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Craving a cozy lunch? This Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup is an easy and delicious answer to that request!
Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
My kids love marinara sauce with tortellini, so they certainly approve of this meal, and I’m not mad about it! Tortellini in a savory tomato broth is wholesome comfort food at its best.
The best part? This is one of those recipes you can whip up in a matter of minutes with everyday ingredients like canned tomatoes, Italian sausage, and pre-packaged tortellini. You can even use pre-made ravioli if that’s what you have on hand!
While this makes a fantastic dinner, I also like to use it for warm school lunches. You can prepare it 3 days ahead and reheat it in the morning- this way, you have a delicious lunch ready in less than 5 minutes!
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Ingredients
Every ingredient of this creamy Tomato Tortellini soup is SO delicious that the result can’t be anything except the most epic meal! Here’s what you need:
- Italian sausage: optional for a more filling soup.
- Aromatic veggies: red pepper and garlic cloves.
- Crushed tomatoes: or swap them for pureed tomatoes.
- Basil pesto: optional for extra flavor.
- Broth: vegetable or chicken broth, your favorite.
- Half and half: adds creaminess.
- Seasonings: onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Cheese-filled tortellini: pre-made ravioli also works!
- Grated Parmesan cheese: for the sauce and more for serving.
For the ingredient measurements, check the recipe card below.
How to Make Tomato Tortellini Soup
In easy this Tomato Tortellini Soup recipe, everything comes together in one large pot. Super simple and very little clean-up! Check the step-by-step:
- Brown sausage
In a large soup pot, brown sausage over medium heat (if using). - Sauté aromatics
Add the chopped red pepper and sauté till tender. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Drain any additional grease from the sausage. - Add liquid and seasonings
Add the crushed tomatoes with liquid, basil pesto, broth, half and half, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. - Add tortellini
Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir in tortellini and parmesan cheese.
Continue to simmer until cheese is melted and tortellini is cooked. - The final touch
Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve with remaining Parmesan cheese.
How to Pack Soup in a Thermos for Lunch
Want to know how to keep this Tomato Tortellini Soup hot for hours in the lunch bag? Here’s where you find out:
- Preheat the thermos container with boiling water. This step is optional, but it helps.
- Heat the soup in the microwave or stovetop to a piping-hot temperature.
- Drain the water from the thermos.
- Fill the thermos with the very hot soup.
- Close the thermos container and pack it inside a lunch bag.
In this video, I’ll show you how to do it:
Related: Top 5 Thermos Containers We’ve Tested
Thermos Tomato Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- ½ pound Italian sausage, optional
- ¼ cup red pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 28- ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto, optional
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 9- ounce package cheese-filled tortellini
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, brown sausage over medium heat.
- Add the chopped red pepper and sauté till tender. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Drain any additional grease from the sausage.
- Add the crushed tomatoes with liquid, basil pesto, broth, half and half, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir in tortellini and parmesan cheese. Continue to simmer until cheese is melted and tortellini is cooked.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve with remaining Parmesan cheese.
To Pack in a Thermos:
- Preheat the thermos container with boiling water. This step is optional, but it helps.
- Heat the soup in the microwave or stovetop to a piping-hot temperature.
- Drain the water from the thermos.
- Fill the thermos with the very hot soup.
- Close the thermos container and pack it inside a lunch bag.
Jayda says
Turned out to be the perfect hot lunch for my kids
Angie says
In your email, you mentioned using coconut milk instead of half and half. I was at the grocery store and saw that there is drinkable coconut milk (shelved with almond milk and such). I use coconut milk in a can for cooking. Which type would work best with this recipe? Or are they the same thing?
Thanks,
Angie
MOMables says
Angie, coconut milk meaning the “canned” milk. The one in the dairy is a coconut “drink” product. Essentially, the refrigerated one is diluted from the can. You need canned coconut milk for this one.