Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes minutes

Total Time 37 minutes minutes

• ▢ 4 slices bacon chopped
• ▢ 8 ounces smoked sausage sliced ½-inch thick
• ▢ ½ medium yellow onion diced
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
• ▢ 1 carrot sliced
• ▢ 1 rib celery sliced
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• ▢ 6 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini spinach tortellini
• ▢ 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
• ▢ 1 cup fresh spinach packed, chopped
• ▢ ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

• Cook bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.

• Add sausage, onion, and garlic to the bacon fat and cook 3-4 minutes or until onion is slightly softened.

• Stir in chicken broth, carrot, celery, basil, and chili flakes if using. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add tortellini and simmer 4-5 minutes or until cooked through.

• Stir in cream and simmer for 1 more minute. Combine cornstarch and 1 ½ tablespoons water to create a slurry.

• Add cornstarch mixture to simmering soup a little at a time while whisking to reach desired thickness, you may not use all of the slurry. Simmer 1 minute.

• Remove from heat and add spinach. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired.

• Garnish with crumbled bacon, parmesan cheese, and parsley if desired.

• For a quick prep, start by cutting and cooking the bacon. While the bacon is cooking, begin preparing the other items.
• If you have fresh herbs, they can be added just before serving if desired.
• If you plan on keeping leftovers, cook the tortellini on the side and add it to each dish. It can become mushy if it sits in the broth too long.
• Dairy doesn’t always freeze well. If you’d like to freeze this soup, remove a portion before adding the cream and tortellini. Once thawed, cream and tortellini can be added.
• Leftover soup will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Soup

Cuisine American, Italian