Pumpkin Tortellini Soup Chicken Sausage Kale (Printable Version)

Creamy pumpkin and cheesy tortellini simmered with savory chicken sausage and fresh kale in a warming autumn bowl.

# What You 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way the creamy pumpkin coats every single tortellini like a warm hug
  • How the spicy sausage pops against the sweet pumpkin in the most perfect way
  • That moment when the kale wilts into the broth and suddenly feels sophisticated
02 -
  • The soup thickens as it sits so add more broth when reheating leftovers
  • Fresh tortellini cooks faster than dried so keep an eye on it after 6 minutes
03 -
  • Use an immersion blender if you want a perfectly smooth base before adding the sausage and kale
  • Let the cream come to room temperature before adding to prevent it from curdling
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