Dive into a bowl of pure comfort with this incredibly easy and flavorful Creamy Instant Pot Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Tomatoes. Crafted for busy weeknights yet delivering the rich, slow-cooked taste of an all-day simmer, this hearty soup is an absolute game-changer. Imagine a velvety, tomato-infused broth embracing tender, cheese-filled tortellini and savory chunks of Italian sausage. It’s a satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs meal that comes together quickly in your Instant Pot, making cleanup a breeze. This recipe promises a wholesome, delicious dinner that will undoubtedly become a family favorite.
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If you’re searching for a comforting and effortless meal that doesn’t compromise on flavor, your quest ends here. This Instant Pot Tortellini Soup is a symphony of tastes and textures: a rich, creamy tomato base, perfectly cooked cheese tortellini, and robust Italian sausage. It’s substantial enough to stand alone as a complete dinner, yet simple enough to whip up even on the most hectic evenings. And the best part? Utilizing your Instant Pot transforms this amazing dish into a true one-pot wonder, minimizing both cooking time and, crucially, cleanup!
Forget about spending hours slaving over the stove. With your Instant Pot, you’re just a few simple steps away from a gourmet-quality soup that tastes like it took all day to prepare. Gather your ingredients, plug in your pressure cooker, and let’s create something truly delicious!
What You’ll Love About This Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
This Instant Pot Tortellini Soup isn’t just another recipe; it’s a culinary triumph designed for modern kitchens and busy lives. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:
- Effortless One-Pot Cooking: Say goodbye to stacks of dirty dishes! This entire meal comes together in a single Instant Pot, streamlining your cooking process and making cleanup incredibly simple. It’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” soup experience.
- Rich, Creamy, and Chunky Perfection: Every spoonful is an indulgence. The broth is luxuriously creamy and bursting with flavor, while tender tortellini and hearty sausage chunks provide a satisfying texture that truly makes this soup a meal.
- Flavor in a Flash: Despite its deeply developed taste, this soup cooks in a fraction of the time typically required for such rich flavors. The Instant Pot works its magic, ensuring that every ingredient contributes to a profile that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours.
- Simple Ingredients, Maximum Impact: You don’t need exotic items for this recipe. With fewer than 10 core ingredients, many of which you likely already have in your pantry, you can create a truly spectacular meal. It’s proof that simple can be absolutely extraordinary.
- Hearty and Satisfying: This isn’t a light broth soup. It’s a fulfilling, comforting dish that will warm you from the inside out and leave you feeling completely satisfied, making it perfect for chilly evenings or any time you need a comforting meal.
Essential Ingredients for Your Creamy Tortellini Soup
The beauty of this soup lies in its straightforward ingredients that come together to create a complex, comforting flavor. There’s no need for fancy, hard-to-find items; your favorite everyday brands will shine here. Focus on quality, and you’ll be rewarded with a truly delicious dish.
- Cooking Oil: Just a touch of your preferred cooking oil – olive, avocado, or vegetable oil work well – is needed to help brown the sausage, especially if your sausage isn’t particularly fatty. It prevents sticking and ensures even cooking.
- Italian Sausage: The star protein of the soup! You have the freedom to choose between sweet or spicy Italian sausage based on your preference. Remove the casings if using links and crumble the meat as it cooks. The sausage adds a fantastic savory depth and wonderful texture to the soup.
- Onion: Yellow or white onions are perfect for building a foundational aromatic base for the soup. When sautéed, they become sweet and tender, infusing the broth with essential flavor.
- Garlic: Don’t hold back on the garlic! This soup can handle a generous amount. Freshly minced garlic provides a pungent, irresistible aroma and flavor that perfectly complements the tomatoes and sausage.
- Italian Seasoning: A pre-blended Italian seasoning mix is your secret weapon for quickly adding a complex herb profile. Use your favorite blend, or create your own with dried oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram.
- Beef Broth: Opt for a low-sodium or no-sodium-added beef broth to control the saltiness of your soup. Homemade beef broth will yield the richest flavor, but a good quality store-bought broth works wonderfully as well. This forms the primary liquid base for our creamy creation.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes: Fire-roasted diced tomatoes are my personal favorite for this recipe as they add a subtle smokiness and deeper flavor. However, regular canned diced tomatoes or even crushed tomatoes can be used. They provide the essential tangy tomato base that makes this soup so comforting.
- Cheese Tortellini: Small, tender cheese tortellini are ideal. You can use fresh or frozen tortellini, though fresh often yields a softer bite. The pasta absorbs the incredible flavors of the broth, making each bite incredibly satisfying.
- Zucchini: A fantastic addition for a boost of vegetables and a touch of freshness. Diced zucchini cooks quickly and adds a mild flavor without overpowering the soup’s main components. It’s a great way to sneak in extra greens!
- Heavy Cream: A small amount of heavy cream is all it takes to transform the broth into a luxuriously rich and velvety texture. It adds that signature creaminess without making the soup overly heavy.
Step-by-Step Guide: Making Instant Pot Tortellini Soup With Sausage
Creating this delightful soup in your Instant Pot is surprisingly simple, allowing you to achieve deep flavors in minimal time. Follow these steps for a perfectly creamy and hearty meal.
For a comprehensive list of ingredients with precise measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card located further down on this page.
- Prepare the Sausage and Aromatics: Begin by setting your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function. Once the pot indicates “hot,” add your cooking oil. Immediately add the Italian sausage (ensure casings are removed if using links), diced onion, and minced garlic.
- Brown and Sauté: Using a spatula or wooden spoon, break up the sausage into small, bite-sized pieces as it browns. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is thoroughly browned and the onions have softened and become translucent, which usually takes about 8 minutes. This step is crucial for developing deep flavor.
- Deglaze the Pot: Pour about ½ cup of the beef broth into the Instant Pot insert. Use your spatula to gently scrape the bottom of the pot, loosening any browned bits of sausage or onion that may be stuck. This “degrazing” step is important to prevent a “burn” error during pressure cooking and to incorporate all those flavorful fond bits into your soup.
- Add Remaining Liquid and Seasoning: Carefully add the remaining beef broth, canned diced tomatoes (undrained), and Italian seasoning to the pot. Stir briefly to combine the ingredients. Do not stir in the cream, tortellini, or zucchini at this stage.
- First Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) setting and set the cooking time to 15 minutes on high pressure.
- Add Tortellini and Zucchini for Final Cook: Once the 15-minute pressure cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release by carefully turning the sealing valve to the “Venting” position. Once all the steam has escaped and the float valve has dropped, open the lid. Now, add the diced zucchini and the cheese tortellini to the hot broth.
- Second Pressure Cook (Short Burst): Close the lid again, ensuring the sealing valve is set to “Sealing.” Select “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) and set the time for just 2 minutes on high pressure. This short burst is enough to perfectly cook the tortellini and zucchini without making them mushy.
- Finish and Serve: After the 2 minutes are up, perform another quick release. Carefully open the lid away from your face to avoid residual steam. Stir in the heavy cream until fully incorporated. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Ladle generously into bowls and serve immediately.
Chef Jenn’s Pro Tips for the Best Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
Achieving soup perfection is easy with a few expert tricks up your sleeve. These tips will help you elevate your Instant Pot Tortellini Soup to gourmet levels.
- Garnish for Extra Flair: A simple garnish can dramatically enhance the soup’s flavor and presentation. A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty kick. If you opted for sweet Italian sausage, a pinch of red pepper flakes will introduce a pleasant warmth and balance the sweetness. A few fresh basil leaves also add vibrant color and aroma.
- Broth Variations: While beef broth offers a rich, deep flavor, don’t hesitate to experiment. Using chicken broth instead will result in a slightly lighter, yet equally delicious, soup profile. Vegetable broth can also be used for a vegetarian option (paired with plant-based sausage alternatives).
- Tortellini Choices: This recipe calls for cheese tortellini, but don’t limit yourself! Meat tortellini, spinach tortellini, or even mushroom-filled tortellini can be used to vary the flavor and texture of your soup. Ensure you choose small tortellini, as larger ones can be a bit cumbersome to spoon and eat comfortably in a soup.
- The Right Size Tortellini: Always aim for small tortellini. The smaller size not only makes them easier to eat but also ensures they cook quickly and absorb the soup’s flavors beautifully without becoming overly doughy or falling apart.
- Adjusting Consistency: If you prefer a thinner soup, you can add a little more broth or water at the end. For a thicker consistency, let it simmer gently on the “Sauté” setting (after removing the lid) for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Don’t Skimp on Deglazing: The deglazing step (scraping the bottom of the pot after sautéing) is critical. Those browned bits are packed with flavor, and removing them prevents a “burn” error on your Instant Pot, ensuring a smooth cooking process.
Recommended Dishes
Make It A Complete Meal: Serving Suggestions
While this creamy sausage tortellini Instant Pot soup is undeniably hearty enough to be a meal all on its own, you can easily elevate it to a full dining experience with a few thoughtful pairings.
For a truly comforting ensemble, serve it alongside a fresh, crusty bread, perfect for soaking up every last drop of that incredible broth. Consider a slice or heel of artisanal bread, a warm and airy sourdough focaccia, or some savory prosciutto parmesan puff pastry pinwheels. These additions not only complement the flavors but also add a wonderful textural contrast.
If you’re looking to balance the richness of the soup, a crisp and refreshing salad is an excellent choice. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette, or a more elaborate spinach, asparagus, and fennel salad, can cut through the creaminess beautifully.
Alternatively, this luxurious soup also makes a fantastic appetizer. Serve smaller portions before a main course like flavorful garlic shrimp scampi or savory chicken Marsala meatballs for a truly memorable dining experience. The versatility of this soup means it can fit into any meal plan, whether as the star or a delightful prelude.
Storage and Freezing Tips
This Instant Pot Tortellini Soup with Sausage is so delicious, you might find yourself wishing you made a double batch! Luckily, it stores well, making it perfect for meal prep or enjoying leftovers.
Refrigeration: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, gently warm on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. You might need to add a splash of broth or water to thin it out if it has thickened too much.
Freezing: Yes, you can absolutely freeze this Instant Pot Tortellini Soup! For best results, allow the soup to cool completely before portioning it into freezer-safe containers. I highly recommend using dedicated freezer molds like Souper Cubes for individual servings, which make thawing and reheating incredibly convenient. Label and date your containers, and the soup can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating from Frozen: To reheat, simply transfer frozen portions to a saucepan and warm gently over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Alternatively, you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Adding a little extra broth or a touch more cream can help restore its original creamy consistency.
Freezing is a fantastic way to enjoy this comforting meal on demand, ensuring you always have a quick and delicious dinner option ready to go.
You might find these Souper Cubes useful for freezing soups.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Creamy Tortellini Soup
Absolutely! This recipe is designed for simplicity and efficiency. It essentially boils down to two main phases: browning the sausage and aromatics, and then pressure cooking the soup. The Instant Pot handles the rest, making it an ideal choice for beginners and experienced cooks alike who want maximum flavor with minimal effort. It’s so straightforward, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made it sooner!
Imagine the rich, savory depth of your favorite creamy tomato soup, but elevated with incredible textures and layers of flavor. Picture tender, cheesy tortellini bathing in that luscious broth, alongside robust, meaty chunks of savory Italian sausage. The tomatoes provide a perfect tang, the cream adds luxurious silkiness, and the herbs and garlic tie it all together. Even if you’re not typically a tomato soup enthusiast, this soup’s complexity and heartiness are sure to win you over. It’s truly a gourmet comfort food experience!
From the moment you start sautéing your ingredients to the moment you serve this delicious soup, you can expect the entire process to take approximately one hour. This includes about 10-15 minutes for prep and sautéing, roughly 10-15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, 15 minutes of initial pressure cooking, a quick release, and then another 2 minutes of pressure cooking for the tortellini and zucchini, followed by a final quick release and stirring in the cream. It’s a remarkably quick turnaround for such a flavorful and satisfying meal!
Yes, absolutely! To transform this into a delicious vegetarian soup, simply swap the Italian sausage for a plant-based Italian sausage alternative. Ensure you use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. All other ingredients are naturally vegetarian. The flavors will still be wonderfully rich and satisfying, offering a fantastic meat-free option.
No problem at all! While fire-roasted tomatoes add a lovely smoky depth, regular canned diced tomatoes work perfectly well and will still yield a fantastic soup. You could also use canned crushed tomatoes if you prefer a smoother tomato base, or even a can of whole peeled tomatoes that you crush by hand for a more rustic texture. Feel free to use what you have on hand or what you prefer.
Step-by-Step Visual Process
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Creamy Instant Pot Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 1/2 cups diced onions
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth
- 28 ounce canned diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound cheese tortellini
- 2 cups diced zucchini
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to “Sauté” mode. Once hot, add the oil, then the Italian sausage (casings removed), diced onion, and minced garlic.
- Break up the sausage with a spatula as it browns, chopping it into small pieces. Continue to brown the sausage and cook the onions until they are translucent, about 8 minutes.
- Deglaze the Instant Pot insert with ½ cup of the beef broth, scraping up all the flavorful bits stuck to the bottom.
- Add the remaining beef broth, canned diced tomatoes (undrained), and Italian seasoning. Lock the lid into place and set the Instant Pot to “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure. When the float valve drops, open the lid. Add the diced zucchini and the cheese tortellini. Secure the lid again, set to high pressure for another 2 minutes, then perform another quick release.
- Open the lid away from you and stir in the heavy cream until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed, then serve immediately.
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and a pinch of red pepper flakes (if using sweet Italian sausage) makes a great garnish.
- Use chicken broth for a lighter flavor profile.
- Feel free to use meat tortellini instead of cheese tortellini.
- Always opt for small tortellini for easier eating and better texture in soup.
Nutrition
Calories: 580 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 45 g |
Protein: 23 g |
Fat: 35 g |
Saturated Fat: 16 g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 11 g |
Cholesterol: 102 mg |
Sodium: 1103 mg |
Potassium: 878 mg |
Fiber: 5 g |
Sugar: 9 g |
Vitamin A: 824 IU |
Vitamin C: 24 mg |
Calcium: 203 mg |
Iron: 4 mg
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
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