Description
Hearty slow cooker tomato tortellini soup delivers comfort with rich cheddar flavor and crispy toast bites. Effortless preparation makes this Italian-inspired soup perfect for busy weeknights when you crave warmth and satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (450g) Italian sausage, casings removed
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Base Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups (960ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (28 ounces/793 grams) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 cans (10.75 ounces/305 grams each) condensed tomato soup
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Dairy:
- 1 package (20 ounces/567 grams) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 2 cups (200g) shredded cheddar cheese
Toast Bites:
- 4 slices of crusty bread (e.g., French baguette)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium temperature and thoroughly brown the Italian sausage, breaking it into fine crumbles during cooking.
- Relocate the fully cooked sausage into the slow cooker.
- Utilize the same skillet to sauté diced onions until they become translucent and slightly softened.
- Introduce minced garlic to the onions and quickly toast for an additional minute.
- Transfer the aromatic onion and garlic mixture into the slow cooker.
- Pour chicken broth, diced tomatoes, condensed tomato soup, and seasonings into the slow cooker, mixing thoroughly.
- Secure the lid and allow the mixture to simmer on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours.
- Approximately 30 minutes before serving, gently fold in cheese tortellini and heavy cream.
- Continue cooking on high setting until tortellini reach desired tenderness.
- Preheat oven to 375F and prepare toast bites by cutting bread into small cubes.
- Whisk melted butter with garlic powder and dried parsley.
- Coat bread cubes evenly with the herb-butter mixture.
- Roast bread cubes until they transform into crispy, golden bites.
- Portion soup into individual serving bowls.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over each serving.
- Garnish with crispy toast bites on the side or directly atop the soup.
Notes
- Swap ground sausage with plant-based alternatives or turkey sausage for lower-fat options.
- Replace heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk to reduce calorie content.
- Use gluten-free tortellini and bread for a celiac-friendly version of the dish.
- Add extra vegetables like spinach or zucchini for increased nutrition and flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 495
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg