Sausage Tortellini Soup (Instant Pot Version)

Sausage Tortellini Soup (Instant Pot Version) is rich and creamy with Italian sausage, cheese tortellini, and spinach, and is quick and easy to make in an Instant Pot for hot comforting soup on a cold winter evening.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

We have been having soup weather for what seems like an eternity! It has been a long, cold winter, and we still have a long ways to go until Spring.

All I want is to wrap up, and curl up with a big bowl of this rich, hearty, creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup! It is so warm and comforting with the pillowy cheese-stuffed tortellini covered in the creamy soup with the hot Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and parmesan cheese! I love tortellini recipes, especially ones that are also Instant Pot recipes. You are going to love this one!

If you are in a hurry for the printable recipe and don’t want to read all the helpful tips and tricks, just scroll to the bottom of this blog post for the printable recipe card for the Sausage Tortellini Soup recipe.

What Do I Need To Make Sausage Tortellini Soup?

Let’s talk about the ingredients you need to make this Sausage Tortellini Soup and potential substitutions. I usually like to use what I have on hand instead of making a trip to the store, and if I do go to the store, I want to make sure I get everything in one trip to avoid multiple trips to the grocery store. I hope this list of ingredients helps you in your meal planning and in putting together your shopping list.

• Oil: I typically use olive oil or avocado oil. But you could also use vegetabl oil or peanut oil. Only a small amount is used.
• Sausage: I used Hot Italian Sausage for this soup. However, if you don’t want it spicy, you could easily use mild Italian sausage, or another pork sausage, or chorizo. The nice thing is when you make a recipe at home, you can customize it to your family’s taste and what you have on hand.
• Onion: I used a small white onion. However, a Vidalia onion or sweet or yellow onion would also be delicious.
• Garlic: Are you a garlic lover? Then you will love this recipe. It includes a Tablespoon of minced garlic, which is about 3 cloves of garlic. If you are not that big a garlic lover, then start with one clove, and then if it is not garlicky enough, you can add more.
• Chicken Broth: I used a low-sodium chicken broth. However, you could use vegetable broth instead or beef broth. This provides the liquid for the soup and added flavor as well.
• Refrigerated Cheese-Stuffed Tortellini: I used a 9-ounce package of refrigerated cheese-stuffed tortellini. The package sizes tend to vary quite a bit depending on the brand. So if you have a package that is anywhere from 9 – 12 ounces, that should be fine. If you have a 20-ounce package, then you may want to use only half the package. There are also a variety of flavors of tortellini. So you could use a chicken stuffed tortellini or spinach tortellini. Any of these varieties would work well in this Sausage Tortellini Soup.
• Salt and Pepper:    I don’t list specific amounts of salt and pepper because the amounts vary so much from person to person. Also, you would need to reduce the amount of salt depending on how much salt other ingredients have, especially the chicken broth.
• Italian Seasoning:   I always keep Italian Seasoning on hand. It is a mixture of oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil, and other spices often found in Italian cooking.
• Spinach:  I use fresh baby spinach that has been washed and drained. Then you can drop the leaves in whole or chop them up into smaller pieces. That is up to you. In the photos, those are whole baby spinach leaves.
• Heavy Cream: The heavy cream is what gives the soup that rich, creamy texture. You don’t have heavy cream on hand? Then yes, you can use milk. I would recommend whole milk or 2%. Another option is to use Half and Half, which is half milk and half cream.   
• Corn Starch and Water:   Corn starch is a thickener. So this is an optional ingredient. However, if you like your soup thicker, like in the photos, then add 1/4 cup corn starch to 1/4 cup cold water. It is very important to mix it with cold water. Then pour it into the soup, near the end of cooking, and in a few minutes it will thicken up the soup.
• Parmesan Cheese:   When the soup is near the end of cooking, and shortly before serving, I like to add Parmesan cheese. I also like to sprinkle some on top as a garnish. This is completely optional, but I think it adds a nice touch and extra depth to the flavor of the soup.

How Do I Make Sausage Tortellini Soup?

For complete, detailed step-by-step instructions with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the blog post. See the recipe notes in the recipe card for instructions of how to make this soup in a pot on top of the stove.

Start the recipe by sauteing the onions in the Instant Pot.

After the onions have cooked for a few minutes, add the Italian Sausage. Then add the minced garlic. Cook until the sausage is browned.

Then pour in the chicken broth and the refrigerated tortellini. 

Pressure cook in the Instant Pot for about 3 minutes. Then do a quick release. (Follow the specific manufacturer’s instructions for your brand of pressure cooker.)

Turn the Instant Pot off and then press “SAUTE.” Stir in the heavy cream. 

If the Sausage Tortellini Soup needs thickening, stir together the cornstarch and cold water in a measuring cup and pour into the soup. Stir until combined. Let cook for a couple of minutes to allow it to thicken. Then stir in the parmesan cheese.

Turn off the Instant Pot and ladle the Sausage Tortellini Soup into soup bowls to serve. Enjoy!

Why Use An Instant Pot?

You would likely expect for this to be made in a large soup pot on top of the stove, and you could do that. However, I love my Instant Pot because it cooks so fast and allows me to saute the sausage and vegetables in the same pot as the soup, and did I mention that it cooks fast! And Afterward, I have only one pot to clean! 

What If I Don’t Have An Instant Pot?

Then I highly recommend getting an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. I linked to the one that I use. It has quickly become my favorite kitchen appliance. I use it all the time.

What To Serve With Sausage Tortellini Soup?

The soup pretty does make a meal in itself. However, serving it with crusty bread or Focaccia would be delicious, or you could combine it with a light green salad, like my Chopped Vegetable Salad.

Other Tortellini And Pasta Recipes

If you like this Sausage Tortellini Soup recipe, be sure to check out these other recipes!

• Broccoli Tortellini Alfredo – This Broccoli Tortellini Alfredo is bursting with flavor with its pillowy cheese-stuffed tortellini in a creamy garlic parmesan alfredo sauce with broccoli florets.
• Cheesy Tortellini Skillet Lasagna – is perfect when you want lasagna but don’t have the time to make it from scratch. By using tortellini, this one-pot tortellini lasagna can be ready in 20 minutes!
• Italian Sausage and Pasta in a Cream Basil Sauce – A creamy, cheesy, and savory main dish that can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes!
• Tortellini Bake Casserole – A cheesy casserole featuring pillowy cheese tortellini, Italian Sauce, and spinach in a cheesy, creamy tomato sauce!

Other Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings – An easy one-pot comfort food meal that can be ready in 30 minutes by using your Instant Pot!
• Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup – This is the fastest, easiest chicken noodle soup for when you need comfort food fast! The Instant Pot does all the work yet it tastes just like grandma used to make!
• Instant Pot Beef Stew – This is the BEST beef stew with fork-tender beef, potatoes, and vegetables in a rich, savory gravy that is ready in an hour.