Chicken Tortellini Soup
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jan 29, 2025 
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe – Packed with vibrant vegetables, tender chicken, and the comforting flavors of three-cheese tortellini, this soup is a hearty hug in a bowl. With a touch of cream and fresh spinach, this recipe brings together wholesome ingredients for a deliciously satisfying meal that’s perfect for a cozy night.
Why We Love This Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe
There is nothing, nothing, as comforting as walking into the house after a long day to the wafting aroma of chicken tortellini soup. Today’s Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup is a healthified version of a heavier cream-based soup.
I haven’t removed the essential elements that make it special such as tender chicken, hearty cheese tortellini, and even a little cream. I’ve just reduced certain ingredients, so you can feel good about serving this Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup to your family. And maybe even having seconds.
Ingredients You Need
- Extra virgin olive oil – the most flavorful olive oil
- Large sweet onion – peeled and chopped
- Red bell pepper – seeded and chopped
- Carrots – sliced
- Garlic cloves – minced
- Boneless skinless chicken breast – or boneless chicken thighs
- Chicken broth – low sodium chicken broth
- Three-cheese tortellini pasta
- Heavy cream – or use half and half
- Packed frozen spinach – or 1/2-3/4 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
- Fresh parsley – chopped
- Dried thyme leaves – or fresh thyme leaves
- Red pepper – crushed
- Salt and pepper – to taste
How To Make Chicken Tortellini Soup
This Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup is quick and easy to make, yet offers so much wow factor, your family will ask for it again and again!
- Saute. Place a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and chopped onions. Saute for 3 minutes to soften. Then add the chopped bell pepper, carrots, and garlic. Saute another 3 minutes.
- Simmer. Add whole raw chicken breasts, chicken broth, dried thyme, crushed red pepper, salt, and ground black pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat a little and simmer for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken and place on a cutting board.
- Cook Pasta. Turn the heat back to medium. With the broth still simmering, stir in the DeLallo Three Cheese Tortellini. Stir well so it doesn’t stick together. Then chop or shred the chicken and place it back in the soup.
- Cream and Season. Once the tortellini is cooked through, about 10-14 minutes, turn off the heat. Stir in heavy cream, spinach, and parsley. Add a little more cream if desired. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.
Get the Full (Printable) How to Make Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe + VIDEO. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Protein Swap – Instead of chicken breast, use rotisserie chicken for a quicker option or substitute with shredded turkey or diced ham. For a vegetarian twist, replace the chicken with chickpeas or white beans for added protein.
- Vegetable Boost – Feel free to add more veggies! Zucchini, diced potatoes, or green beans can be great additions. You can also incorporate seasonal vegetables like kale or butternut squash for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Different Tortellini – While this recipe calls for three-cheese tortellini, you can use other flavors like spinach and ricotta or meat-filled tortellini for a different taste and texture.
- Cream Alternatives – If you want to lighten the dish even more, you can use half-and-half, almond milk, or coconut cream instead of heavy cream.
- Herb Variations – To change the flavor profile, experiment with different herbs like basil, oregano, or rosemary. Fresh herbs can elevate the dish and provide a fresh burst of flavor.
- Cheesy Finish – Top the soup with freshly grated Parmesan or mozzarella cheese before serving for an extra cheesy delight.
Serving Suggestions For Tortellini Soup
Easy chicken noodle soup can be served on its own, since it has protein, carbs, and veggies all in one dish! However, you can serve it with many side dishes to make it a heartier meal! Try pairing it with some of my favorites:
- Homemade Biscuits
- Garlic Bread
- Sweet Potato Biscuits
- Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
- Chimichurri Tomato Salad
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Easy Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store this recipe in your fridge, inside an airtight container, for 3 to 4 days.
You can freeze it with the pasta. Just make sure to thaw it at room temperature, undisturbed, before stirring or reheating. If you try to heat and thaw at the same time, the tortellini will disintegrate.
Yes! Make sure to sauté the veggies on the stovetop first. Then slow cook the soup (without the pasta) for 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low. Add the pasta to the crock pot only 30 minutes before serving.
Yes! In a pinch, adding leftover or rotisserie chicken is a great idea. Be sure to add it in when you add the tortellini.
Looking for More Chicken Soup Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Chicken Detox Soup
- Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Rice Soup
- Italian Chicken Orzo Soup
- Chimichurri Chicken Lentil Soup
- Healthy Chicken White Bean Soup
- Lean Green Chicken Soup
- Spicy Thai Chicken Soup
- Chicken Barely and Kale Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Ramen Noodles
- Chinese Hot Pots
- Healthy Italian Wedding Soup
- Vietnamese Chicken Pho (Low Carb)
- Southwest Detox Soup
- Green Curry Chicken Soup
- Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Creamy Lemon Chicken Soup with Spinach
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup
- Famous Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken and Dumplings Soup
- Chicken Minestrone Soup
- Low Carb Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup
- Skinny Chicken Fajita Soup
- Skinny Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup
- Chicken Cacciatore Soup
Check the Recipe Card Below for Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe + VIDEO. Enjoy!
Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large sweet onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 cups carrots, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast (2 large breasts)
- 9 cups chicken broth
- 8.8 ounces DeLallo Three-Cheese Tortellini Pasta
- 1/4 – 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons packed frozen spinach or 1/2 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and chopped onions. Saute for 3 minutes to soften. Then add the chopped bell pepper, carrots, and garlic. Saute another 3 minutes.
- Add whole raw chicken breasts, chicken broth, dried thyme, crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper to the pot. Bring to a simmer. Lower the heat a little and simmer 15 minutes, until the chicken in cooked through. Remove the chicken and place on a cutting board.
- Turn the heat back to medium. With the broth still simmering, stir in the DeLallo Three Cheese Tortellini. Stir well so it doesn’t stick together. Then chop or shred the chicken and place back in the soup.
- Once the tortellini is cooked through, about 10-14 minutes, turn off the heat. Stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream, spinach, and parsley. Add a little more cream if desired. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.
I used what I had on hand: bonless chicken breast and thigh, frozen kale/corn, and half in half in place of heavy cream.
I followed the direction careful to remove my chicken slightly before cooked through so it wouldnt get tough. I simmered the broth for about 10-15min with the top off to concentrate the flavor. I then added a flour slurry (using broth from the dish) to help it thicken to my liking, as I was using thinner half and half. I aded the frozen kale and tortellini; and kept it as a steady simmer with the top still off to help thicken and continue concentrating the flavor. I added the chicken back and cooked an additon 1-2 min and then turned the stove off so that chicken didn’t paoch to death. Daughter: “that was super good!” Thanks for helping me look like a real Mom Chef! FYI: This is versatile and forgiving. While flavor would be best if simmered a long period of time, this can absolutely be pulled togehter in under 30 min in a pinch!