Easy Tortellini Soup Chicken Broth (Printable)

Comforting creamy soup with tender cheese tortellini, chicken broth, and fresh vegetables for a hearty meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
02 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped

→ Broth & Dairy

06 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
07 - 1 cup heavy cream

→ Pasta

08 - 18 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Garnish

13 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add a splash of olive oil, then sauté onions, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Stir in Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
04 - Add cheese tortellini and simmer according to package instructions, usually 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Lower the heat, add heavy cream, and simmer for 3 minutes.
06 - Stir in chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle into bowls. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The velvety cream and tender tortellini create a satisfying texture that feels like a warm hug in soup form.
  • It comes together in just 40 minutes with ingredients you probably already have lurking in your refrigerator.
02 -
  • The first time I made this soup I boiled it after adding the cream and ended up with tiny cream particles floating throughout instead of a smooth texture.
  • Adding the tortellini directly to the soup rather than cooking separately gives the pasta more flavor, but it will continue absorbing liquid if stored as leftovers.
03 -
  • Grate a little lemon zest over each serving for a brightness that cuts through the cream and wakes up all the flavors.
  • For the silkiest texture, let the soup rest off the heat for 5 minutes before serving, allowing the starch from the pasta to naturally thicken the broth.
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