Vodka Sauce Sausage and Tortellini Soup
If cozy had a flavor, it would be this Vodka Sauce Sausage and Tortellini Soup. It’s rich, creamy, and layered with all the comfort-food vibes: Italian sausage, tender veggies, cheese-filled tortellini, and a silky vodka sauce broth. The Calabrian peppers add just the right amount of heat, while a Parmesan rind melts down into the pot for that deep, cheesy flavor.
This soup is basically a hug in a bowl – hearty enough for dinner on its own, yet elegant enough to serve when you want to impress. Pair it with a crusty loaf of bread and a glass of red wine, and you’ve got the ultimate weeknight (or weekend) meal.
Before You Get Started
- Dice your carrot, celery, and onion evenly so they cook down at the same rate.
- Don’t skip the Parmesan rind—it gives the broth a savory depth you can’t get from cheese alone.
- Use fresh tortellini for the best texture, and add them toward the end so they don’t overcook.
What You Need to Make Vodka Sauce Sausage and Tortellini Soup
Here’s the short list (find the exact amounts in the recipe card below):
- Mild Italian sausage
- Carrot, celery, onion, garlic
- Tomato paste and Calabrian peppers
- Vodka, chicken broth, and jarred vodka sauce
- Parmesan rind for richness
- Cheese tortellini, heavy cream, spinach
- Grated Parmesan for topping
How To Make Vodka Sauce Sausage and Tortellini Soup
1
Brown sausage in a Dutch oven, breaking it apart as it cooks. Remove and set aside.
In the same pot, sauté carrot, celery, onion, and garlic until softened. Stir in tomato paste, Calabrian peppers, flour, and seasonings.
2
Deglaze with vodka, scraping up browned bits. Add broth, vodka sauce, and Parmesan rind. Return sausage to the pot. Simmer 15–20 minutes.
3
Stir in tortellini and cook until tender. Remove rind, then add cream and spinach.
Ladle into bowls, top with Parmesan, and serve hot.
Vodka Sauce Sausage and Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb mild ground Italian sausage
- 1 carrot diced
- ½ onion diced
- 2 celery ribs diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp chopped Calabrian peppers
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup vodka
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 24 oz jar vodka sauce
- 1 Parmesan rind
- 1 16 oz package cheese tortellini
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach
- Fresh grated Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, brown sausage over medium heat. Remove and set aside.
- Add carrot, onion, celery, and garlic to the pot. Sauté 5 minutes until softened. Stir in tomato paste, Calabrian peppers, flour, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in vodka and scrape up browned bits. Stir in chicken broth, vodka sauce, and Parmesan rind. Return sausage to pot. Simmer 15–20 minutes.
- Add tortellini and cook according to package directions. Remove Parmesan rind.
- Stir in cream and spinach until wilted.
- Serve hot, topped with Parmesan.
