Crock Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup is a slow cooker soup you have to try this winter season. The frozen tortellini makes it easy to get dinner on the table without spending too much time in the kitchen.  It's a soup I love making over and over again.

Chicken tortellini soup is a rich and creamy dish with tender shreds of chicken, cheesy tortellini, a savory tomato cream broth, and Italian seasonings. With these flavors, this one is up there with my zuppa Toscana soup.

If you’re tired of standard chicken noodle or basic tomato soup, try making this creamy tortellini soup as a way to mix things up! And, if you love tortellini, be sure to try my other easy crockpot tortellini recipes like cheesy crock pot tortellini and crockpot tortellini soup.

Ingredients

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: I think white meat gives the best texture for this soup, but you could also try it with boneless, skinless thighs. The chicken shreds so easily after being in the slow cooker. You'll want to trim any excess fat off before making the chicken tortellini soup.
• Yellow Onion and Minced Garlic: The onion and garlic bring some major flavor to this soup! If you’re short on time, you can buy pre-cut onions and use garlic from the jar.
• Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: I like using low-sodium broth and seasoning the soup to taste at the end.
• Tomato Paste and Diced Tomatoes: I use one small can of tomato paste and 2 cans of diced tomatoes for this recipe. It might seem like a lot of tomato but the cream keeps it from being too acidic.
• Dried Thyme, Oregano, and Italian Seasoning: The spice blend is one of my favorite parts about this creamy chicken tortellini soup. Classic Italian flavors!
• Corn Starch: For creating a slurry to thicken the tortellini soup.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream gives the soup base a rich, creamy flavor. Half and half would also work.
• Frozen Cheese Tortellini: I usually just use cheese tortellini but you could also use one that has ground meat in it for an even meatier flavor.
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese: Half a cup of parmesan cheese gets added right at the end of the cooking time. I like having extra cheese to garnish on top, too!
• Baby Spinach: Chopped fresh spinach adds a pop of green and lots of nutritional value. You can also use kale in place of spinach, or throw in some of both!

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Vary the Meat: Instead of chicken, you could substitute browned and crumbled Italian sausage.
• Add Some Heat: If you like spicy food, you could add spicy Italian sausage, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a hot sauce topping to this soup.
• More Veggies: It’s easy to sneak in extra veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, corn, peas, or mushrooms to this soup, especially if you chop them down to a small size. Add them towards the end so they don’t get too mushy.

How to Make Chicken Tortellini Soup in the Crock Pot

To make chicken tortellini soup in the Crock Pot, you'll let the base ingredients and chicken cook. Then, 30 minutes before it's done, you add the tortellini and creamy slurry. So simple!

1. Step 1: Assemble. Place the raw chicken breasts, onion, garlic, chicken broth, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and seasonings in the slow cooker.

2. Step 2: Cover and Cook. With the lid on, cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

3. Step 3: Shred the Chicken. Remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks while they're still hot. Then put the meat back in the soup.

4. Step 4: Make Your Slurry. Whisk the cornstarch and cream until there are no lumps.

5. Step 5: Finish the Soup. Add the slurry, tortellini, parmesan cheese, and spinach to the soup. Mix until well combined and let it cook for another 45 minutes.

6. Step 6: Serve. Serve hot with more parmesan cheese!

Storage Directions 

• Storing: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe as the textures are better fresh. 
• Reheating: Reheat on the stove or in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through.

Serving Suggestions

This is a great dish for weeknight dinners, potlucks, family gatherings, or even a party or special occasion. It goes well with bread, more veggies, or another cozy side dish. 

• Serve slow cooker tortellini soup with crockpot Brussel sprouts or slow cooked glazed carrots for more veggies on the side.
• Want to keep it simple? This soup is so good with a hunk of French bread or this homemade focaccia and a side salad.
• If you still have room for dessert after the creamy tortellini soup, have some bread pudding in the crockpot or some homemade apple cobbler with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream. Both are to die for! 

More Delicious Italian Crock Pot Dishes

Here are a few of my other favorite Italian dishes to make in the Crock Pot!

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