Tortellini Soup

Tortellini Soup

Using the tri-color tortellini gives this quick and easy soup even more eye appeal. To save the first twenty minutes of many soup and casserole recipes, I keep a pound of cooked hamburger, sausage and diced chicken frozen in the freezer.  Just thaw what you need the night before in the refrigerator and these recipes become doable on a busy week night.

12 – 16 ounces bulk sausage

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

6 cups (48 ounces) chicken broth

1 pound bag frozen tortellini

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 cup fresh spinach

In a skillet, brown the sausage and drain on a paper towel.  In a Dutch oven, heat the oil and sauté the onion until tender and add the garlic for one more cooking minute.  Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Add the sausage, tortellini and crushed red pepper.  Cook the pasta for 3 minutes, and add the spinach.  Serves 8