Chicken Tortellini Soup

This Chicken Tortellini Soup brings together tender chicken, vegetables, Italian herbs, and cheesy tortellini in a rich, savory broth. It can be prepared on the stovetop or in the Crock Pot, making it an easy option for a comforting weeknight meal.

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 50

Servings: cups

Ingredients

Seasonings

1 tsp EACH: dried basil, dried parsley
½ tsp EACH: dried oregano, mustard powder
¼ tsp EACH: ground sage, pepper

Soup

1 1/4 lb . bone-in chicken breast, see notes
Salt/Pepper, to taste
2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 yellow onion, diced
¾ cup diced carrots
2 ribs celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp hot sauce
10 oz . refrigerated tortellini, about 2 cups

Instructions

Sear the Chicken

Searing the chicken is optional. You can also add raw or cooked chicken directly to the broth later in the recipe. Browning the chicken first creates flavorful browned bits in the bottom of the pot, which adds extra depth to the broth and gives the chicken more color.
Season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a 4 ½-quart soup pot over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until a little bit of a brown color has developed. Remove and set aside. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, then use 2 forks to shred. If the middle isn’t cooked, it will finish cooking in later steps.

Build the Soup

Combine the seasonings and set aside.
Melt the butter in the same pot and use a silicone spatula to clean the bottom of the pot. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and seasonings. Cook for 1 more minute.
Add the chicken broth and shredded chicken. Bring to a very gentle bubble, as a full boil can make the chicken tough. Simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes.
Add the refrigerated tortellini and simmer until cooked through. Refer to the package for guidance on timing. Rana refrigerated tortellini take just 3 minutes.
Taste and add any seasonings if desired, including up to ½ teaspoon of salt. Serve!

Notes

Crock Pot Method

You can skip the chicken-searing step when making this soup in the Crock Pot. Fresh chicken is recommended for this method because leftover chicken can become dry after several hours of slow cooking.

Melt the butter in the Crock Pot. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic and toss to coat.

Add the seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, uncooked chicken, and chicken broth.

Cook on low for 6 hours. Low heat helps keep the chicken juicy and tender. If necessary, it can be cooked for 4 hours on high.

Remove the chicken and use 2 forks to shred. Add it back to the soup along with the tortellini.

Add the tortellini and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until expanded and cooked through. Serve!

Expert Tips

Bone-in chicken breast or thighs adds the most flavor to the broth, but boneless chicken or leftover/rotisserie chicken may also be used.
RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini works well for this recipe. Frank's Hot Sauce can also be used, although any variety is fine.
The hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard powder are not meant to stand out individually. They work in the background to deepen the overall flavor of the soup.
For an even richer broth, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth. Let it simmer with the soup, then discard the rind if any remains. When using a cheese rind, you may not need additional salt.
Frozen peas, corn, or green beans can be stirred in 10 minutes prior to serving if desired.
For a sausage version, substitute with a sausage-based tortellini soup recipe.
Ranch Oyster Crackers make a flavorful topping for the finished soup.

Storage

Store the soup in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Keep in mind that the tortellini will continue absorbing some of the broth while refrigerated. For the best texture, remove the tortellini and store it separately. Another option is to cook the tortellini separately and add it directly to individual serving bowls.

This soup freezes well. If you plan on freezing it, boil tortellini separately and add directly to serving bowls.

Nutrition

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