🎉 Introduction
When the leaves start to fall and the air turns crisp, there’s nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a warm bowl of homemade soup. And if you’re craving something hearty, creamy, and soul-soothing, this Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach is your perfect seasonal comfort dish.
This recipe brings together the richness of sausage, the tender bite of cheese tortellini, and the freshness of spinach in a velvety, savory broth. Every spoonful is a hug in a bowl — filled with cozy flavors, creamy texture, and just the right amount of spice.
It’s a one-pot meal that delivers big comfort without requiring hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re serving it for a chilly weeknight dinner or as the star of a cozy autumn gathering, this soup is guaranteed to impress everyone at the table.
What makes this recipe extra special is its versatility. You can use chicken sausage for a lighter version or beef sausage for a richer, more robust flavor. Combined with tender tortellini and vibrant baby spinach, this soup is as nutritious as it is comforting.
It’s the kind of dish that instantly makes your home smell like fall — warm, inviting, and deliciously cozy.
🧰 Equipment Needed
Before you get started, make sure you have these kitchen essentials ready:
- Large soup pot or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon or ladle
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Chef’s knife and cutting board
- Mixing bowl
- Tongs
- Small bowl (for holding cooked sausage)
These simple tools make it easy to prepare a hearty, flavorful soup with minimal effort and easy cleanup.
🛒 Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make your Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach:
🍲 Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken or beef sausage, removed from casing
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
🧂 Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for spice)
🍅 Broth & Liquid
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup water
🥣 Finishing Touches
- 1 package (9 oz) cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated)
- 2 cups baby spinach, loosely packed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for garnish)
🌿 Optional Garnishes
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Crushed red pepper or black pepper to taste
Each ingredient layers flavor and texture, transforming a few pantry staples into a bowl of fall perfection.
👩🍳 Directions
Here’s how to make this Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach step by step:
Step 1: Cook the Sausage
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
- Add the sausage and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns.
- Once cooked through, remove it from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave a little of the rendered fat in the pot for flavor.
Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics
- In the same pot, add the onion, carrots, and celery.
- Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
- Add the garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Build the Broth
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and water.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 4: Add the Tortellini and Spinach
- Return the cooked sausage to the pot.
- Add the tortellini and simmer for 5–6 minutes (or according to package instructions) until tender.
- Stir in the spinach and let it wilt for 1–2 minutes.
Step 5: Make It Creamy
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.
- Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes — don’t let it boil, as that can cause the cream to separate.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Step 6: Serve
Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley, and serve warm with crusty bread or garlic toast.
The aroma of herbs, sausage, and simmering broth will make your kitchen smell like pure autumn comfort.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 6
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
Quick enough for weeknights but flavorful enough for a special fall dinner.
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Storage
- Let the soup cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating
- Stovetop: Warm over medium heat until hot. Add a splash of broth or cream if it thickens too much.
- Microwave: Heat individual portions for 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Freezing
For best results, freeze the soup without tortellini (they can become mushy). Add fresh tortellini when reheating. Freeze for up to 2 months.
🥄 Variations
Here are some creative twists to make your Autumn Tortellini Soup fit any taste or dietary need:
- Chicken Sausage & Kale Version: Use chicken sausage and substitute kale for spinach for a heartier texture.
- Vegetarian Option: Skip the sausage and use vegetable broth. Add chickpeas or white beans for protein.
- Spicy Italian Style: Use spicy sausage and add extra crushed red pepper flakes.
- Cream-Free Version: Omit the cream for a lighter broth-based soup.
- Tomato Basil Twist: Add tomato paste and extra basil for deeper tomato flavor.
- Pumpkin Tortellini Soup: Stir in 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree for a fall-inspired creamy base.
- Cheese Lovers’ Delight: Add shredded mozzarella or provolone just before serving.
- Garlic Butter Finish: Swirl in 1 tablespoon of garlic butter for extra richness.
- Herb-Infused Broth: Simmer the soup with a bay leaf and sprig of rosemary for a deeper herbal aroma.
- Vegan Option: Use vegan tortellini, plant-based sausage, and coconut cream instead of dairy.
Each variation transforms the base recipe into something new while keeping that warm, comforting essence intact.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I use frozen tortellini?
Yes! Add them directly to the simmering broth and cook for 2–3 minutes longer.
2. What kind of sausage works best?
Chicken or beef sausage works great. Avoid pork if preferred; both deliver hearty flavor without heaviness.
3. Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Make the soup base ahead and add tortellini and spinach right before serving.
4. How can I thicken the soup?
Add a few spoonfuls of mashed potatoes or blend a small portion of the soup for a thicker consistency.
5. Is this soup spicy?
Only mildly, depending on your sausage and use of red pepper flakes. Adjust to taste.
6. Can I make it dairy-free?
Yes! Use coconut milk or oat cream and skip the Parmesan.
7. What can I serve with this soup?
Crusty bread, garlic knots, or a fresh green salad make great sides.
8. Can I substitute spinach with something else?
Yes, kale, Swiss chard, or baby arugula all work beautifully.
9. How long will leftovers last?
Stored in the fridge, leftovers last up to 4 days.
10. Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! This soup scales up easily for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
🏁 Conclusion
The Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach is more than just a recipe — it’s a bowl full of cozy memories waiting to happen. Each spoonful combines rich broth, tender pasta, savory sausage, and fresh spinach into a comforting masterpiece that captures the essence of fall.
This one-pot wonder is hearty, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, making it the ultimate comfort food for chilly days. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, lazy Sunday afternoons, or sharing with loved ones around the table.
Simple ingredients, easy steps, and soul-warming results — that’s what makes this soup an autumn essential. So, pull out your favorite pot, grab your ingredients, and fill your kitchen with the aromas of seasoned sausage, simmering broth, and melting cheese tortellini.
Once you taste that creamy, herby, savory spoonful, you’ll know you’ve found your new favorite fall soup.
Autumn Soup – Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach
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Method
- Here’s how to make this Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach step by step:
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
- Add the sausage and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns.
- Once cooked through, remove it from the pot with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave a little of the rendered fat in the pot for flavor.
- In the same pot, add the onion, carrots, and celery.
- Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
- Add the garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Pour in the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and water.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Return the cooked sausage to the pot.
- Add the tortellini and simmer for 5–6 minutes (or according to package instructions) until tender.
- Stir in the spinach and let it wilt for 1–2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.
- Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes — don’t let it boil, as that can cause the cream to separate.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley, and serve warm with crusty bread or garlic toast.
- The aroma of herbs, sausage, and simmering broth will make your kitchen smell like pure autumn comfort.
Notes
Yes! Add them directly to the simmering broth and cook for 2–3 minutes longer. 2. What kind of sausage works best?
Chicken or beef sausage works great. Avoid pork if preferred; both deliver hearty flavor without heaviness. 3. Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Make the soup base ahead and add tortellini and spinach right before serving. 4. How can I thicken the soup?
Add a few spoonfuls of mashed potatoes or blend a small portion of the soup for a thicker consistency. 5. Is this soup spicy?
Only mildly, depending on your sausage and use of red pepper flakes. Adjust to taste. 6. Can I make it dairy-free?
Yes! Use coconut milk or oat cream and skip the Parmesan. 7. What can I serve with this soup?
Crusty bread, garlic knots, or a fresh green salad make great sides. 8. Can I substitute spinach with something else?
Yes, kale, Swiss chard, or baby arugula all work beautifully. 9. How long will leftovers last?
Stored in the fridge, leftovers last up to 4 days. 10. Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! This soup scales up easily for meal prep or feeding a crowd. 🏁 Conclusion The Autumn Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach is more than just a recipe — it’s a bowl full of cozy memories waiting to happen. Each spoonful combines rich broth, tender pasta, savory sausage, and fresh spinach into a comforting masterpiece that captures the essence of fall. This one-pot wonder is hearty, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, making it the ultimate comfort food for chilly days. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, lazy Sunday afternoons, or sharing with loved ones around the table. Simple ingredients, easy steps, and soul-warming results — that’s what makes this soup an autumn essential. So, pull out your favorite pot, grab your ingredients, and fill your kitchen with the aromas of seasoned sausage, simmering broth, and melting cheese tortellini. Once you taste that creamy, herby, savory spoonful, you’ll know you’ve found your new favorite fall soup.
