Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup

This Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup is the perfect recipe when you are looking for meal that is warm and delicious, yet takes minimal steps to make a soup that is substantial enough to stand on it’s own.

If you are no stranger to my recipes or my social media, you would know I love pasta. You would also know that I also love soup. Over the years I have made so many different soups with all different kinds of pasta. But until this recipe I had never made soup with tortellini for some reason.

So as I was wandering the shelves of Costco one day, I grabbed a package of Tortellini that was on sale for a price I couldn’t say no to. But that meant I had a lot of Tortellini to use. I was going to make a classic chicken noodle soup the one evening, but I decided to try making it with tortellini instead and oh man now I’m hooked. It’s so good.

Make this Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup when…

• When you are craving Tortellini, or have extra on hand like I did
• When you want a soup that is heartier and a bit more substantial than a typical chicken noodle soup or mushroom soup
• When you are sick or just feel blah and want something comforting and warm

Ingredient notes…

Here is what you’ll need to make this Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe. Please be sure to check the recipe card for the exact ingredients and measurements.

• Olive Oil: Prevents the chicken from sticking to the pot.
• Chicken Thighs: I find chicken thighs to be more flavorful and juicier, however you can also use rotisserie chicken for convenience, chicken breasts, or any other meat you prefer. (You just may have to adjust cooking time if not already cooked)
• Butter: Helps to soften the veggies, deglaze the pot, and gives a rich flavor to the base. Can always use more olive oil instead.
• Carrots: Add to the flavor of the base.
• Onions: Help to season the soup. Omit if you don’t like onions.
• Garlic: Adds flavor to the soup.
• Italian Seasoning: Adds the right amount of seasoning to the broth. Omit if you don’t like.
• Paprika: Gives the soup an extra depth of flavor. Omit if you don’t like.
• Chicken Broth: Builds the base of the soup. Can substitute a different type of broth or stock if you prefer.
• Tortellini: A hearty pasta that adds substance to your soup. Can use any kind you want: chicken, cheese, spinach, frozen, dried etc. Just be aware you may need to adjust cooking time. You can also substitute another type of pasta if you wish (you just may need to cook for longer to reach desired consistency).
• Salt and Pepper: Add these seasonings to your liking.

Equipment I swear by…

• A heavy bottomed pot or Dutch Oven
• A veggie chopper to make things easier

While the Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup simmers…

• read a few chapters of your favorite book
• get some steps by walking in place or walking around the kitchen
• light your favorite candle

How to make it…

See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

1. Season chicken thighs with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add olive oil to a heavy bottomed pot on medium high heat. Add chicken thighs to pot and sear for 3-4 minutes per side (it’s okay if it’s not fully cooked yet, we will be cooking it more in a few steps). Set aside to rest for a few minutes and then cut into pieces or shred.
2. Melt butter in the same pot and scrape the bottom of the pot with something that won’t scratch it (adds to the flavor).
3. Add the diced onions and carrots and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and seasonings, let cook for about another minute, then add the chicken broth and cooked chicken back in.
4. Let it simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Add the tortellini and let cook for another 5-10 minutes until tortellini is cooked to your liking. Serve and enjoy.

My tips and tricks to make this Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe…

To sneak in some veggies: Add some frozen corn, peas, green beans or mushrooms when you add the tortellini.

To make it brothier: I eat most of my soups as a full meal, so I tend to like them heartier and with more ingredients and less broth as opposed to like 1 cup of ingredients and mostly broth. So if you like your soup brothier I would simply add more broth.

To make it creamy: Add a cup of heavy cream or some half and half when you add the tortellini.

To make it vegetarian: Leave out the chicken and use veggie broth instead of chicken broth.

To make it thicker: Add some cream cheese, shredded cheese, or a cornstarch slurry.

Storage notes:

Refrigerate: This dish tastes even better the next day. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 to 4 days. If the tortellini absorbs most of the broth, feel free to add more chicken broth.

Freeze: This dish freezes well. However, if you are planning on freezing it, I would recommend leaving the tortellini out and adding it seperately when reheating. When you freeze pasta, the consistency often changes and it becomes a mushy mess.

Are you struggling right now?

• Use prechopped veggies or a veggie chopper to save time and make things effortless.
• Use jarred garlic, or even garlic powder (will need to adjust measurements).
• Use a rotisserie chicken instead of cooking the chicken with the soup.

Thank your for stopping by Comfort In a Bowl. If you create this recipe or any other from our site, we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to share, comment and rate the recipe! Take care of yourself.

What to serve with Easy Chicken Tortellini Soup

• The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Garlic Bread
• Ham and Pineapple Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Salad
• Breadsticks

My burnout situation…

I’m still working on trying to create healthier habits. I’ve been thrown off a little bit by having some family come to visit, so my schedule and routine has been thrown off a little bit.

I’ve always hated waking up early and considered myself more of a night person. But I think I’m realizing that was actually because I was extremely exhausted and never getting enough rest, so I was waking up unrested and still tired and trying to force myself out of bed and to get to work. Often times I would try to sleep as much as I could so I would only give myself like an hour between waking up and when I was supposed to be at work. So of course I didn’t enjoy mornings.

Now that I have some time to figure things out, I’m realizing that mornings are actually awesome. It feels like I have way more time in the day when I’m not waking up later. My husband and I even made it a point to go to Costco for when they opened during the weekday one day (something I have never done in my entire life) and the whole experience was so wonderful. No stress. Not so many people. Shelves fully stocked. I loved it.

Who knew?! (Haha I feel like the people who have been saying this forever knew).

It’s kind of like how if you want to be healthy and feel good you need to exercise, eat better, and drink water, and then once you finally start doing all those things you are like… What?! It actually works?! Why did no one tell me?! But they have been trying to tell us all along.

I think the morale of this story is I need to just stop being so stubborn, and do what I need to do to get out of the work-hustle/ burnout cycle I’ve been in so long and get myself into a healthier one.

Conclusion…

Sometimes we convince ourselves that things are actually more difficult than they really are. Like cooking for example. When you are tired or don’t feel your best, it can be easy to tell yourself you simply can’t make yourself food and then you either order something in, eat something not the best for you, or even skip it and go without eating.

But then you gather your strength or your energy and just do it, and you realize it’s actually way easier than you thought it would be in the first place.

This soup is actually really easy to make, and eating it will make you feel better and happier that you decided to make it.

Give it a try.

And take care of youself.

-Caitlin