Creamy Vegetable Tortellini Soup (Printable)

A comforting bowl of tender cheese tortellini in a rich, creamy broth with colorful vegetables, perfect for cozy weeknight dinners.

# 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 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 cup baby spinach, packed

→ Pasta

08 - 9 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini

→ Broth and 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

# Method:

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, typically 3 to 5 minutes, until just tender.
05 - Lower heat to a gentle simmer. Stir in heavy cream, milk, dried Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
06 - Add spinach and simmer until wilted, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired. Serve while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than most takeout, yet tastes like you've been cooking since morning.
  • The creaminess from just milk and heavy cream means no weird ingredients or heavy feelings afterward.
  • Vegetables add real nutrition and texture without making anyone feel like they're eating health food.
02 -
  • Don't skip the gentle simmer of vegetables at the beginning—rushing past it means missing the chance for natural sweetness that makes the whole soup taste deeper.
  • Add the cream on low heat and stir constantly so it stays silky instead of breaking or separating into an oily mess.
03 -
  • Use better quality tortellini than you think you need—it's the hero of the soup and deserves to be something you'd actually be excited to eat.
  • Taste constantly as you cook rather than seasoning at the end, because your palate catches things incrementally that surprise you all at once if you wait.
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