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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!
Would it work to add extra broth and forgo the white wine in this recipe? Thank you!!
You could use extra chicken broth
Hi Emily! Yes, I would add extra broth and omit the wine, and you should be good to go! Thanks xTieghan
Could you use oat milk in replacement of whole milk? To give it that same creaminess?
Yes! 🙂 xTieghan
This looks amazing and I cannot wait to try it! Have you ever tried dairy alternatives instead of butter and cream? Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE both of those but some family members need to be dairy free. I wasn’t sure if you’d recommend Coconut Milk, Oat or something different. Thank you!
Hey Chelsea,
I would keep the butter but yes coconut milk will also work here. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can you add chicken to the soup?
Definitely! You can add your favorite protein to this soup 🙂 xTieghan
I loooooved this soup! Another great recipe!
Hi Jordan,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thank you so much for making it! xTieghan
Would this soup be good still if I froze the leftovers and reheated? You mentioned the tortellini may soak up the broth so unsure if I can freeze it.
Hey Nikki,
If you want to freeze, I would just keep the tortellini on the side and not add it to the soup. I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
So I cheated. I made your creamy french onion soup over the weekend and then repurposed the leftovers by making it the base for this soup. O.M.G. Absolutely fabulous! Next time I’ll add a little chicken and maybe even a little jalapeño for a Texas style chicken noodle. Love love love it! Thank you for inspiring me to get creative in the kitchen! You are so beyond awesome!
Hi Kristi,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
I love the fact that you combined a few recipes there! I too enjoy experimenting with soups! Your combination sounds enticing.
I loved making this slow cooker soup. It was perfect for a cooler day, and has amazing flavor. The house smelt amazing all day, and the taste didn’t disappoint. Really enjoyed this dish.
Hey Tamara,
I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I truly appreciate you giving it a try!!? xTieghan
Did it on the stove-top. Fantastic. Served it with the Brown Butter Sage Brioche Bread. I’ll be making this again!
Hi Alisa,
Fantastic!! So great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and thanks a lot for making it. Have a great week!? xTieghan
Hi! I just made this soup for dinner. When I added the whole milk it wouldn’t separate and stir into the broth to get that creamy texture. Do you know why that might be?
Hey Brianna,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try. Was your milk at room temp? That typically works best:) I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
Made this soup for the second time and man it’s a hit! Used the stove top method which took longer than I expected and required more stock. Pretty sure it’s because of the way I cut my carrots and celery. Love love love. Tieghan you’re amazing. Keep it up sister!
Hey Tawni,
Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! Have the best weekend? xTieghan
I have not tried this soup yet but definitely will in the next few days! Every recipe that I’ve made of yours is fantastic. Absolutely a hit and a ‘make again and again and again’ Thankyou. I wish I had a cookbook of all the wonderful meals that we’ve enjoyed using your recipes!!!
Thank you so much Linda, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
So excited to try this! Do you think it’d be okay to use lactose-free milk instead of regular/cream? Thanks!!
Hey Dani,
Yes, lactose free milk will work just fine for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Soup is wonderful!! Just remember to chop up the kale into bite sized pieces 🙂 I didn’t and now have to rip em
Hey Ariane,
Awesome! I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! xTieghan
If I add ground italian sausage to this, would you recommend that I omit/cut down on the dried herbs? Love your recipes so much!
Hey Hannah,
Nope, I would keep all of the seasonings the same. I hope this recipe is enjoyed, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
So delicious, everyone in our family LOVED it- best way I’ve ever eaten kale by FAR!
Hey Elise,
Happy Monday! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Can I freeze this recipe for the future? I wasn’t sure because of the tortellini. Thanks!
Hey Jenna,
Sure, I would just freeze without the tortellini. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan