This Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup is thick, rich, and loaded with tender cheese tortellini, savory sausage, and hearty vegetables in an incredibly flavorful, creamy broth. Almost like a chowder, this cozy, comforting soup is a satisfying dinner the whole family will love!
Grab a large soup pot, or heavy Dutch oven. Heat it over medium high heat and add the sausage. Break it up with a spatula and allow it to cook and get nice and browned. Line a plate with a paper towel and transfer the cooked sausage to the plate. Pat any excess oil from the top of the sausage with another paper towel. Set aside.
Leave about 1-2 Tb of grease from the sausage in the bottom of the pan. Remove any that exceeds that amount. Add the butter and allow it to melt. Add your diced celery, carrots and onions and allow them to cook until crisp tender. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn.
Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the veggies.
Add the broth and seasonings and stir to combine. Return the sausage to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
While the brothy mixture simmers away, cook your tortellini in a separate pot, according to package directions. Tortellini cooks really quickly, should only take a few minutes, once the water boils. Make sure not to over cook them, you want them to still be a little bit firm. Once added to the soup, they'll continue to cook and expand. Pour them into a strainer inside your sink and pour cold water over them.
Pour the half and half into a large glass measuring cup and add the cornstarch to it. Whisk it together to combine. Pour into the boiling soup and give it a nice stir. Return to a boil and allow the soup to thicken up for you. Should only take a few minutes.
Add the parmesan cheese and chopped kale and stir to combine.
Add the tortellini last and give it a nice stir. Give it a taste and add more salt and pepper to your liking.