Name: Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 medium onion, chopped; 3 sticks celery, finely chopped; 3 large carrots, peeled & chopped or sliced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp teaspoon Italian seasoning; 8 cups chicken broth; 2 cups shredded cooked/rotisserie chicken; 2 (9 ounce) packages refrigerated cheese tortellini; Salt & pepper, to tasteChopped parsley, to taste

The Best Chicken Tortellini Soup

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This easy chicken tortellini soup is the perfect cozy dinner for a busy night.

It’s loaded with tender chicken, cheesy tortellini, carrots and celery,
all simmered in a flavorful chicken broth.

Best of all, you can have a hearty homemade soup on the table in just 40 minutes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s something so comforting about a big bowl of chicken soup, and adding cheese tortellini makes it even better. This recipe is one of those easy dinners you can turn to when you want something warm and satisfying without spending all evening in the kitchen.

Quick and easy: You only need 40 minutes from start to finish.
Hearty and filling: Chicken and cheese tortellini make this soup substantial enough for dinner.
One-pot meal: Everything cooks together in one pot, making cleanup simple.
Great shortcut: Using cooked or rotisserie chicken saves time and makes this recipe especially convenient.
Family-friendly: Mild flavors, tender vegetables, and cheesy tortellini make this an easy meal to serve to the whole family.

For Chicken Tortellini Soup

Olive Oil – this is used to sauté the onion and helps build the flavorful base of the soup.
Onion – adds a savory, aromatic flavor to the broth as it cooks.
Celery – gives the soup a fresh vegetable flavor and adds a little texture.
Carrots – bring natural sweetness and make the soup more hearty.
Garlic – adds another layer of savory flavor to the soup.
Italian Seasoning – a simple blend that adds warmth and herby flavor to the broth.
Chicken Broth – this creates the flavorful soup base and brings all of the ingredients together.
Shredded Cooked/Rotisserie Chicken – makes the soup hearty and adds tender pieces of chicken throughout.
Refrigerated Cheese Tortellini – this is what makes the soup extra satisfying, adding tender pasta and a cheesy filling.
Salt & Pepper – used to season the soup and balance all the flavors.
Chopped Parsley – adds a fresh finishing touch and a little color to each bowl.

How to Make Chicken Tortellini Soup

This soup comes together in just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Sauté the Onion

Add the olive oil and onion to a large soup pot. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes (it’s ok if onion lightly browns).

Step 2: Cook the Vegetables

Add the celery, carrots, garlic, and Italian seasoning to the pot. Give it a good stir and continue cooking for a few more minutes.

Step 3: Simmer the Broth

Add the chicken broth to the pot. Increase the heat to high, and once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to a rapid simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes or until the veggies have softened to your liking.

Step 4: Add the Chicken and Tortellini

Add the chicken and tortellini to the pot. Increase the heat to medium-high and let the soup cook for a few more minutes until the tortellini is cooked. If it starts to boil furiously, you may need to turn the heat down again.

Step 5: Season and Serve

Season with salt & pepper as needed and garnish with the chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Expert Tips

Use rotisserie chicken to save time. Since the chicken is already cooked, you can simply shred it and add it directly to the soup.

Don’t rush the vegetables. Let the onion cook until lightly browned if you like. This adds another layer of flavor to the broth.

Keep an eye on the tortellini. Refrigerated tortellini cooks quickly, so you don’t need to leave it simmering for long.

Don’t let the soup boil too aggressively. Once the tortellini goes in, reduce the heat if necessary so the soup cooks gently.

Season at the end. Chicken broth can have quite a bit of salt already, so taste the soup before adding more salt.

Serve it right away. Tortellini continues to absorb the broth as it sits, so the soup is at its best when served fresh.

Recipe Variations

Add leafy greens. Stir in a handful of fresh spinach near the end of cooking for an easy vegetable addition.

Use leftover chicken. This is a great recipe for using up leftover roasted or baked chicken.

Try another tortellini flavor. Cheese tortellini is used in the original recipe, but you can experiment with another refrigerated tortellini variety.

Make it extra hearty. Add additional cooked chicken if you prefer a soup with more protein.

Add a little freshness. Extra chopped parsley can be sprinkled over each bowl just before serving.

Storage & Reheating

This soup is best served right away because the tortellini will continue soaking up the broth as it sits.

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The soup will still be delicious, but you may need to add more water or chicken broth when reheating to bring back the original consistency.

For lots of leftovers

If you know you won’t be serving the entire batch at once, it’s better not to add all of the tortellini to the soup. Keep the broth separate and add uncooked tortellini as needed when reheating. It cooks quickly and won’t have as much time to absorb the broth.

Serving Suggestions

This soup is hearty enough to serve on its own, but a few simple sides can turn it into an even more satisfying dinner.

Serve it with warm crusty bread, garlic bread, or dinner rolls to soak up the flavorful broth. A simple green salad or roasted vegetables would also make a nice side.

For an easy weeknight meal, serve a generous bowl of soup with warm bread and finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use leftover chicken instead of rotisserie chicken?
Yes, absolutely. Any cooked, shredded chicken will work in this soup. Leftover roasted or baked chicken is a great way to use what you already have on hand.

Can I use frozen tortellini?
Yes, you can. The recipe uses refrigerated cheese tortellini because it cooks quickly, but frozen tortellini will work too. Just follow the cooking time on the package since it may take a little longer.

Why did my soup get too thick after adding the tortellini?
Tortellini absorbs quite a bit of broth as it sits. If the soup becomes thicker than you like, simply add a little extra chicken broth or water when reheating.

Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes, but if you know you’ll be saving most of the soup for later, I recommend keeping the tortellini separate from the broth. Add uncooked tortellini when reheating so it doesn’t become overly soft or absorb all the broth.

How long will chicken tortellini soup last in the refrigerator?
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or water if needed to loosen the soup and bring it back to the right consistency.

Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup

This chicken tortellini soup is an easy way to turn simple ingredients into a warm, satisfying meal. Tender shredded chicken, cheese-filled tortellini, and plenty of vegetables come together in a flavorful broth, making this a comforting dinner that’s ready in just 40 minutes.

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Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Ingredients

1 tbsp tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 sticks celery, finely chopped
3 large carrots, peeled & chopped or sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 cups chicken broth
2 cups shredded cooked/rotisserie chicken
2 (9 ounce) packages refrigerated cheese tortellini
Salt & pepper, to tasteChopped parsley, to taste

Instructions

Add the olive oil and onion to a large soup pot.
Sauté over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes (it's ok if onion lightly browns).
Add the celery, carrots, garlic, and Italian seasoning to the pot.
Give it a good stir and continue cooking for a few more minutes.
Add the chicken broth to the pot. Increase the heat to high, and once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to a rapid simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes or until the veggies have softened to your liking.
Add the chicken and tortellini to the pot. Increase the heat to medium-high and let the soup cook for a few more minutes until the tortellini is cooked.
If it starts to boil furiously, you may need to turn the heat down again.
Season with salt & pepper as needed and garnish with the chopped parsley.
Serve immediately.

Notes

The tortellini will soak up the broth the longer it sits, so this soup is best eaten right away. The leftovers are still tasty, but you may need to add more water or chicken broth. If you’re planning on having lots of leftovers, don’t add all the tortellini to the soup – keep the broth separate and add uncooked tortellini to the soup as needed when reheating it (it cooks fast).
See my tips within the blog post if you want to make this soup in your slow cooker. Or check out the Instant Pot version.
Serves 4-6 depending on portion size/what it’s served with.
Find this recipe in chapter 5 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook as well.