Pumpkin Tortellini Soup Chicken Sausage Kale (Printable Version)

Creamy autumn soup with pumpkin, chicken sausage, tortellini, and kale. A hearty, satisfying meal ready in 45 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 1/2-inch rounds

→ Pasta

09 - 9 ounces cheese tortellini, fresh or refrigerated

→ Dairy

10 - 1/2 cup heavy cream

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 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

# Directions:

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 soften.
02 - Add minced garlic and sliced chicken sausage to the pot, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until sausage develops light browning.
03 - Stir in pumpkin puree, chicken broth, dried thyme, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add chopped kale and cheese tortellini to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until tortellini are tender and kale is fully wilted.
05 - Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes as desired.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if using. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The velvety pumpkin broth coats each bite of tortellini with just enough cream to feel indulgent without weighing you down.
  • You can pull this together in under an hour, but guests will think you've been simmering it all day when they taste the depth of flavor.
02 -
  • The first time I made this soup, I added the kale too early and it turned an unappetizing army green color - always add it with the tortellini for the perfect texture and vibrant color.
  • If your soup seems too thick after adding the tortellini (they absorb liquid as they cook), keep extra chicken broth nearby to adjust the consistency to your liking.
03 -
  • When reheating leftovers, the tortellini will have absorbed much of the liquid - add a splash of both broth and cream while warming over medium-low heat to revive the soup's original consistency.
  • For a more pronounced pumpkin flavor, roast your pumpkin puree (even canned) in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before adding the broth - this concentrates the natural sugars and adds caramelized notes.
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