage Soup
Here’s what you’ll need….
Start by sautéeing your sausage until it’s browned. I used these fully cooked Italian sausage links, but you could also use ground sausage. Just make sure you brown it until it’s cooked all the way through.
Remove the cooked sausage from the pan, but leave the fat. Use that to sautée the diced veggies. The recipe calls for celery, but I didn’t have any, but if you do, toss it in now too.
Slow Cooker or Stovetop
Add everything to your slow cooker next, except for the half & half (or cream) and spinach.
I put mine in the slow cooker, because it let me go about my day without having to tend to it, but you could easily do this on the stovetop too. Plan for about 4 hours on low in the slow cooker. If you do it on the stovetop, it will be ready in about 30-45 minutes on a medium-low simmer.
I was super excited to use the basil I dried from my herb garden this year!
In the Last Hour…
In the last hour of the slow cooker, add in the half & half and spinach, and let cook for one more hour on low. As you can see, even though I had purchased a brand new bag of spinach just for this soup, I forgot to add it in. 😩
We were halfway through dinner when it hit me! It was still delish without the spinach, but next time I will for sure add it. It’s good to know this soup was still wonderful with no spinach though, in case you have a picky non-spinach eater in your family. 😆
If you’re making your soup on the stovetop, just let it simmer long enough for the cream to heat through and the spinach to wilt before serving.
Serving Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini & Sausage Soup.
A sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top, and some crusty bread for dipping is all you need to finish this off. I’m kind of obsessed with this Easy Beer Bread recipe right now, which would also be fabulous to serve alongside this soup.
The creamy sauce, tender tortellini, and slight spiciness of the Italian sausage all blend so well together.
Creamy Tortellini & Sausage Soup
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound fully cooked Italian sausage links sliced
- ½ of a sweet onion diced
- 2 large carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 clove fresh garlic minced
- 32 oz chicken stock
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups half and half or heavy cream
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14 oz
- 1 bag frozen cheese tortellini 19 oz
- 4 oz fresh spinach about half a bag
- ¾ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp oregano
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add the sliced sausage and stir as it browns.
- After the sausage browns, about five minutes, move the sausage to the slow cooker, but leave the fat in the pan.
- Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic to the pan, and cook over medium heat until slightly browned and almost tender, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add the sautéed veggies to the slow cooker, along with all other ingredients except for the cream and spinach. Stir.
- Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 3-4 hours. In the last hour of cooking, add the cream and spinach and allow to heat through for one more hour.
- Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top, and some crusty bread on the side for dipping.
Even though the weather is turning colder, we aren’t ready to let go of eating outside yet, so turned on the fireplace in the screen porch, and let these two antique oil lamps.
We have one that belonged to Mark’s parents, and one that belonged to my parents. This was the perfect evening to fill them with oil, and try them out. I’m sure neither had been lit for at least 50 years.
It was so cozy, we stayed out there for quite a while after dinner was over and the sun had set.
And that’s the beauty of a simple meal like this one. It allows you to have time to do more of the things you enjoy.
Wishing you warm soup and cozy evenings,
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Resources:
Soup Bowls With Handles, 15 Ounce for soup, chili, beef stew, Set of 4, White
Soup Spoons, Stainless Steel, Set of 8
Porcelain Wide Rimmed Soup Bowls, Set of 4
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Your slow-cooked sausage looks so tasty. I would love to try this recipe 🙂 Hopping over from Wonderful Wednesday.
Made this today for Dinner tonight and I am so glad I gave it a try. It is delish.
This soup is so amazingly good. I used hot sausage but otherwise followed your recipe. So so yummy!
Margie, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to come and tell me! Merry Christmas to you!
Your tortellini and sausage soup looks so good! I’m saving this recipe!
I hope you enjoy it, Angie. It’s one of our favorites!
This soup looks so delicious! I’m pinning! Definitely making this soon!!! I love a good soup!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Thanks for stopping by… 🙂
Could I possibly add 1 cup of uncooked rice to this instead of what is listed in the recipe? If so, at what point would I add the rice, at the beginning? Can’t wait t try this.
Thanks a million for the fantastic recipe(s) ;o}
Jan
Janet- are you wanting to replace the pasta tortelini with the rice instead? If so, I think that would work just fine. I think I’d probably cook the rice depending on package instructions (because different types of rice require different cooking times) and then just mix it in right before serving. 🙂
Let me know how it goes!
Could I use crushed tomatoes vs diced in this recipe?
Yes, you definitely could!
The soup looks delicious! No wonder it was the most clicked from last week’s Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party. You’ll find it featured in this week’s, which is already live. I also love your romantic porch setting! I just bought some rockers for mine, and will have a small Christmas tree out on it for cold nights of drinking hot chocolate with my husband (we live in Florida).
Thank you so much, Alexandra! I am so excited to be featured! Your porch idea sounds wonderful, too. I think, especially during these crazy times we are in right now, that it is important to make our home spaces special and comforting. 💕
Happy Sunday!
Oh, this looks SO good! I’ve featured it at the TFT party. Thanks for sharing it with us. 🙂
Thank you so much! I saw it when I visited your blog this morning and was thrilled! 🙂
I pinned this recipe because I agree, even without snow we all need some comfort foods right now. Thanks for sharing. #HomeMattersParty
CONGRATULATIONS: Our ADRIENNE has chosen this recipe to be featured in the next Blogger’s Pit Stop. Can I make a suggestion – give yourself a name to go with your lovely photo. You’re worth it!
Thanks so much, Kathleen. That’s exciting!
Hi Niky! This looks and sounds super yummy. I love tortellini and any creamy soups. Sounds like a win-win!
Thanks for linking up and sharing with us on the Embracing Home and Family link up party!
-Cherelle
Looks amazing! I’ll be featuring you this week when the next To Grandma’s house we go party starts. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thanks so much, Tarah! I appreciate it! ❤️
This looks so delicious Niky. I shared your link on my weekly blog post. Thank you for sharing with the Charming Homes and Gardens party.
Thanks so much, Kim! I appreciate it! 💜 I visit your blog often because I love to see how your incredible garden changes for seasons!
Snow in October Niky? OMGosh, I need to move😋I love snow but we don’t get much here in UK. I love this meal idea, I have fresh tortellini for this week and this is something I’d never thought of so thanks for sharing! I’m loving your oil lamps- my parents used to have similar. Enjoy Fiesta Friday!
This looks delicious! I often make a free form tortellini soup with chicken stock and whatever vegetables I have in my refrigerator, I never added cream and will have to try that next time for a change of pace. Thanks for the inspiration!
It’s 75 right now in Connecticut but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if we got a blizzard next week. That looks fantastic #alilbitofeverything