Pumpkin Tortellini Soup with Sausage (Printable)

Creamy pumpkin soup with tortellini, chicken sausage, and kale. A hearty autumn comfort meal in 45 minutes.

# 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

# Step-by-Step:

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 the mixture to a simmer.
03 - Add chopped kale and cheese tortellini; simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until tortellini are tender and kale is wilted.
04 - Lower the heat and stir in heavy cream. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
05 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan and parsley if using. Serve hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's creamy and rich without being heavy, which means you can actually feel satisfied without guilt.
  • The whole thing comes together in 45 minutes, so it works for a weeknight dinner when you want something that feels special.
  • Kale, sausage, and pumpkin shouldn't work together, but they create this perfect balance of savory, sweet, and earthy that keeps you coming back for seconds.
02 -
  • Don't add the cream until the very end—if you're not careful, it can break if the soup gets too hot, and you'll end up with a grainy texture instead of something silky.
  • Fresh tortellini makes all the difference here because they cook in minutes, but if you only have dried, add them earlier and adjust your simmering time.
03 -
  • Buy quality sausage—this is one of the main flavors, so it's worth spending a few extra dollars on a brand that actually tastes good.
  • Don't skip the nutmeg because you think it sounds weird; it's the ingredient that makes people stop mid-bite and say, what is that amazing flavor?
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