Slow Cooker Turkey Sausage Tortellini Soup

📝Shopping list

To make this hearty soup in your crock pot, you will need these simple ingredients available in any grocery store:

• chicken broth - or stock
• fully cooked turkey sausage crumbles
• carrots 
• zucchini 
• fresh cauliflower florets
• onion
• diced tomato- Italian blend 
• white cooking wine - or dry white wine
• garlic 
• dried oregano
• dried thyme
• dried rosemary
• salt
• black pepper
• parmesan rind - optional
• fresh tortellini - frozen
• grated Parmesan cheese - optional but highly recommended!

Slow cooker tortellini soup - just the sound of it is comforting.  Add in the delicious flavors of crumbled sausage and you basically have a hug in a bowl.  And the best part is - this recipe is beyond simple to follow. 

🔪Instructions

This great recipe involves a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.

While this step is less important with soup that some other recipes, it will still help to make clean up easier.  

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.   

Cooking

Cooking

• ✪  Add all ingredients, other than tortellini and garnish to a greased slow cooker.  
• ✪  Give it a good stir to fully combine
• ✪  Cover and cook on low for 6-8* hours or high for 3-4 hours.  
• ✪  15 - 30 minutes prior to serving, stir in tortellini and cover again.
• ✪  Once tortellini is cooked through, garnish with some freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve promptly. 

🍽Serving suggestions

• Top this delicious soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese and some soup croutons for added flavor and crunch.
• Pair this amazing crock pot recipe with a crisp, fresh salad. Maple vanilla carrots, polenta, and garlic mushrooms are also perfect sides for this soup. 
• Serve slow cooker sausage tortellini soup alongside a heel of crusty bread
• Add oyster crackers or bread sticks to your table for dipping and extra crunch
• Dial up the heat in this easy soup by adding pepper sauce or hot pepper flakes

🔁Substitution ideas

• Meat - substitute turkey sausage crumbles with hot Italian sausage, sweet Italian sausage, pork sausage, or chicken sausage. Be sure whichever you use is cooked.   
• Pasta - substitute cheesy tortellini with spinach tortellini or mushroom tortellini.  You can also swap frozen tortellini with fresh tortellini.
• Seasoning - trade oregano, thyme, and rosemary for 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning.
• Broth - trade chicken broth for beef or vegetable broth
• Vegetables - stir fresh spinach or kale to slow cooker along with the tortellini for added flavor and nutrient boost.  Use baby spinach leaves for best results.

Storing

• Store leftover crockpot sausage tortellini soup in an airtight container or bag. Refrigerated leftovers will stay good for 3-4 days.  
• Keep in mind, the pasta will absorb additional liquid as it sits.  Add more broth if you would like to thin leftovers a bit. 
• Freeze this delicious tortellini soup recipe for up to 4 months.  For best result, allow to defrost overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating. 

😉Hints & hacks

1. Do you need a recipe that can cook all day (longer than 8 hours)?  Cut your carrots and potatoes into larger chunks and this recipe can cook on low for 10 hours. Perfect for a long days out of the house!
2. Short on prep time?  Substitute a 16 oz bag of frozen Italian or Mediterranean blend vegetables for the fresh veggies in this sausage soup.  
3. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
4. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine.
5. Don't forget to plug your slow cooker in and turn it on! 😏