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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!
So excited to make this! Can I substitute canned full-fat coconut milk for the cream/whole milk?
Hey Jamie,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Do you ever have an issue with it curdling. When you use coconut milk!? Is there a trick??
Hey Alex,
Sorry I don’t, I mix my coconut milk well and then I stir the soup as I pour the coconut milk in. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Hi! I made this soup exactly as written….it was amazing! So flavorful and delicious anytime but especially on a cold winter night! It got a thumbs up from my meat loving husband who said I should definitely make it again!:)
Hey Maria,
I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for testing it out! Have a great week! xTieghan
How can I make this vegan?
Hi there,
You would have to use dairy free products. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
The flavor and consistency are 5 star! The only change I made was subbing spinach for kale bc it’s what I had on hand. I also added a squeeze of lemon at the end for some vibrancy.
I’m giving this four stars because the tortellini turned into mush after 15 minutes. I also had a hard time fishing them out of the soup to store them separately. Next time, I’m going to boil the pasta separately and then ladle the soup on top of it.
Hey Gretchen,
Thanks you so very much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
Hi- I’m excited to try this recipe. I’m wondering, if I’m strapped with time, is it JUST as good on stovetop? I’m glad there’s an option but just curious if it’s just delicious ! Thanks
Hey Jaime,
You bet, it’s just as good! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope it turns out amazing for you! xTieghan
Loved it!
Hi Laura,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Have the best week! xTieghan
Love this recipe so much! But the soup tends to get absorbed by the kale and tortellini. Is there anything I can do it to keep it more soup like?
Hi Irma,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. You could add more broth if you like. Have the best week! xTieghan
Made this tonight for the 3rd time. My daughter’s favorite. Just Soooo Good!
Hey David,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Have the best week! xTieghan
I made this tonight on the stove top… so good! Next time I’ll skip the celery and crush some whole tomatoes.
Hey Shelissa,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Have the best week! xTieghan
Making it now- would the addition of mushrooms help or hurt this dish??
Hey Zoe,
Mushrooms would be great! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
Absolutely obsessed. I have been making this monthly or more often since I found it in September. I make it unhealthy again with chicken broth and swap out the milk for an ounce or two of cream cheese – I missed the tangy-ness. This is one of two soups my husband lets pass as an actual meal. Win!
Hey Elle,
Fantastic! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy New Year!? xxT
Delicious! Added fresh chopped tomatoes on top too.
Hey Rene,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
This soup is delicious! My grocery store was out of fennel so we made due without, but it was still wonderful. I recommend the cheese tortellini from Costco.
Hey Kaitlin,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
Made this without the cream and used baby spinach instead of kale. Delicious!
Hi Melanie,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
What about throwing in some ground beef/turkey or rotisserie chicken to add protein? and what do you sub for fennel? thx
Hey Ellen,
Sure, any meat you like will work, I think ground meat would work best. I would just skip the fennel. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Delicious. . . perfect addition to our family Christmas Eve dinner!
Hey Teri,
Wonderful! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan