If you want a comforting, filling soup ready in under an hour, try this Traeger Creamy Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage. It combines smoky-sweet Italian sausage, tender cheese tortellini, bright tomatoes, and creamy broth for a satisfying weeknight meal or an easy dish to serve guests.
Traeger Sausage & Tortellini Soup
This version was inspired by a recipe that popped up in my social feed. I adjusted a few elements to add a touch of smoke from the Traeger and to simplify the process for a busy weeknight. If you have a pellet smoker, smoking the sausage first adds depth; if not, you can brown the sausage on the stovetop and still end up with a rich, flavorful soup.
Smoking the sweet Italian sausage for a short time infuses a subtle smoky note without overwhelming the other ingredients. The rest of the soup comes together quickly: tomatoes, chicken broth, spinach, and seasoning simmered briefly, then thickened and finished with cream and cheese tortellini for a velvety texture.
Check out all of my Traeger recipes for more smoked favorites.
Recipe Shopping List
Most of these ingredients are pantry staples or easy to find at any grocery store. For precise quantities, see the ingredient list in the recipe card below.
- Sweet Italian sausage
- Minced garlic
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Chicken broth
- Tomato sauce (optional)
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Frozen chopped spinach
- Cheese tortellini (fresh if possible)
- Heavy whipping cream
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Flour (for thickening) or an alternative slurry
More soup ideas available in my recipe collection.
How To Make This Recipe
Below is an overview of the method so you can see the workflow before you start cooking. The full ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions appear in the recipe card further down.
- Smoke or cook the sausage – If you have a Traeger or pellet smoker, preheat to about 175°F and smoke the sausages directly on the grates for roughly 30 minutes to add subtle smoke flavor. If you prefer not to smoke or don’t have a smoker, remove casing if using links, break up the sausage, and brown it in a large pot over medium-high heat until cooked through.
- Build the soup base – Add minced garlic, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato sauce (optional for extra tomato richness), Italian seasoning, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir in frozen chopped spinach and simmer gently to marry the flavors, about 10–15 minutes.
- Thicken the broth – Create a small flour slurry by whisking flour with cold water until smooth, then stir into the simmering soup and cook 3–4 minutes while stirring until the broth slightly thickens. You can also use cornstarch or reduce the soup longer if preferred.
- Finish with tortellini and cream – Add the fresh cheese tortellini and simmer just until the pasta is al dente, usually 2–4 minutes for fresh tortellini. Remove the pot from heat and gently stir in heavy cream for a silky finish. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve – Ladle into bowls and top with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with crusty bread for dipping and a simple salad for a complete meal.
Get my favorite pairings for this soup below.
Serve This With
This hearty soup is ideal with a simple side. Consider:
- Greek salad with crisp vegetables and olives
- Homemade Caesar salad
- Garlic bread sticks or crusty garlic bread
- Grilled dinner rolls or warm focaccia
Traeger Sausage and Tortellini Soup
This creamy, comforting soup is easy to prepare and full of flavor. Sweet Italian sausage pairs with cheese tortellini in a tomato-scented, creamy broth—great for busy nights or casual entertaining.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 quart chicken broth
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce (optional)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach
- 20-ounce package fresh cheese tortellini
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 to 2 tablespoons flour mixed with cold water (for thickening)
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to about 175°F if you plan to smoke the sausage. Place sausage links on the grates and smoke for approximately 30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly.
- If you did not smoke the sausage, remove casings (if applicable), crumble the sausage into a large stockpot, and brown over medium-high heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic during the last minute and sauté until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato sauce (if using), Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and frozen spinach. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 10–15 minutes to combine flavors.
- Whisk the flour with a small amount of cold water until smooth, then stir into the soup. Simmer and stir for 3–4 minutes until the broth begins to thicken.
- Add the fresh cheese tortellini and cook 2–4 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Stir gently to avoid tearing the tortellini.
- Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan and with crusty bread if desired.
Notes
The tomato sauce is optional; it adds extra tomato richness but can be omitted if you prefer a lighter tomato presence. If you want a thicker soup without flour, reduce the broth slightly before adding tortellini.
Nutrition Information (approximate)
Yield: 12 | Serving Size: 1
Amount per serving: Calories: 325; Total Fat: 16g; Saturated Fat: 9g; Trans Fat: 0g; Unsaturated Fat: 6g; Cholesterol: 62mg; Sodium: 1297mg; Carbohydrates: 28g; Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 3g; Protein: 17g.
Nutrition data provided here is an estimate.