Kale tortellini soup is cozy, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make. The kind of meal you can always count on. Cheesy tortellini swims in a perfectly seasoned tomato broth, while tender kale wilts right in, adding a little extra goodness without overpowering the soup. The best part? It all comes together in one pot in under 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights when you want something warm, satisfying, and completely fuss-free.

A bowl of kale tortellini soup.
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Olivia’s Personal Note

I first had tortellini soup when I started dating my husband and began visiting my in-laws. One night, my mother-in-law made a big pot of it, and I was instantly sold, mostly because I love tortellini and pretty much anything that involves it.

Warm, comforting, and filled with tender pasta, it felt like the kind of soup that hugs you from the inside out.

I decided to make my own version because I truly love soups, especially the cozy ones with pasta like my classic chicken noodle soup, pasta soup with sweet potato, and pasta e fagioli. This tortellini soup is inspired by hers, with my own little twists along the way.

It’s comforting, family-friendly, and one of those recipes that feels extra special because it comes with a memory attached, the kind you’ll want to make all soup season long.

Key Ingredients To Make Tortellini Soup

All ingredients and their amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Onion — I usually reach for a white or yellow onion here. I’ve tested both, and they cook down beautifully and give the soup that cozy, savory base we all love.

Seasonings — I’ve played around with different spice combos, and this blend always works. The Italian herbs bring that classic flavor, the paprika adds warmth, and the red pepper flakes give just a little kick (you can totally adjust this to your taste).

Tomato Paste & Crushed Tomatoes — I’ve made this soup without tomato paste before and instantly missed it. Together, these two add so much depth and richness — like the soup has been simmering all afternoon.

Broth (Vegetable or Chicken) — I usually use vegetable broth, and it keeps the soup nice and light while still flavorful. I’ve tested it with chicken broth too, and it works just as well if you’re not keeping it vegetarian.

Tortellini — I’ve tried both dried and fresh tortellini, and fresh from the refrigerated section is always my favorite. It cooks up tender and makes the soup feel extra comforting and special.

Kale — I add the kale right at the end so it wilts perfectly without getting mushy. I’ve tested other greens too, but kale holds up the best and adds just the right amount of heartiness.

Ingredients for kale tortellini soup.

Instructions to Make Tomato Tortellini Sop

Sauté aromatics, add seasonings:

  • Measure olive oil into a large pot on the stovetop and turn heat to medium. Once oil is hot, add diced onion and sauté 3-4 minutes, until translucent.
  • Next, add minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds longer.
  • Now stir in your Italian seasonings, paprika and crushed red pepper flakes!
Left: sauteing diced onion in pot. Right: seasonings added to pot.

Add tomato, broth:

  • Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes (with juices) and vegetable broth to your soup pot. Give everything a really good mix and increase heat to high.
  • Once boiling, reduce heat to a gentle simmer.
Left: tomato paste and crushed tomato added to pot. Right: broth added to pot.

Simmer tortellini and kale:

  • Carefully add tortellini pasta to the simmering liquid and cook according to package instructions.
  • When the tortellini is almost done, add kale and simmer for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
Left: tortellini added to soup. Right: kale added to soup.

Serve:

  • Add salt and pepper to taste, then ladle soup into serving bowls and garnish with fresh grated parmesan. Enjoy!
A bowl of kale tortellini soup.

Recipe Tips

  • I only use ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes in this recipe because they’re very spicy! If you’re sensitive to heat, be careful! On the flip side, if you like a good kick, you can add more.
  • I prefer using three cheese tortellini in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite variety!
  • Be sure to de-stem kale before chopping it up. Your greens will wilt right into the broth and become nearly undetectable, but if you leave the stems this won’t be the case because they’re tough and chewy.
A bowl of kale tortellini soup.
closeup large pot

The Best!

Large Pot

This is my GO-TO Dutch Oven. I love this Lodge Pot not only because it adds beauty to your kitchen but also because it’s great for broiling, braising, baking, or roasting your favorite meals.

Kale Tortellini Soup – Cheesy Tortellini in Tomato Broth

3.89 from 18 votes
Author: Olivia Ribas
Servings4 people
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time22 minutes
Kale tortellini soup is cozy, comforting, and surprisingly easy to make. The kind of meal you can always count on. Cheesy tortellini swims in a perfectly seasoned tomato broth, while tender kale wilts right in, adding a little extra goodness without overpowering the soup. The best part? It all comes together in one pot in under 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights when you want something warm, satisfying, and completely fuss-free.
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Ingredients 
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup can crushed tomatoes undrained
  • 2 cups packaged refrigerated three cheese tortellini
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups kale chopped
  • grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 

  • In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, add Italian seasoning, paprika, crushed red pepper and stir well.
  • Pour in the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. Stir everything together. Then, add chicken or vegetable broth. Stir to combine and bring it to a boil.
  • Add the tortellini. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the tortellini according to the package instructions, usually about 5-10 minutes or until they are tender.
  • Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust the seasonings as needed. Add kale and let it simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes until the kale wilts.
  • Before serving, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

To store: This soup tastes best when eaten right away, though you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 
To reheat: Reheat soup in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop.
To freeze: Make your soup without tortellini and freeze. Heat in a pot on the stovetop until boiling, then add tortellini and cook until al-dente.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4, Calories: 318kcal, Carbohydrates: 32.5g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 10.3g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 360mg, Potassium: 482mg, Fiber: 4.3g, Sugar: 6.4g, Calcium: 18.5mg, Iron: 13.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Olivia Ribas

Welcome

Hi, I'm Olivia


I’m so happy you’re here!! For the last 12 years, I’ve been sharing easy, quick, and family-friendly recipes like chicken, salmon, ground meat and pork chops (total reader favorites!), perfect for stress-free weeknight dinners made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

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3.89 from 18 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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13 Comments

  1. Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says:

    Such a gorgeous soup, Olivia! Tortellini is my favorite kind of pasta, so you can bet I’m going to be giving this winner a try!

  2. Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says:

    This is exactly the kind of soup I crave this time of year. So beautiful.

  3. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says:

    Yummy comfort soup with tortellini! My kids love tortellini so I think they would enjoy this. Any weeknight recipe that can be made in 15 minutes is a hit with me. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Kari says:

    I made your Kale Tomato Tortellini Soup tonight. It was a really good, filling dinner. Thank you!

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      I am glad to hear that. That’s awesome, Kari! Thanks for letting me know 😉

  5. eat good 4 life says:

    I just made something very similar with my son last week. I love soups lately and this one looks very comforting!

  6. Kaitlyn says:

    Love this recipe! Only difference that I made with the soup is I used a different base since I didn’t have any chicken/vegetable broth to use. I ended up using an organic tomato base broth with roasted red pepper and reduced it with some water. Very delicious!

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      I am so glad to hear you love this recipe! Thanks a lot for stopping by 😉

  7. Essexe says:

    Love the soup it was delicious. Only problem I couldn’t stop going back for more .

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      That’s awesome! I’m so thrilled to hear that 😉

  8. Corey Ann says:

    This is soooooo good!!!

  9. Larry says:

    Instant hit. Will definitely make again.

    1. Olivia Ribas says:

      That’s awesome. So happy to hear that 😉