Creamy Vegetable Tortellini Soup (Print Version)

Tender cheese tortellini and fresh vegetables swim in a rich, creamy broth for a comforting 40-minute meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup baby spinach, packed

→ Tortellini

08 - 9 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini

→ Broth & Cream

09 - 4 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 cup heavy cream
11 - 1/2 cup whole milk

→ Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

16 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
17 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and diced zucchini; cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
04 - Add cheese tortellini and cook according to package instructions, usually 3 to 5 minutes, until just tender.
05 - Lower heat to a gentle simmer. Stir in heavy cream, milk, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
06 - Add spinach and simmer until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The marriage of tender cheese tortellini and velvety broth creates a surprisingly filling meal that feels like a warm hug on a cold day.
  • You can throw this together in under 40 minutes using mostly pantry staples, making it my go-to rescue dinner when plans fall apart.
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding cream or youll end up with an unappetizing curdled mess, a mistake I made during my first attempt that nearly ruined dinner.
  • Adding the tortellini directly to the soup saves a pot but they continue absorbing liquid even after cooking, so if making ahead, cook and store them separately until serving time.
03 -
  • When time allows, simmer the vegetable scraps with your broth for 20 minutes before straining and proceeding with the recipe for an even more flavorful base.
  • Reserve a splash of cream to drizzle on top of each bowl just before serving for restaurant-worthy presentation and an extra hit of richness.
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