Pumpkin Tortellini Soup Chicken Sausage Kale (Printable)

Creamy pumpkin soup with cheesy tortellini, savory chicken sausage, and fresh kale in a rich, seasoned broth.

# What You Need:

→ Produce

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 cups pumpkin puree
05 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
06 - 4 cups chopped kale, stems removed
07 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced

→ Meats

08 - 12 ounces chicken sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds

→ Pasta

09 - 9 ounces cheese tortellini, fresh or refrigerated

→ Dairy

10 - ½ cup heavy cream

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

15 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional
16 - Chopped fresh parsley, optional

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrot; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and sliced chicken sausage; cook for 3 to 4 minutes until sausage is lightly browned.
02 - Stir in pumpkin puree, chicken broth, dried thyme, ground nutmeg, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
03 - Add chopped kale and cheese tortellini to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until tortellini are tender and kale is wilted.
04 - Lower the heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes as desired.
05 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley if using. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The marriage of creamy pumpkin with cheese-filled tortellini creates this magical sweet-savory balance that even my pickiest dinner guest requested twice.
  • Everything cooks in one pot, meaning youll spend more time enjoying those wonderful aromas than washing dishes afterward.
02 -
  • Never boil the soup after adding cream or youll risk the dreaded curdling effect I learned about the hard way during an early attempt.
  • Allowing the tortellini to cook directly in the broth rather than separately infuses them with flavor while their starch naturally thickens the soup slightly.
03 -
  • The soup thickens considerably overnight, so add a splash of broth when reheating leftovers to restore the original consistency.
  • If your soup needs more depth, a tablespoon of tomato paste stirred in with the garlic adds complexity that most tasters cant identify but definitely appreciate.
Return