Pumpkin Tortellini Soup with Chicken Sausage and Kale (Printable)

Creamy autumn soup with pumpkin, chicken sausage, tortellini, and kale for a comforting 45-minute meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Produce

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 cups pumpkin puree
05 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
06 - 4 cups chopped kale, stems removed
07 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced

→ Meats

08 - 12 ounces chicken sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds

→ Pasta

09 - 9 ounces cheese tortellini, fresh or refrigerated

→ Dairy

10 - ½ cup heavy cream

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

15 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional
16 - Chopped fresh parsley, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrot, cooking 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Add minced garlic and sliced chicken sausage to the pot. Cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sausage is lightly browned on the edges.
03 - Stir in pumpkin puree, chicken broth, dried thyme, ground nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add chopped kale and cheese tortellini to the simmering broth. Cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes until tortellini are tender and kale is wilted.
05 - Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream, blending thoroughly. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
06 - Ladle soup into individual bowls. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley if using. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pumpkin creates this incredible velvety base that tastes like you spent hours making it but comes together in under an hour
  • Its one of those rare soups that actually feels like a complete meal with protein greens pasta and cream all in one bowl
  • The leftovers somehow taste even better the next day when the flavors have had time to really make friends
02 -
  • The tortellini will continue soaking up liquid as it sits so you might need to add a splash more broth when reheating leftovers
  • Do not skip the nutmeg even if it seems weird in soup, it is what gives pumpkin dishes that professional taste
03 -
  • Stir the soup frequently once you add the tortellini to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot
  • Let the soup sit for about 5 minutes off the heat before serving, which gives the flavors time to settle
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