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Get ready to enjoy a delightful bowl of Tortellini Soup, a single serving recipe that you can whip up in just 30 minutes. This traditional Italian dish is a perfect blend of cheese-filled tortellini and fresh vegetables, all bathed in a savory broth. Hailing from Bologna, the home of tortellini, this soup is a popular comfort food in Italy, known for its simple yet rich flavors. It’s an ideal choice for a quick and hearty meal that brings a piece of Italy right to your kitchen.
This tortellini soup is hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own. But if you’d like, you can pair it with a slice of freshly-baked French bread or a zesty Caesar Salad for an added touch.
Why You’ll Love This Tortellini Soup Recipe
- Ease of Preparation: This tortellini soup recipe involves straightforward, easy-to-follow steps, making it ideal even for novice cooks.
- Time Efficient: Ready in just 30 minutes, this soup is perfect for when you need a quick yet satisfying meal.
- Versatility: The recipe offers flexibility with ingredients, allowing you to tailor it according to your personal tastes and dietary preferences.
- Nutritious and Wholesome: Combining tortellini, fresh vegetables, and broth, this soup offers a balanced, nutrient-rich meal.
- Economical: Designed for single servings, this recipe reduces potential food waste and allows better control over portion sizes, thereby being pocket-friendly.
What Is Tortellini Soup?
Tortellini soup is a traditional Italian dish that features an enticing mix of tender tortellini, fresh vegetables, and a savory broth. A typical comfort food, this soup is served across Italy and is especially popular in Bologna, where tortellini originates. This dish is truly a blend of simple, robust flavors embodying the essence of traditional Italian cooking.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy tortellini soup recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is my go-to for this creamy tortellini soup, as it’s the least processed and retains a rich olive flavor, along with more vitamins and minerals. However, a lighter olive oil can be used as an alternative.
- Italian sausage: Mild Italian ground sausage is my choice, but feel free to switch it up with sweet or hot varieties. Brands like Johnsonville are often my pick. Use leftover Italian Sausage in a single serving Pizza Bowl or Zuppa Toscana.
- Vegetables: The recipe calls for onions, garlic, fresh tomatoes (a medium Roma tomato is ideal), and spinach. You can also add other veggies like zucchini or bell peppers for more variety.
- Chicken broth: I use low-sodium chicken broth. To make this soup vegetarian, simply use vegetable broth and omit the sausage. If you have a little extra chicken broth leftover, consider using it in any of our soup recipes like Clam Chowder and Lasagna Soup.
- Seasonings: A pinch of salt is used for flavor, with the option to add more if needed. The recipe also includes dried thyme and freshly ground black pepper.
- Cheese Tortellini: As the main ingredient, cheese-filled tortellini is essential, but meat-filled ones work too. For a vegan version, choose vegan tortellini and a vegan cheese garnish. I use refrigerated tortellini, but frozen or dried varieties are also suitable, though they may require more cooking time. Got leftover tortellini? Use it in a Chicken Tortellini Soup.
- Heavy cream: The cream adds a luxurious richness to the soup. Alternatively, whole milk or half-and-half can be used for a lighter version. If you have leftover cream, consider using it in Chicken Alfredo, Mushroom Casserole, or a small Icebox Cake!
This section provides a quick rundown of the ingredients used in this Tortellini Soup recipe. For complete measurements and step-by-step instructions, please scroll to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations
The beauty of this tortellini soup recipe is that it can be tweaked and tailored to match your unique taste and dietary preferences. Here are a few ideas:
- Vegetarian Tortellini Soup: Swap out the sausage with your favorite plant-based protein, such as chickpeas or tofu, for a hearty vegetarian version of this soup.
- Seafood Twist: Add cooked shrimp or clams to the soup to incorporate a seafood element, giving this traditional Italian soup an exciting flavor profile.
- Spice Lover’s Version: For those who enjoy a little heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the soup.
How To Make Tortellini Soup For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make tortellini soup. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil for 30 seconds. Add the Italian sausage and cook, stirring frequently until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Next, add the chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions have softened. Add the garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute more.
- Add the broth and chopped tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes, until tender.
- Stir in the chopped spinach and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour into a bowl and serve with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Before you start cooking, make sure to read the entire recipe, including the Ingredient Notes section, and examine the process photos. This detailed guide will help you understand how the recipe unfolds, ensuring your tortellini soup turns out perfect every time. All the information you need is found within the body of this recipe post, so don’t miss a thing!
- Greens Galore: Arugula makes a great alternative to spinach in this tortellini soup recipe. If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, you can opt to leave them out. For spinach enthusiasts, don’t hesitate to toss in a little extra.
- Thyme Substitution: While fresh thyme adds a lovely aroma, it’s not always readily available. If you’re using fresh thyme, aim for slightly less than 1/2 teaspoon.
- Tortellini Choices: I typically go for fresh tortellini, found in the refrigerated aisle, because it cooks quickly. However, frozen or dried tortellini work too, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time according to package directions.
- Veggie Boost: Want more veggies in your soup? Feel free to add extras like a handful of green beans, 1/4 cup of canned kidney beans (rinsed and drained), or some chopped zucchini. Add a splash more broth if the soup gets too thick.
- Heat Level: The spiciness of your soup mainly hinges on your choice of Italian sausage. For a soup with a kick, opt for hot Italian sausage. A pinch of red pepper flakes can also dial up the heat; include them when you add your garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you’d like to make a second bowl of soup, just double the ingredients and use a bigger pot to hold all of the soup.
Absolutely! This soup stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving.
Store leftover tortellini soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat. The tortellini may get softer as it reheats.
Yes, you can. You will need to freeze it before you add the tortellini. Sausage tortellini soup freezes well but if you freeze the soup with pasta in it, the pasta will get mushy as it thaws.
Freeze tortellini soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months, then add the fresh pasta when you are ready to heat it up. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in a small pot on the stove.
If you want a completely vegetarian soup, swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth and leave out the sausage.
To make a vegan version, swap the tortellini for vegan tortellini or vegan ravioli. Instead of using cream use your favorite plant based options, use vegetable broth, and omit the sausage.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this creamy tortellini soup recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Tortellini Soup For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 4 ounces Italian sausage
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 medium Roma tomato (about 1/2 cup chopped)
- 2 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini (about 3/4 cup)
- ½ cup fresh spinach -chopped
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Optional: Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil for 30 seconds. Add the Italian sausage and cook, stirring frequently until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions have softened. Add the garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute more.
- Add the broth and chopped tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes, until tender.
- Stir in the chopped spinach and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour into a bowl and serve with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Before you start cooking, make sure to read the entire recipe, including the Ingredient Notes section, and examine the process photos. This detailed guide will help you understand how the recipe unfolds, ensuring your tortellini soup turns out perfect every time. All the information you need is found within the body of this recipe post, so don’t miss a thing!
- Greens Galore: Arugula makes a great alternative to spinach in this tortellini soup recipe. If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, you can opt to leave them out. For spinach enthusiasts, don’t hesitate to toss in a little extra.
- Thyme Substitution: While fresh thyme adds a lovely aroma, it’s not always readily available. If you’re using fresh thyme, aim for slightly less than 1/2 teaspoon.
- Tortellini Choices: I typically go for fresh tortellini, found in the refrigerated aisle, because it cooks quickly. However, frozen or dried tortellini work too, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time according to package directions.
- Veggie Boost: Want more veggies in your soup? Feel free to add extras like a handful of green beans, 1/4 cup of canned kidney beans (rinsed and drained), or some chopped zucchini. Add a splash more broth if the soup gets too thick.
- Heat Level: The spiciness of your soup mainly hinges on your choice of Italian sausage. For a soup with a kick, opt for hot Italian sausage. A pinch of red pepper flakes can also dial up the heat; include them when you add your garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made this for dinner after work tonight! It is delicious! I didn’t have thyme. So, I left it out.
I am so happy you enjoyed it.
So so good!
Excellent and quick!
Very good! I doubled the recipe to have servings for camping. Used turkey sausage and added some diced carrots and green beans that cooked with the tortellini (dry type). Used 1/2 cup diced canned tomatoes instead of Roma tomato. Another fabulous recipe from Joanie!
Will make this again for sure !
Cathie
Delicious! Made it for lunch and had a slice of pastrami & turkey alongside. Didn’t have a baguette. So used slider hamburger buns toasted plus substituted red wine vinegar. Will make again.
I wish I could afford your cook book