The thing about this spinach tortellini soup recipe is that every time you make it, you’ll ask yourself why you don’t make it more often. It truly is that easy and that delicious. Easy soup recipes like this are perfect for nights when you need to get dinner on the table in a flash.
Using prepackaged tortellini is the key to this recipe. As with ravioli and other stuffed pasta shapes, the filling can vary from cheese to meat to a combination of the two. Then, kitchen staples like vegetable broth, canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning and bagged spinach complete this hearty, flavorful spinach and tortellini soup.
Spinach Tortellini Soup Ingredients
- Tortellini: For the best flavor, look for refrigerated cheese tortellini for this recipe; dried cheese tortellini really do not compare. You can also use frozen cheese tortellini. No need to thaw the pasta first, but the frozen tortellini may need an extra minute or two of cooking time in the soup. Have extra pasta? Use it up in these easy tortellini recipes.
- Spinach: Fresh spinach is ideal. Pressed for time? Use prewashed bagged spinach. Frozen can be used in a pinch, but thaw it and squeeze out excess moisture before adding it to the soup.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic will add more flavor than jarred minced garlic, which is slightly milder.
- Canned tomatoes: Use fire-roasted diced tomatoes for a more robust flavor. A low-sodium or no-salt option lets you control the seasoning.
- Broth: You can use store-bought or homemade vegetable broth in this recipe. Or, chicken broth a good alternative (try one of our Test Kitchen’s picks for best chicken broth brands). No matter which broth you use, we recommend using a low-sodium variety so you can control the amount of salt in this tortellini soup with spinach.
- Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning is typically a combination of dried herbs including basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram. If you don’t have this seasoning blend on hand, you can make your own Italian seasoning from scratch.
Directions
Step 1: Make the soup base
In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, then cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, broth and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil.
Step 2: Add the tortellini
Add the tortellini and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Cook, uncovered, just until the tortellini are tender, seven to nine minutes.
Step 3: Add the spinach
Stir in the spinach last.
Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
Recipe Variations
- Change up the pasta: Use a meat-filled tortellini, any kind of ravioli or your favorite small pasta, such as elbow macaroni or conchigliette (small shells).
- Make it meaty: To make this tortellini spinach soup even heartier, add cooked shredded or cubed chicken or browned Italian sausage for an additional punch of protein and flavor.
- Pump up the veggie volume: You can’t go wrong with the addition of celery, carrots and onion, also known as mirepoix. Soften the chopped vegetables with butter or olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, along with the garlic, as the first step to building the soup base.
- Switch the greens: Tortellini soup with spinach is great, but you can always substitute chopped kale, Swish chard or other leafy greens for the spinach.
- Make it creamy: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream right before adding the spinach for a decadent twist.
How to Store Spinach Tortellini Soup
Store this spinach and tortellini soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Ideally, store the tortellini in a separate container from the soup, otherwise the pasta will absorb liquid from the soup and fall apart. Reheat the soup in a microwave-safe container for one to two minutes or on the stovetop for three to five minutes.
Can you freeze spinach tortellini soup?
Tortellini soup with spinach can be frozen, but to prevent mushy pasta, the tortellini should be stored separately from the rest of the soup. (Or discard the tortellini and add fresh tortellini when reheating the soup.) To freeze, let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. This soup can be frozen for up to two months. Thaw the soup in the fridge before reheating it on the stove or in the microwave.
Spinach Tortellini Soup Tips
What can you serve with spinach tortellini soup?
Spinach tortellini soup is a perfectly balanced meal by itself, but you can never go wrong with sides like Parmesan garlic bread sticks, crusty sourdough bread or Texas toast garlic bread. A green salad, like a kale salad or a Caesar salad, is another classic combination with homemade soup recipes.
Can you make tortellini soup with spinach in the slow cooker?
Tortellini spinach soup is a wonderful recipe for your slow cooker. Combine all the ingredients except the spinach and tortellini, and cook in a slow cooker on high for two hours. After two hours, add the spinach and tortellini, and cook another 30 minutes to 1 hour or until the spinach is wilted and the tortellini is cooked through.
