Hearty Winter Soup: Italian Sausage & Tortellini

Jan 19, 2026 Sarah W

Tags Hearty Soup Recipe, recipe, winter soup

Hearty Winter Soup by watereverysunday (copyright)

Hearty Winter Soup: Italian Sausage, Kale & Tortellini 🍲❄️

Winter is officially soup season, and nothing warms up a chilly day like a big pot of hearty, rustic goodness simmering on the stove.

I made this recipe years ago (no idea why I never posted it!) and every winter I always think about bringing it back — because it’s cozy, filling, and ridiculously easy. Plus, it makes your whole home smell like an Italian kitchen. ✨

This Italian Sausage, Kale & Tortellini Soup is one of those throw-everything-into-a-pot recipes, but the flavor payoff is huge. Perfect for busy weekdays, holiday hosting, or when you just want something comforting without spending hours cooking.

This recipe is a bit foolproof, I must say. You’ll notice some recipes add garlic or herbs, but the Italian sausage here is already well seasoned, so I skip extra seasoning. Simply adjust with salt and pepper as needed before serving.

Why I Love This Soup ❤️ – E A S Y !

One-pot meal and hard to fail: minimal cleanup
Easy to find ingredients
Feeds 3–4 people easily (or makes great leftovers for lunch)
Perfect winter comfort food
Easily customizable — add zucchini, white beans, mushrooms, etc.

It’s also one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day… and the day after that.

Serving Ideas 🍽️

Serve with warm crusty bread or a toasted baguette
Add sour cream or a drizzle of olive oil for richness
Sprinkle extra Parmesan or red pepper flakes
Pair with a simple green salad

Make It This Winter! ❄️

If you’re craving something cozy but don’t want an all-day cooking project, this soup is the perfect winter recipe to keep in your rotation.
I finally turned the old recipe board into a real blog post — only took me a few years! 😂

Now Let’s dive in!

Hearty Winter Soup: Italian Sausage, Kale & Tortellini 🍲❄️

Comforting, colorful, hearty — and perfect for winter days.

Serves: 4 generous bowls (or 5–6 smaller servings)

Cook Time: ~35 minutes

Pot Used: Standard Dutch oven (ends up about 3/4 full)

Ingredients 🛒

12 oz (340g) tortellini, four-cheese or your favorite
1 lb (454g) Italian sausage (5 thick links pack, sweet or spicy)
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 bunch curly kale, chopped (about 4–5 cups)
½ cup chopped bell peppers
½ cup chopped carrots (optional)
½ medium onion (red or yellow), chopped
4–6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Freshly grated Parmesan, for topping
Sour Cream for serving (optional)

Scroll down to see Ingredient reference. such as what type of sausage, tomato sauce and tortellini I have used.

Instructions 🍳

1. Cook the Sausage

In your Dutch oven, cook the Italian sausage until browned on the outside, then break it into rough chunks and continue cooking until fully done and no longer pink.

Drain excess oil and set sausage aside.

Brown the Sausage

Break it up as you sauté until no more pink.

Image Source: watereverysunday.com

I use Italian sausages like Premio below or any grocery brand with soft casing, not hard casing, ground nor vacuum packed kinds so that when the sausage breaks you will have meat pieces and when browned you still have the chunks for textures.

Premio Hot Italian Sausage $3-5 at grocery store

Premio Sweet Italian Sausage $3-5 at grocery store

2. Sauté the Vegetables

In the same pot, using the rendered meat oil, add the onions and kale (along with bell peppers and carrots if you have them on hand). Sauté until softened and fragrant. The onion and kale alone are enough to build a flavorful soup base, and the peppers and carrots can be added or omitted depending on what’s in your kitchen.

This step builds your base flavor.

3. Build the Soup

Add:

Crushed tomatoes
The cooked sausage
Enough stock to level with the ingredients (not fully covering them)

Bring to a gentle boil and let everything simmer until the flavors deepen.

My Pantry Crushed Tomato Staples

For some reason, I kept falling into this crushed tomato can brand for the retro can design that I can repurpose for plating and other organizing tin can. Other tomato sauce can typically has paper label and un-reusable.

Sclafani Crushed Tomatoes from Vine Ripe Tomatoes, 28 Ounce

$3 at the grocery store near you

4. Add the Tortellini

Stir in your tortellini and cook according to the package time (usually 3–5 minutes).
Taste and season with salt and pepper.

I like to use refrigerated pack but you can also use frozen kind. If frozen kind, just boil longer.

Refrigerated:

Rana Cheese Lovers Tortelloni, 10 oz

find at nearby grocery store

Frozen:

Celentano Rosina Cheese Tortellini Pasta, 19 oz

find at nearby grocery store

5. Finish & Serve

Your Dutch oven should be about 3/4 full when done — perfect for sharing with family or saving for later. Ladle into bowls and top with plenty of fresh Parmesan.

I personally like to add a spoonful of sour cream for extra creaminess, and if you want more heat, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes works beautifully.

Topping and serving ideas for your soup - Image source: watereverysunday

Image Source: gimmesomeoven.com

Notes & Tips 🍽️

Adjust the broth to your preferred consistency after cooking.
For spicy version: add red pepper flakes or use spicy sausage.
Leftovers taste even better the next day.

That was Easy, right?

My recipe is a modified version inspired by another Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage, Spinach and Tomatoe adapted with different vegetables and personal adjustments.

Happy winter soup season!

everyone! Stay warm and cozy.

Kitchen Favorites for this Recipe

SHOP THE COOKWARE

Disclaimer: Product mentions in this post are shared for inspiration only. We are not affiliated with these brands and do not receive commissions.

Dutch Oven 🍲

A good Dutch oven is one of those kitchen staples and I made this soup in a classic Dutch oven like this one…and this cast iron dutch oven is an investment but it pays off big. Best for one pot recipe and food store well in this dutch pot. Also great for bread and other baking! Oven safe, of course!

Staub Cast Iron 4-qt Round Cocotte - dark blue $369 zwilling.com (official Staub Online Shop)

Cooking Spoon Ladle & Spatulas 🥄

Personally I prefer Silicone BPA Free Kitchen Ladle and spatulas for the mixing, spooning and well scrapping around the edges of pots for transferring food and cleaning the pots. The scooping style definitely is more practical than traditional round ladle which tend to spill so much. These new scoop style comes with a little bulge at the bottom to self stand without touching the kitchen counter.