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Home » Blog » Soup and Stew Recipes » Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup

Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup

Cathy Roma Published: Sep 29, 2022

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Quick and easy, this creamy chicken tortellini soup is hearty, satisfying, and the perfect way to welcome back soup season.
Quick and easy, this creamy chicken tortellini soup is hearty, satisfying, and the perfect way to welcome back soup season.
Two bowls of chicken tortellini soup on a metal tray with baby kale and basil scattered around.

Dreamy, creamy chicken tortellini soup is the ideal weeknight meal. Even though it tastes like it simmered on the stove all day, it cooks in just 30 minutes with minimal prep time.

Using cooked chicken is a great time saver. I use poached chicken breasts, but shredding up a rotisserie chicken is a great substitute. You can poach your chicken a day or two before, cool, shred, and store in the refrigerator.

A big pot of tortellini soup ready for serving.

Poached Chicken

  • Place the chicken in a large pot with aromatics (sliced onion, garlic cloves or herbs – use whatever is handy and in keeping with the flavor profile of the dish you’re going to make), cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over very low heat. 
  • Simmer 5 minutes and turn off the heat. Let stand about 15 minutes or until cooked through). Remove the chicken and discard poaching liquid. 
  • Allow the chicken to cool slightly and then shred with your hands or two forks. I store mine for a couple days in a large ziploc bag in the refrigerator.
Close up of two bowls of creamy chicken tortellini soup garnished with grated parmesan cheese.

If you can find baby kale, all you need to do it toss it in the simmering soup and cook until it is wilted. If using a head of kale, be sure to remove the tough stems before chopping as they are unpalatable. You can simply hold the stem and strip the leaves away from you with your other hand.

I recommend fresh tortellini (found in the refrigerated section in your market) for the best flavor. A simple cheese tortellini is my preference, but spinach or chicken tortellini make a good swap.

A bowl of hot tortellini soup ready to eat with a spoon alongside.

Lastly, gently simmer the soup after the cream is added. Boiling the soup can cause the cream to break and you won’t have that luscious creamy broth. The same applies to rewarming leftover soup. Gently reheat on the stove until hot and enjoy!

Let’s make Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup

Step by step photos showing how to make creamy chicken tortellini soup. Saute the onion (1), add garlic and tomato paste (2), deglazed with wine (3) add tomato sauce and stock (4), add remaining ingredients (5) simmer and serve (6)
  1. Saute onions until softened.
  2. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 2 mins. Stir in the tomato paste and cook one minute more.
  3. Deglaze with white wine and reduce by half.
  4. Add the tomato sauce and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
  5. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for abut 15 mins.
  6. Simmer until the tortellini is cooked and the kale wilted. Ladle into bowls and serve with a sprinkle of parmesan and fresh basil if desired.
A pot of simmering Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup with fresh basil stirred in with a wooden spoon.

Tips for success

  • Be sure to use fresh, not dried, tortellini.
  • I use poached chicken breasts, but thighs or shredded rotisserie chicken would also be delicious.
  • Can’t find baby kale? Lacinato kale is a great swap. Just be sure to remove the tough stems and rough chop the leaves before adding to the soup.
  • The tortellini will absorb the liquid as it cooks. Add additional stock to thin if necessary.
  • Be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
  • This soup will keep for 3-4 days refrigerated. Gently rewarm and thin with additional stock if necessary. 
A bowl of hot tortellini soup ready to eat with a spoon alongside.

More hearty soups

  • Chicken Meatball Soup
  • Easy Curried Pumpkin Soup
  • Easy Black Bean Soup
  • Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • Matzo Ball Soup
Two bowls of chicken tortellini soup on a metal tray with baby kale and basil scattered around.
5 from 3 votes
Two bowls of chicken tortellini soup on a metal tray with baby kale and basil scattered around.
Print
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Quick and easy, this creamy chicken tortellini soup is hearty, satisfying, and the perfect way to welcome back soup season.

Course: Soup/Stew
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken tortellini soup, tortellini soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 677 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil,
  • 1 medium onion, diced small
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine
  • 15 oz tomato sauce (1 can)
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 lbs cooked chicken, shredded
  • 10 oz fresh tortellini, (1 package)
  • 5 oz baby kale, (or 1 bunch kale, stems removed and rough chopped)
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil, torn
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated (+ additional for topping)
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot until hot but not smoking. Add the onion to the pot and saute until softened, about 3-4 mins.

  2. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 mins. Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute.

  3. Deglaze with the white wine and continue to cook until wine is reduced by half, about 3-4 mins.

  4. Add the tomato sauce and stock. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.

  5. Add the remaining ingredients, cover, and gently simmer until the tortellini is cooked through and the kale is wilted and tender, about 15 mins.

  6. Ladle into bowls and serve topped with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired.

Recipe Notes
  • Be sure to use fresh, not dried, tortellini.
  • I use poached chicken breasts, but thighs or shredded rotisserie chicken would also be delicious.
  • Can’t find baby kale? Lacinato kale is a great swap. Just be sure to remove the tough stems and rough chop the leaves before adding to the soup.
  • The tortellini will absorb the liquid as it cooks. Add additional stock to thin if necessary.
  • Be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.
  • This soup will keep for 3-4 days refrigerated. Gently rewarm and thin with additional stock if necessary. 
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 677 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 170mg57%
Sodium 1669mg73%
Potassium 969mg28%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 53g106%
Vitamin A 3429IU69%
Vitamin C 31mg38%
Calcium 239mg24%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
2

Recipe, Soup and Stew Recipes chicken, cream soup, creamy, easy, pasta, soup, tortellini, weeknight, chicken soup, poached chicken

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wonderfulcook says

    December 29, 2022 at 5:53 am

    5 stars
    I made this soup last night and it was really yum! I love soups that are full of flavor like this one! It will definitely be in my regular rotation. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Cathy Roma says

      December 30, 2022 at 7:18 pm

      So happy to hear you enjoyed it! It’s a regular in my house too!

  2. Jennifer J says

    January 9, 2023 at 5:21 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! We have a new favorite soup in the house! This hit all the highlights – easy, yummy, and amazing for leftovers.

    Reply
    • Cathy Roma says

      January 10, 2023 at 2:20 am

      So great to hear! And nothing better than yummy leftovers!

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HEY THERE, I’M CATHY.

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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