Description
This Slow Cooker Beef Sausage Tortellini Spinach Soup is a comforting and hearty meal that cooks itself while you go about your day. With tender beef sausage, cheesy tortellini, and vibrant spinach, it’s the perfect dish for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Ingredients
- Mild Italian-style beef sausage
- Spicy beef sausage (optional)
- Raw bulk sausage or pre-cooked sausage links
- Fresh refrigerated cheese tortellini
- Frozen tortellini (optional)
- Fresh baby spinach
- Frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry, optional)
- Chicken broth or stock
- Vegetable broth (optional)
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes (optional)
- Crushed tomatoes (optional)
- Diced onion
- Minced garlic
- Block of cream cheese
- Heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
- Full-fat coconut milk (dairy-free option)
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Brown the sausage and aromatics: If you're using raw beef sausage, begin by browning it in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once it’s fully cooked through and nicely browned, drain off any excess fat. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the cooked sausage and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic for the last minute until fragrant.
- Combine in the slow cooker: Transfer the browned sausage, onion, and garlic mixture to your slow cooker pot. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and the canned diced tomatoes (undrained). Stir in the Italian seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a bit of warmth, and season with a good amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Give everything a good stir to combine.
- Slow cook to perfection: Cover your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Add creaminess and greens: About 30-45 minutes before you're ready to serve, uncover the slow cooker. Add the cubed cream cheese (or heavy cream/half-and-half) and stir until it’s fully melted and incorporated. Next, stir in the fresh spinach.
- Introduce the tortellini: Add the tortellini to the slow cooker. Stir it gently into the soup. Replace the lid and continue to cook on high for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the tortellini is tender and cooked through.
- Taste and serve: Give the soup a final taste and adjust any seasonings as needed. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a few fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately with some crusty bread for dipping.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: For an extra layer of depth, add a tablespoon of tomato paste when browning the sausage and onions. You can also add diced carrots, celery, or bell peppers to the slow cooker for more vegetables. If you prefer a thicker soup, blend a cup of the soup and return it to the pot.