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This super simple Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup is the perfect fall dinner…great for nights when you’re craving Italian, but want something warming and healthy too. A mix of vegetables, simmered with Italian seasonings, a splash of wine, kale, and cheese tortellini. Finish each bowl off with an extra sprinkle of cheese and serve with crusty bread. It’s hearty, full of greens, and so delicious. Great for just about any night of the week. Plus the leftovers the next day make for the best lunch!
As promised…a new slow cooker recipe to start off the week. And a healthier one too. But don’t worry, it’s still creamy, cozy, and of course, delicious. I mean, it’s October, I wouldn’t share a non-cozy recipe at this point in the year. Cozy is always the way to go when the weather begins to turn cooler.
To be completely honest, I don’t love all soups. To me, a dinner soup needs to be hearty. It needs to be brothy, but it also needs texture, carbs, and preferably some cheese on top too. French onion? Yes – yum. Hearty, thick chili? Of course. Ramen with double the noodles? Yes, 100%.
But a brothy soup with just a few vegetables just doesn’t do it for me, which brings me to this soup. It’s vegetable soup, but it’s not your average vegetable soup. This one is creamy, cheesy, and made with not just vegetables, but cheese tortellini too.
It’s all the things I love in a bowl of soup, yet made on the healthier side too. Promise you guys, this one is good, and kid-friendly too!
Here is the story:
This soup just sounded good to me. I’ve never done an Italian-style tortellini soup, but oddly I’ve done a Mexican-inspired tortilla soup with tortellini. Not sure where I got that idea, but it sure is different. Nothing like this bowl of tortellini soup.
When I presented the idea of a vegetable-based tortellini soup to my sister-in-law, she gave it a double thumbs up. Granted Lynds loves a bowl of soup, but she’s also picky about her them. So instead of second-guessing my ideas, like I always do, I took her double thumbs up and I ran with it. And the verdict? I am very, very happened I listened. This is such a delicious bowl of warming soup. And I love that I was able to make it a touch healthier than the versions you might find in a restaurant.
And my favorite part…well, aside from the taste…this is actually the easiest soup to make. You can cook it low and slow in the slow cooker, or speed things up by cooking it in the instant pot, or you can even cook it on the stove-top.
To make this tortellini soup:
I love to start this off on the stove-top. I know it’s annoying, but I really think cooking your vegetables with the dried herbs and spices before slow cooking adds so much wonderful flavor. If you have an all-in-one browning slow cooker then you can do this all in the slow cooker bowl. I literally just hit purchase (before starting this post) on this all-in-one All-Clad slow cooker with a browning function. I cannot wait for it to arrive this week!
Cook the onions with a mix of my favorite Italian spices…the dried herbs, fennel, and smoked paprika. They are all KEY here. They add so much flavor, almost like Italian sausage, but minus any of the meat.
Once the onions have been seared, add everything to the bowl of your slow cooker. Then add tomato paste, a good splash of dry white wine, and plenty of vegetable broth. Cover and cook low and slow.
I like to just let my soup cook all day long. The house smells incredible as this simmers away in the slow cooker. But, as I mentioned, I’ve also included directions for the Instant-Pot and stove-top variations, in case you’re in a crunch.
Once the soup has finished cooking, before serving, stir in a few large handfuls of kale, cream or milk, parmesan cheese, and the cheese tortellini. Cook another few minutes and then that’s it.
Easy. EASY. But yet so delicious.
I’d highly recommend serving this soup with a side of crusty bread. If you own the HBH Super Simple cookbook, there’s a really good, really easy, no-knead bread recipe that’s perfect to pair with this soup.
If you’re planning to enjoy this soup leftover, be sure to first remove the tortellini from the broth before refrigerating. That way the tortellini won’t soak up all the broth. Then just add them back in before serving.
Alright, and with that, I’m going to leave you all to it. If your Monday night needs some warming soup, this should be it. I’m actually beyond excited to make this again today on Instagram stories. It’s the perfect fall soup.
Cannot wait!
Looking for other fall soup recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup with Roasted Mushrooms
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar and Zucchini Soup
Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana
Lastly, if you make this Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Hi Tieghan! I now exclusively cook HBH meals and my family loves them! I made this last night and it was so so good. I didn’t read to remove the tortellini from the broth before refrigerating until it was too late (this morning) whoops! How do you recommend reheating today for lunch, given that the tortellini was refrigerated with the broth overnight?
Thank you,
Rebecca
Hey Rebecca,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I would just heat in the microwave or on the stove top. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This is my go to soup when I don’t feel like trying out a new recipe or I’m in a rush. So so yummy. Sometimes I’ll add shredded chicken or sausage, but it’s still so delicious without!
Hey Aubrey,
Thank you so much for making the recipe. I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This soup is delicious!! I absolutely loved it! It was simple to make and so tasty. I am a beginner cook and it was such a manageable recipe for me. Already looking forward to making it again soon. Thank you for sharing a fantastic recipe!
Hey Mary,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Have a great week:) xTieghan
I don’t usually do the cooking, but I got an instant pot and want to try and start. This was the first recipe I wanted to try and it was amazing! No surprise though since we love all your recipes 🙂 The flavors were delicious and it was quick and easy to put together, I know we’re going to be making it often from now on. Can’t wait to try your other instant pot recipes!
Hey Lindsey,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
I”m making this soup today! Wondering if you can give us measurements for carrots and onion…I have a bag of carrots that are entirely different sizes. Nothing consistent. And my onions are different sizes, as well. Could make a big difference in taste. Thanks!
Hey Julie,
These do not need to be exact, I would follow the recipe as is:) I hope you love the soup, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you see any issue with adding chicken into the crockpot before cooking? Would love a non-vegetarian version of this, THANKS!!
Hey Liz,
That should be totally fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this tonight and it turned out perfect! The flavors were amazing, so delicious and hearty, and I cannot wait for leftovers for lunch tomorrow. The only issue… we forgot the crusty bread 🙂
Hey Stephanie,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This soup is really easy to make. Even tough it’s delicious, I’m leaving out the smoked paprika next time. It’s too smokey for my taste and that doesn’t seem to go with the rest of the soup. Anyway…love your recipes! Regine
Hey Regine,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Making this tonight!! How long can it be kept in the fridge for leftovers? and would you advise freezing it with the cream, cheese and tortellinis cooked? Thanks!
Hey Julie,
You can keep this in the fridge for 4-5 days. If you want to freeze, I would freeze without the tortellini, cheese, and cream. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I loved this recipe. Made it earlier today in the crockpot and it made the apartment smell wonderful. I usually never use kale in your recipes when you call for it but today I decided to give it a try. Sooooo glad I did! Not sure why I’ve been so scared of kale lol. Thank you!!!!!
Hey Sam,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Once again you have knocked it out of the park! So very simple but so very good!
Great combo of flavors and textures. Also, I love the options for stovetop, slow cooker or instant pot.
Hey Jeena,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
You are my go to! Made this tonight as the topping to our Meatless Monday meals and WOW. So good!
If anyone wants to know- I didn’t have any wine, so I just omitted. sad I didn’t realize it before going to the store, but will try again with it bc this was so dang good!
Also if you have any vegetables that you need to use up (mine was asparagus) it works really well!
Hey Ashlei,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made this soup for dinner and it was very satisfying. I had most of the ingredients and ad-libbed the rest. I added mushrooms and used half and half. I didn’t have wine or fennel seeds and it was great without. I omitted the 1/3 cup of Parm and just sprinkled a bit on top of my bowl. Enjoy!
Hey Megan,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
For the fennel seeds, can you substitute fennel powder? If so, what would the adjustment be?
Thanks 🙂
Hey Alexis,
Sure, I would use 1 teaspoon. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if there is anything else I can help with! xTieghan
Loving this recipe! Did it stove top, next time will do the heavy cream instead of whole milk.
Hey Em,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy New Year! xTieghan