Ingredients
Scale
The key to this dish lies in selecting the right ingredients — fresh, quality components elevate it from good to memorable. I always reach for Italian sausage with a bit of heat to give the soup that signature spicy kick, but you can adjust the spice level to suit your family’s tastes. For the tortellini, fresh is best if you can find it, but frozen works perfectly too. Using good chicken broth and fresh herbs helps build the deep, comforting flavor that makes this soup so satisfying.
- 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth (preferably low sodium)
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 9 ounces fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, adjust to taste)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Grated Parmesan, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and add the diced tomatoes, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Add the tortellini to the pot and cook according to package instructions, usually 3-5 minutes for fresh tortellini, until tender and floating to the surface.
- Stir in the fresh spinach and cook just until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Spicy Sausage and Tortellini Soup, recipe, cooking, food
