Chicken Tortellini Soup

It's even better than chicken noodle soup.

By Leah PerezUpdated: Jul 23, 2024

4.6

8 Ratings

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Looking for a cozy soup recipe that's on the table in half an hour? Chicken tortellini soup is here to save your weeknight family dinners! It's an easy take on chicken noodle soup, but with creamy pockets of cheese. Simply sauté a medley of onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, add broth, and simmer the chicken and tortellini. Before the garlic bread comes out of the oven, soup is on! Meals like this 30-minute hit are a lifesaver on busy nights, chilly nights, or anytime you crave comfort food.

What tortellini is best for chicken tortellini soup?

Tortellini is available refrigerated, frozen, and dried with lots of different fillings such as cheese, spinach, and even chicken! This recipe works best with refrigerated or frozen tortellini because they are larger and have pockets of smooth, fresher-tasting filling.

What kind of chicken goes into chicken tortellini soup?

Utilize one of Ree Drummond's favorite weeknight dinner hacks and use a juicy rotisserie chicken. (Leftover turkey would be delicious here, too.) Of course, if your family prefers all white meat, you can cook a few chicken breasts instead. Before sautéing the onions, carrots, and celery, slice three boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Season them with salt and pepper and sauté them in 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat until golden, about five minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and cook the vegetables. Add the chicken back in with the tortellini.

What else can you add to chicken tortellini soup?

Stir in 3 cups of baby spinach for a veggie boost or a squeeze of lemon for a hint of bright, citrusy flavor.

Do you cook tortellini before adding it to soup?

Nope, this tortellini cooks right in the soup pot! This is not just convenient—the starchy noodles also act as a natural thickener, giving the soup body.

Can you make chicken tortellini soup ahead of time?

Yes, but if you're making it in advance, cook the tortellini separately and add it to the soup just before serving. If the tortellini sits in the soup for too long, it will absorb too much broth and may become mushy. Want to freeze this soup? Keep reading!

Can chicken tortellini soup be frozen?

Sure, but you'll need to remove the tortellini from the broth and freeze both separately. This will preserve the texture of the pasta. Allow the soup to cool completely before freezing it; hot soup can thaw your frozen food. Divvy up the soup and tortellini into freezer-safe plastic containers or zip-top bags for easy storage. Reheat the soup in a saucepan until simmering. Then stir in the tortellini and simmer until the pasta is heated through.

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Yields:

6 serving(s)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

Ingredients

2 Tbsp.
olive oil
1
medium yellow onion, chopped
3
medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3
stalks celery, sliced
3
cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp.
kosher salt
1/2 tsp.
ground black pepper
1/2 tsp.
Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp.
red pepper flakes
3 qt.
chicken broth
3 1/2 c.
shredded rotisserie chicken
1
(20-oz.) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
1/4 c.
chopped fresh parsley
Grated parmesan cheese, to serve

Directions

1. Step 1In a medium Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery, and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables start to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, cooking until fragrant, 1 minute.
2. Step 2Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the chicken and tortellini and simmer until the chicken is warmed through and the tortellini is tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the fresh parsley and serve hot with grated parmesan cheese.

Tip: Add 3 cups of baby spinach and a squeeze of lemon juice for a refreshing vegetable addition.