Name: Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 lb. ground Italian sausage; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1/3 cup all-purpose flour; 4 cups beef broth; 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, drained; Salt and pepper to taste; 20 oz. frozen/fresh cheese tortellini (about 4 cups); 3 oz. fresh baby spinach, tightly packed (about 3 cups); 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated; 1 cup heavy cream

Sometimes, you just want a soup that feels like a big, cozy hug in a bowl. This Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe is exactly that—rich, comforting, and so easy to throw together. With its creamy broth, tender tortellini, and Italian sausage, it’s the kind of meal that makes your kitchen smell amazing and your whole family smile.

A white bowl filled with creamy soup that has a light orange color and a slightly thick texture. Inside the soup, there are several folded yellow tortellini pieces, small chunks of cooked brown meat, bright green spinach leaves, and small red tomato pieces scattered throughout. The soup surface has visible specks of black pepper. A silver spoon rests inside the bowl, held by a woman's hand from the right side, with another woman's hand supporting the bowl from the bottom. In the background, there is another white bowl with the same soup placed on a white marbled surface, next to a dark gray cloth and a pair of black spoons. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I can’t tell you how many times this Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe has saved my weeknight dinners—and made the whole house smell irresistible while it cooks away. There’s something so satisfying about slow-cooked sausage mingling with creamy broth and cheese-filled tortellini. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

Hands-Off Cooking: Just prep, set, and slow cook—the soup does all the work while you relax or handle other things.
Comfort in Every Spoonful: The creamy broth paired with tender tortellini and vibrant spinach hits all the cozy notes.
Family-Friendly: This soup pleases picky eaters and adults alike—perfect for dinner with leftovers for lunch.
Flexible Ingredients: You can easily swap out the sausage or add veggies, making it adaptable to your pantry and preferences.

There are two white bowls filled with a creamy, light brown soup with visible layers of round tortellini pasta that is pale yellow in color, chunks of browned sausage, fresh green spinach leaves, and small pieces of red tomato scattered throughout. The soup has a smooth texture with small black pepper flakes on top. One bowl has a silver spoon resting inside it. Next to the bowls, there are two shiny silver spoons crossed on a white marbled surface, a small white bowl with mixed peppercorns, and a gray and white striped cloth. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe balances flavors and textures beautifully—the sausage gives it savory depth, the tomato paste adds richness, and the tortellini brings the creaminess and heartiness we're after. Plus, baby spinach sneaks in some green goodness without overpowering the dish.

Flat lay of a medium yellow onion, two whole garlic cloves, raw ground Italian sausage shaped naturally, a small white bowl of deep red tomato paste, a small white bowl of mixed dried Italian herbs, a small white bowl of pale all-purpose flour, a small white bowl filled with rich brown beef broth, a simple pile of drained diced fresh tomatoes, a handful of coarse salt crystals with black peppercorns, fresh cheese tortellini pasta, tightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, a small white bowl of finely grated Parmesan cheese, a small white bowl of thick heavy cream, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white ceramic surface placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Yellow Onion: Adds sweetness and aroma that build a flavorful base for the soup.
Garlic: It’s all about that subtle punch of warmth; freshly minced is best for maximum flavor.
Ground Italian Sausage: I love the spicy sausage for its depth, but you can opt for mild if you prefer gentler flavors.
Tomato Paste: This thickens the broth and adds concentrated tomato flavor without watering it down.
Italian Seasoning: A classic blend that pulls the whole soup together with herbs like oregano and basil.
All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken the soup into that creamy, luscious texture we all crave.
Beef Broth: Richer and heartier than chicken broth, it enhances the savory profile of the sausage.
Diced Tomatoes: Use canned drained tomatoes for convenience and consistent flavor year-round.
Cheese Tortellini: Fresh or frozen works—just make sure it’s cheese-filled for that melty, comforting bite.
Baby Spinach: Tossed in at the end to wilt just right, adding freshness and color.
Parmesan Cheese: Grated for umami punch and creaminess—it’s a game changer here.
Heavy Cream: Brings that silky finish that makes this soup feel extra special.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about this Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I like to tweak it based on the season or what’s in my fridge—and you should too! Adding extra veggies or swapping proteins can make it entirely your own.

Variation: When I want a lighter touch, I swap heavy cream for half-and-half, and it still turns out creamy but a bit less rich. It’s great for warmer nights.
Dietary tweak: Going meatless? Use Italian-seasoned plant-based sausage or mushrooms instead for a savory boost.
Extra veggies: Sometimes I toss in chopped zucchini or bell peppers for added color and nutrition—you just want to keep an eye on cooking times.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics and Sausage

Start by heating a skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in your diced onion and minced garlic and sauté just until they’re fragrant and starting to soften—about 2 minutes. Then, add the Italian sausage, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the sausage gets that gorgeous light brown color, which takes about 5 minutes. This step builds the foundational flavor, so don’t rush it. Once done, transfer everything into your slow cooker.

Step 2: Mix in Broth, Flour, and Tomatoes

Whisk the all-purpose flour into the beef broth until smooth—that’s how we get that creamy texture without clumps. Pour this mixture over the sausage and onion in the slow cooker, then add the drained diced tomatoes. Give everything a good stir. Season lightly with salt and pepper; you can adjust later after it cooks. This combination cooks low and slow, letting the flavors meld beautifully.

Step 3: Slow Cook and Season to Taste

Set your slow cooker to high for 3-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours. The room will gradually fill with that mouthwatering smell of Italian sausage and tomatoes. Around the end of cooking, do a taste test and tweak the salt and pepper as needed—it’s key to get the seasoning just right before adding the delicate ingredients.

Step 4: Add Tortellini, Spinach, Parmesan, and Cream

Now for the loveliest part: stir in your tortellini, fresh baby spinach, grated Parmesan, and heavy cream. Mix well so everything’s evenly combined. Pop the lid back on and cook on high for about 10 more minutes—this is just enough time for the tortellini to become perfectly tender and for the spinach to wilt mildly. Keep an eye on the tortellini to avoid overcooking—it should be soft but still hold shape.

Step 5: Serve Hot and Enjoy!

Ladle the soup into bowls, grab some crusty bread, and dig in! This soup is so flavorful on its own but the bread helps soak up all that creamy broth, making every bite extra satisfying.

Top Tip

After making this Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe several times, I’ve learned a few tricks that really help it shine and avoid common pitfalls.

Tortellini Timing: Add the tortellini near the very end of cooking—you don’t want it to turn mushy from overcooking in the slow cooker.
Thickening Trick: Whisk the flour into the broth before adding to the slow cooker to avoid lumps and get that silky soup consistency.
Season In Layers: Season the sausage mix lightly at first and then adjust salt and pepper after the soup cooks—it’s easier to control and more flavorful this way.
Don’t Skip the Parmesan: It adds that extra depth of umami and creaminess that makes this soup truly stand out.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe

creamy tortellini soup - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping this soup with a sprinkle of more Parmesan and a few torn fresh basil leaves when I have them handy. A drizzle of good-quality olive oil right before serving adds a lovely richness that makes the dish feel even more special. Sometimes, I’ll add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat that wakes up the flavors.

Side Dishes

Crusty garlic bread or warm focaccia are my go-to sides since they soak up the creamy broth beautifully. A simple green salad with a lemon vinaigrette is a refreshing counterpart if you want something light on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

For dinner parties or holidays, I like to serve this soup in individual bread bowls—that always impresses guests and makes it feel extra cozy. You can also sprinkle chopped toasted pine nuts on top to add a little crunch contrast to the creamy soup.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge, where it keeps well for up to 3 days. The flavors actually develop more after sitting for a day, so leftovers are a real treat!

Freezing

I recommend freezing the soup without the tortellini—pasta can get mushy when frozen and reheated. Freeze the broth and sausage mixture separately, then cook fresh tortellini when you reheat for the best texture.

Reheating

For leftovers, I gently reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring often to prevent scorching. If you froze the base without tortellini, just add freshly cooked tortellini and spinach near the end of reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use turkey or chicken sausage instead of Italian sausage?

Absolutely! Turkey or chicken sausage will make the soup a bit leaner but just as flavorful. Just be sure to use Italian-seasoned sausage or add extra Italian seasoning to keep the signature flavor.

Do I have to use heavy cream?

You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or even whole milk for a lighter version, though the soup won’t be quite as rich and velvety. Adjust seasonings accordingly to keep the flavor balanced.

Can I prepare this soup without a slow cooker?

Definitely! You can make it on the stovetop by sautéing the sausage and aromatics, then simmering the broth, flour, tomatoes, and seasonings for about 20-30 minutes. Add tortellini, spinach, Parmesan, and cream near the end just as in the slow cooker method.

How do I prevent the tortellini from overcooking?

The key is to add the tortellini near the very end of cooking—about the last 10 minutes—to ensure it stays tender but doesn’t get soft or mushy from overcooking in the slow cooker.

Final Thoughts

This Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe has become a staple in my kitchen, especially on busy days when I want something hearty without fuss. It’s warm, satisfying, and always hits the spot when you need comfort food that feels homemade but requires minimal effort. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—it’s like a little Italian escape right from your slow cooker!