Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Name: Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 7 h
Total time: 7 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound ground Italian pork sausage (sub: turkey or chicken sausage); 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced, Italian-style tomatoes, juices and all*; 1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken broth (4 cups); 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped; 1 (19 oz.) bag frozen cheese tortellini (sub: gluten-free tortellini or bowtie pasta); 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, cut into cubes (do not use low-fat); Salt and pepper, to taste

4.9 /5

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By: Polly ConnerPosted: 9/26/23Updated: 10/30/24

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Every bite of this creamy, 6-ingredient Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Sausage is packed with flavor and color. This crowd-pleaser soup comes together fast and then slow cooks all day long.

Crock pot Sausage tortellini soup in a white bowl.

Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Hy-Vee (Columbia).

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Soup

It only has 6 ingredients. We know our readers love 6-ingredient (or less) recipes!
It’s SO flavorful. The simplicity of the ingredients doesn’t compromise the flavor.
It’s easy. This crock pot recipe is perfect for a beginner cook.
It’s flexible. There are lots of substitutions and variations for the ingredients.

Where to Get Your Ingredients

We suggest grabbing the ingredients for this recipe at your local Hy-Vee, since they are well-stocked year-round. The employees are so helpful, if you have any questions.

Toss in ingredients for a salad and a baguette from their bakery for a complete meal.

Order your groceries online here for pick up or delivery.

Key Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients that you’ll need for Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage.

Labeled ingredients for sausage tortellini soup.

The sausage and Italian-style tomatoes bring complex flavor, the spinach adds some pops of color, and the cheese tortellini and cream cheese add major comfort factor.

Note: Find our full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and directions at the bottom of this post.

Substitutions & Variations

Ground Italian pork sausage – You can sub turkey or chicken sausage.
Petite-diced, Italian-style tomatoes – If using plain diced tomatoes, add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and dried basil to the soup.
Low-sodium chicken broth – Here is how to make your own broth.
Fresh spinach – Kale would work instead.
Frozen cheese tortellini – You could sub gluten-free tortellini or bowtie pasta.
Cream cheese – Get the block so you can cut it into cubes. Also, don’t use low-fat.

How to Make Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup

Brown the Sausage

In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium-high heat until there is no more pink showing, about 4 minutes. Drain any excess grease.

Sautéing ground sausage in a cast iron skillet.

Cook the Soup in the Crock Pot

Add the sausage, diced tomatoes (juices and all), and chicken broth into a 5 quart or larger slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook the soup on LOW for 6-8 hours. You can also cook it on HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Ingredients for sausage and tortellini soup in the crock pot.

Slow Cooker Cooking Times Chart

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Add the Tortellini and Spinach

Turn the temperature to HIGH. Stir in the frozen tortellini.

Next, stir in the chopped spinach.

Replace the lid, and cook for about 30-45 more minutes, until warmed through.

Adding frozen tortellini to the soup in a crock pot.

Adding spinach to the sausage and tortellini soup in crock pot.

Prep the Cream Cheese Mixture

While the tortellini and spinach are cooking, it’s time to prep the cream cheese for the soup.

Note: If you skip this step, the cream cheese won’t melt in, leaving you with little specks of cream cheese in the soup. While the taste is still good, it’s not very appealing.

Place the cream cheese in a glass or ceramic bowl. Microwave in 10-second increments until softened, stirring in between.
Use a ladle or measuring cup to add a little of the hot soup liquid to the cream cheese.
Stir until fully combined and smooth.

Mixing cream cheese and soup broth together.

Mixed cream cheese and soup broth together

Combine Everything

Stir in your cream cheese mixture and gently stir it until all the cream cheese has liquified. It should be smelling SO good! The cream cheese will continue to melt in and the soup will thicken as it sits.

Stirring in the cream cheese mixture to slow cooker.

What to Serve with Tortellini Soup

My Favorite Cobb Salad

Roasted broccoli on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.

Oven Roasted Broccoli

Cheddar Biscuits

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Can You Freeze Tortellini Soup?

While we have loads of delicious Crock Pot Freezer Meals, but this particular soup isn’t an ideal one for the freezer. The tortellini will gets very mushy after being cooked, frozen, and then thawed.

Recipe FAQs

How should I store Crockpot Sausage Tortellini Soup?

Refrigerate for 3-5 days in airtight containers. Keep in mind the tortellini may begin to fall apart the longer it sits.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Use gluten-free tortellini or bowtie pasta in place of regular tortellini. Check it sooner than the recipe calls for to make sure it doesn’t get overdone.

What if I don’t have Italian-style tomatoes?

Use a can of petite-diced tomatoes instead. Add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and dried basil to the soup.

Can leave the spinach out of this soup?

Yes, the spinach can be left out without compromising the recipe.

Crockpot tortellini soup with sausage in a white bowl with baguette.

Love Tortellini? Try These Recipes…

Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup (on the stovetop)
Chicken Tortellini Soup (for the crockpot)
Instant Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup
4-Ingredient Baked Tortellini

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 11 reviews

Crockpot Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Finally, a crockpot recipe that is SUPER easy to make yet packed with flavor. The creamy goodness of this sausage tortellini soup is a win with all ages and makes for great lunch leftovers.

Yield: 4–6 servings 1x

Prep: 15 minutesCook: 7 hoursTotal: 7 hours 15 minutes

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Units:

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Ingredients

1 pound ground Italian pork sausage (sub: turkey or chicken sausage)
2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced, Italian-style tomatoes, juices and all*
1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken broth (4 cups)
2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1 (19 oz.) bag frozen cheese tortellini (sub: gluten-free tortellini or bowtie pasta)
1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, cut into cubes (do not use low-fat)
Salt and pepper, to taste

*If using plain diced tomatoes, add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and dried basil to the soup.

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Instructions

Brown Sausage: In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium high heat until there is no more pink showing, about 4 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
Slow Cook Soup: Add the sausage, diced tomatoes (juices and all), and chicken broth into a 5-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Then, turn to HIGH. Stir in the spinach and frozen tortellini, replace the lid, and cook for about 30-45 more minutes, until warmed through (check a tortellini to make sure it’s very warm in the middle).
Temper & Add Cream Cheese: Place the cubes of cream cheese in a glass or ceramic bowl. Microwave in 10-second increments until softened, stirring in between. Then, use a ladle or dry measuring cup to add a little of the hot soup liquid to the cream cheese. Stir until fully combined and smooth. Then, stir the cream cheese into the soup until blended smoothly.
Serve: Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Soup will thicken as it sits. Serve warm.

Notes/Tips

Softening Cream Cheese: Step 3 in the recipe is important. Otherwise the cream cheese will not fully melt in the soup and leave little curdles. If you don’t have a microwave, try this water bath method.

Flavor Boost: One reader mentioned that she likes to add fresh, chopped basil for more flavor at the end. Chopped parsley or chives would also enhance the flavor.

Tip for Picky Eaters: If your kids don’t like the chunks of tomato, blend them up first and then add. Or use canned pureed tomatoes instead.

Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free tortellini or bowtie pasta in Step 3. Check it sooner, to make sure it doesn’t get overdone.

Substitutions/Variations:

- Ground Italian pork sausage – You can sub ground turkey or chicken sausage.

- Petite-diced, Italian-style tomatoes – If using plain diced tomatoes, add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and dried basil to the soup.

- Fresh Spinach – Kale will work instead.

- Cream cheese – A sub can be sour cream or whipping cream instead, although the soup will be a little thinner. Be sure stir a little of the soup into the sour cream in a separate bowl first to make sure it doesn’t separate when added to crock pot.

Recipe Updates: On 10/5/22, we retested and updated this soup recipe so that it can work as an all-day slow cooker meal. We also wanted to make sure the spinach kept its color and the cream cheese melted well into the soup. We think this new method/recipe works much better!

Cuisine: American Method: Slow Cooker

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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