Christmas Tortellini Soup

Christmas tortellini soup is the perfect dinner recipe to match your festive decor, with red tomatoes, green spinach and golden cheese tortellini floating around like edible ornaments. It’s a cozy pot of steamy joy you can throw together in a flash thanks to premade pasta, pantry staples and quick-cooking vegetables. It’s just the thing during the hustle and bustle of the season, when cooking is the last thing on your list.

This hearty soup is almost like a Hallmark movie scene in a bowl—bright, heartwarming and slightly over the top in the best way. Plus, it’s ready faster than you can untangle a string of lights. Whether it’s for Christmas Eve, a cozy weeknight or a let’s-pretend-it’s-the-holidays-again kind of day, this soup recipe delivers all the jingle-bell vibes you need.

Ingredients for Christmas Tortellini Soup

• Vegetable broth: Vegetable broth adds depth without overpowering the other ingredients. Making vegetable broth from scratch is easier than you might think. If you prefer a richer flavor, you can use chicken or another type of broth.
• Refrigerated cheese tortellini: These quick-cooking pasta parcels are filled with melty cheese, making them ideal for busy holiday nights. Try spinach or mushroom tortellini for extra flair.
• Cannellini beans: Creamy and mild, these beans add a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs texture to the soup. Rinse and drain them to remove excess starch and sodium before adding them to the pot.
• Italian diced tomatoes: Diced tomatoes provide a tangy, rich flavor and a pretty red hue, making the dish feel perfectly seasonal. For extra Italian flair, use San Marzano tomatoes; chop them (or crush them with your hands) before using them.
• Salt and pepper: A pinch of each enhances the other ingredients and ties the flavors together.
• Fresh baby spinach: Baby spinach wilts down beautifully and boosts the soup’s nutrition. If you use regular spinach, chop it up first.
• Fresh basil: Fragrant and slightly sweet, basil brightens up the soup right as a final garnish.
• Asiago cheese: This Italian cheese adds the perfect salty, nutty finish. Feel free to swap in Parmesan if that’s what’s in your fridge.

Directions

Step 1: Bring the broth to a boil

In a large saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a boil.

Editor’s Tip: A good-sized pot helps prevent the pasta from sticking together as it cooks.

Step 2: Add tortellini and simmer

Once boiling, stir in the tortellini and reduce the heat. Let it simmer uncovered for five minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Give it an occasional stir to ensure that every piece cooks evenly and that none sticks to the bottom of the pan.

Step 3: Finish the soup

Add the cannellini beans, the Italian diced tomatoes and the salt and pepper. Return the pot to a simmer. Cook the soup until the tortellini are tender, four to five minutes longer. Stir in the spinach and basil, and cook them until the spinach wilts. Top each serving with cheese if desired.

Christmas Tortellini Soup Variations

• Add sausage: Brown some Italian sausage and stir it in for a heartier, meatier soup that could easily double as Christmas Eve dinner.
• Make it creamy: For a luxuriously rich version, add a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half cream just before serving.
• Go veggie-loaded: Toss in diced zucchini, carrots or bell peppers to bulk up the soup with color and crunch.
• Use different tortellini: Spinach, chicken or even truffle tortellini all work beautifully here.

How to Store Christmas Tortellini Soup

Store any leftover Christmas tortellini soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it cool completely before sealing it, and if you know you’ll have leftovers, try to keep the tortellini slightly undercooked—they’ll continue to soften as they sit in the broth.

How long does Christmas tortellini soup last?

This soup will last up to four days in the fridge. If you want to save it longer, freeze the soup without the tortellini and combine them when reheating.

How should you reheat tortellini soup?

To reheat tortellini soup, heat it on the stove over medium heat until it’s hot, stirring occasionally. If it’s too thick, add a splash of broth or water. Avoid boiling the soup when reheating it to keep the tortellini from falling apart.

Christmas Tortellini Soup Tips

What should you serve with Christmas tortellini soup?

A crusty loaf of bread or warm garlic knots are perfect companions for soaking up the flavorful broth of Christmas tortellini soup. Add a winter salad, festive one-bite holiday snacks or even a simple grilled cheese.