Go Back
A dark bowl of creamy tomato tortellini soup, garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese.

Tortellini Soup

Rebecca Blumer
This quick tortellini soup features a creamy tomato broth, tender cheese tortellini, and fresh spinach. It comes together in just 25 minutes, making it a perfect cozy weeknight meal. The broth is rich and cheesy without feeling heavy.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 472 kcal

Equipment

  • Large saucepan

Ingredients
 

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes to taste
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 ounces cheese tortellini the refrigerated kind
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves (packed)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Warm the olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, then add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring now and then. The onion should soften and turn translucent without browning heavily.
  • Stir in the garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and flour, then cook for 1 minute while stirring well. The mixture should smell fragrant and slightly nutty, with no dry flour left behind.
  • Pour in the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce, then add the dried basil, Italian Seasoning, salt, and black pepper. The broth should look evenly blended and taste well seasoned before the pasta goes in.
  • Bring the soup to a gentle boil, add the cheese tortellini, and cook for a few minutes until tender. The tortellini should puff slightly and feel soft but still hold their shape.
  • Take the pan off the heat and stir in the spinach, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream. The spinach will wilt quickly, and the broth will turn lighter in color and noticeably creamier.
  • Stir in the chopped basil and serve right away. The finished soup should smell fresh and herby, with a creamy tomato broth that coats the tortellini nicely.

Notes

Prevent Mushy Tortellini: For leftovers, cook tortellini separately and store it apart from the soup. Add it to individual bowls when serving to keep the pasta perfectly tender.
Flavor Tip: Taste and season the broth before adding the tortellini and cream. Both will mute the flavors, so the broth should taste slightly bolder than you think it needs to at first.
Storage: Keep leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge. For the best texture, store the cooked tortellini separately from the broth.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.
Keyword creamy tortellini soup, spinach tortellini soup, tortellini soup