This Instant Pot Tortellini Soup recipe is packed with all of the comforting flavors you would expect in a hearty soup. You’ll fall in love with the hint of spice from the Italian sausage paired with the creaminess of a variety of cheeses that is balanced with a rich tomato flavor.

WHAT IS TORTELLINI SOUP MADE OF?

In just about every recipe you’ll find on Comfort Cooks, you’ll find ingredients that are easily found in your local grocery store. Part of the reason I decided to create some of my own recipes was due to the inaccessibility of ingredients found in some of the more complex recipes on the internet.

Living in the middle of nowhere can leave a lot of us with a lack of variety. So I welcome the challenge of creating delicious flavors with common ingredients.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this hearty Tortellini Soup:

Italian Sausage- I used ground mild Italian sausage without a casing. Use the sausage that pairs well with your family’s heat tolerance. Don’t be afraid to grab the hot variety.

Frozen Tortellini- I keep a couple of bags of these in my deep freeze for days when I need something quick and easy to feed three growing boys. I haven’t noticed a difference in quality between the store brand and the name brand. Grab the cheap ones and splurge on some fresh herbs instead.

Chicken Broth- Canned or box chicken broth work just fine. I prefer the boxed variety because it is easier to store anything that goes unused in the fridge.

Tomato Sauce- You can use tomato sauce, canned diced tomatoes, or even canned tomatoes with added herbs and spices here. Mix it up and have a little fun with the recipe.

Parmesan Cheese- You’ll want to buy shredded for this recipe, not the powdered stuff. No parmesan cheese in your house and dread making that extra trip to the store? You can substitute shredded mozzarella.

Heavy Whipping Cream- This makes the soup creamy and helps balance the rich flavors of the Italian sausage.

Spinach- Either regular spinach or baby spinach will work for this recipe. Once it is cooked under pressure, you won’t notice how tender the leafy greens were before cooking.

Basil- Fresh basil really makes all of the difference in this recipe. It adds an element of freshness to the flavors of some of the canned ingredients used.

Oregano- Again, fresh is ideal. If you are having trouble finding fresh herbs due to your location or seasonality, dried will work in a pinch.

Garlic Powder- Is it really even a pasta dish without a little garlic in the mix?

Onion (optional)- I personally prefer this soup without the addition of onions, but if you’re a lover of onion flavor and texture feel free to toss them in.

CAN I USE DRIED TORTELLINI?

Yes, you can absolutely use dried tortellini or refrigerated tortellini for this recipe. The cooking time should remain the same, but they may have a slightly softer texture than if you were to use the frozen pasta as I used in this recipe.

HOW TO MAKE TORTELLINI SOUP IN THE INSTANT POT

In 8 simple steps and less than 30 minutes, you can have a delicious Instant Pot Tortellini Soup your whole family will enjoy. It is the perfect well-rounded recipe for a busy weeknight dinner.

Step 1: Set your Instant Pot to Saute and spray the inside of the liner with nonstick spray. This will cause the bottom of the liner to heat up to cook the Italian sausage.

Step 2: Cook the sausage and add chicken broth. Saute the sausage in your Instant Pot until it is cooked completely. If you choose to use onions in your Tortellini Soup, you’ll add the diced onions while you’re cooking the sausage as well. Hit the “cancel” button on your Instant Pot to stop the cooking process. Pour in the chicken broth and stir. This will be the last time you stir any ingredients until after the soup is done cooking

Step 3: Add the tortellini. For this recipe, I used frozen tortellini. I prefer this type because they are harder to overcook in the Instant Pot, and they’re a great staple ingredient to keep in your deep freeze because they last virtually forever.

Step 4: Add the tomato sauce. If you prefer your soup a little chunkier, you can always add diced tomatoes instead of tomato sauce, but I prefer for this broth in this soup to be a little thinner. DO NOT STIR.

Step 5: Add in chopped spinach, basil, garlic, and oregano. Again, DO NOT STIR. To avoid getting the burn notice from the tomato sauce and pasta touching the bottom of the pot, layering is critical for the success of this Instant Pot Tortellini Soup.

Step 6: Cook in the Instant Pot and stir. Once the cooking time is done, do a quick release of the remaining pressure in your Instant Pot. Carefully remove the lid, and stir the ingredients.

Step 7: Add in the dairy. While the soup is still hot, add in heavy whipping cream and parmesan cheese. Stir it up to create a delightfully creamy and hearty soup.

Step 8: Garnish and enjoy! Pour a serving of this tasty tortellini soup into a bowl, top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a sprig of fresh basil.

STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS

I love being able to walk away from this soup to get a few extra things done while it cooks in the Instant Pot. I know that not everyone has an Instant Pot and I didn’t want anyone to miss out on the amazing flavors in this recipe!

So, below I’ll give you a quick rundown of how to make it on the stovetop!

Step 1: Saute the Italian sausage in a skillet.

Step 2: Add in diced onions (if desired). These will become translucent as you cook your sausage.

Step 3: Pour in chicken broth, tomato sauce, spinach, basil, and spices.

Step 4: Bring the soup to a simmer and add in tortellini. Press the tortellini into the soup broth so they are fully submerged.

Step 5: Boil for 4-5 minutes or until the tortellini is cooked through.

Step 6: Add in heavy whipping cream and parmesan cheese. The residual heat from the broth will melt the cheese and heat the cream.

Step 7: Garnish with shredded parmesan and fresh basil and enjoy!

TIPS, TRICKS, & VARIATIONS

Use a variety of pasta. I love using frozen tortellini for this recipe, but you can use other pasta varieties as well. I mentioned earlier that you can use any type of tortellini, but don’t stop there! I’ve used frozen ravioli, dried rotini, and rigatoni. All turned out delicious, I just add a little more cheese to finish if I’m using an unfilled pasta.

Switch up the protein. If you’re having trouble finding ground Italian sausage, feel free to substitute it with ground beef or turkey. You could also add leftover rotisserie chicken as an easy substitute.

Use kale. No spinach in your refrigerator? No problem. You can swap out the spinach for kale, or use a combination of the two.

Add more veggies. To convince my kiddos to eat this soup, I had to keep the vegetables pretty basic. If you have a family full of more adventurous eaters, feel free to add peppers, mushrooms, or even carrots and celery to this recipe.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EAT WITH THIS INSTANT POT SOUP?

So, like I said earlier, this tortellini soup is incredibly hearty. After a bowl full, you’ll be questioning why you made anything to go with it at all. If you have enough self-control to have a small bowl and leave room for sides, here are a few things that would pair well with it:

Side Salad
Garlic Bread
Cripsy Croutons

HOW LONG IS TORTELLINI SOUP GOOD FOR?

Do you love to meal prep to have leftovers for lunch or busy weeknights? This soup is perfect for you! It tastes just as good as the day you made it for up to five days after it is cooked. In fact, it may taste even better a day or two later!

CAN YOU FREEZE IT?

Yes! You can definitely freeze this Instant Pot Tortellini Soup. Simply cook as directed, but stop before you add the dairy ingredients. These can have a tendency not to reheat well after being frozen.

To freeze this soup, portion it out into some freezer-safe containers and store it flat in your freezer.

To reheat, you can either place the soup in your fridge for 24 hours and zap it in the microwave for a few minutes until it is heated through. Stir in cream and cheese and enjoy.

If you would rather use your Instant Pot to reheat this soup, you can put the frozen soup in the Instant Pot liner and add 1/2 cup of water. Cook for 3 minutes under high pressure and do a quick release of all remaining pressure. Stir in cream and cheese and enjoy!

Tortellini Soup garnished with parmesan cheese and basil

MORE TASTY COMFORT COOKS

If your family loves this Instant Pot Tortellini Soup as much as ours does, make sure to share it with your friends and family so they can try it too. Don’t forget to Pin it so you can make it again soon!