Chicken Tortellini Soup is easy to make and a one-pot meal. It’s super cozy and takes only 35 minutes to make. It will be loved by the whole family!
You only need a few ingredients to make this comforting Chicken Tortellini Soup. It comes together quickly, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. The cheesy tortellini pairs perfectly with the chicken, herbs, and chicken broth – yum!
Hot Tip: You can use the leftover chicken such as rotisserie chicken or instant pot chicken to cut down on cook time.
How to Make Chicken Tortellini Soup
- First, preheat a large soup pot (like a dutch oven) and sauté the carrots.
- Add the chicken, water, and chicken broth or stock and cook until the chicken is cooked.
- Add the herbs and bring to a simmer.
- Finally add the tortellini, cook until just tender, and season with salt and pepper.
Hot Tip: This soup is best served immediately as the tortellini will continue to absorb the broth as it sits.
Best Tortellini To Use in the Soup
Tortellini can be found fresh in the refrigerated section or dried in the pasta aisle. I prefer to use the fresh refrigerated cheese tortellini – it has a much better taste and texture. I love the tortellini from Trader Joe’s, but you can find it at most grocery stores.
I used cheese tortellini in this recipe, but you can try out different varieties such as spinach & cheese, tri-color, or even tortellini filled with meat like chicken or sausage.
Other Things to Add to Tortellini Soup
- Leafy Greens – baby spinach or shredded kale. Add leafy greens at the end and cook until wilted.
- Veggies – potatoes, celery, zucchini, onion, mushrooms, or tomatoes.
- Meats – Ground meat such as beef, pork, turkey or Italian sausage. Just cook and crumble the meat in the pot first when sauteéing the carrots.
- Spices – Dried herbs such as Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes to add a kick.
FAQ
Does tortellini soup freeze well?
Tortellini soup does freeze well. However, I recommend freezing the soup without the tortellini as it will get mushy from freezing. You can cook the tortellini separately when reheating the soup.
Can use frozen tortellini?
Yes, you can use frozen tortellini in the soup, but it will take a little longer to cook.
How long will tortellini soup last?
Leftover tortellini soup will last for several days in the fridge. You may need to add additional broth when reheating as the tortellini will have soaked up the liquid. If you’re planning to save it for leftovers or are cooking in advance, I recommend cooking the tortellini separately and adding to bowls of soup when serving.
Do you cook chicken before adding it to soup?
No, you do not cook the chicken before adding it to the soup. You add the raw chicken to the soup, allow it to cook in the broth, then you add the tortellini at the end. You can also use leftover cooked chicken. Using cooked chicken will cut down on cook time since it won’t need to cook in the broth.
What pairs well with tortellini soup?
Tortellini soup pairs well with a big green salad or some crusty bread, but it is also great on its own.
More Soup Recipes
Here are some other favorite cozy, easy soup recipes.
- Pelmeni Soup – an Eastern European dumpling soup.
- Wonton Soup Recipe – easy 30-minute meal loaded with wontons and bok choy.
- Chicken Noodle Soup – a childhood favorite that is easy to make homemade.
- Chicken Lentil Soup – a healthy and comforting soup all made in one pot.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrots cut in pieces
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cut into pieces
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1/3 cup dill or parsley
- 1/2 cup green onions chopped
- 8 oz cheese tortellini
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat a pot with oil. Add chopped carrots and cook them until they are lightly softened.
- Add chicken, water and broth to the mix. Allow it to cook for 15 minutes.
- Add green onions and dill, bring it to a simmer.
- Add tortellini and let it cook for 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
I made your soup again and very good and this time I put carrots celery in the regular onion cuz I didn't have any green onion and then I also put a little of parsley and a little of cilantros so thank you your soup is so easy to make I like how you break it down so thank you very much my name is Cheryl Regalado
Hi Cheryl- thank you for taking the time to comment, it makes me so happy that you're enjoying this recipe so much!
I had just finished making your chicken tortellini soup was very simple to follow your recipe thank you for that and it was very good
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl - Thanks so much for the kind feedback! We really aim to keep things simple, so it's so great to hear. Hope you have a great weekend.
My family LOVED the tortellini soup! I’ve made it twice and they are requesting it again! Thank you for this awesome recipe!
That's amazing Teri! Really appreciate you sharing this. It's so comforting and always satiates my craving for Olive Garden LOL. 🙂
Is the measurement for dill, fresh dill weed? I'm assuming it is. And if fresh isn't available how much dry? My daughter and I are dying to try the recipe but don't want to mess it up.
Hi Molly - That's right! It's for fresh dill. You can use as much or as little as you like. We love a lot of herbs, but a couple tablespoons of dried will do the trick. Hope this helps and you and your daughter love the soup as much as we do!
This is a really easy and simple recipe to throw together with very little clean up necessary. I added celery, onion, garlic, and spinach to my soup as well, to make it a bit heartier. I would also suggest adding a bit more dill if you really want the flavor to stand out, and definitely be sure to up the seasoning. I added crush red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and lots of salt and pepper. If you have oregano or an Italian seasoning, I'd also suggest adding that.
I will definitely make this again when I'm looking for a filling and healthy-ish one pot soup.
Hi Rachel - Thanks for the kind words and appreciate all the tips! We love when folks add their own little twist to our recipes. We will have to try this one ourselves. Sounds absolutely tasty with the extra veggies!
My family is going to love this recipe! So excited to give this a try! So excited!
Enjoy the recipe!
This was a very filling, but light soup! The tortellini makes it heartier & the taste was so comforting!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for taking the time to comment!
Today was such a dreary day that I'm so glad I found this recipe for dinner. Easy to make and the perfect comfort food. I even threw in some spinach I had. So delicious!
Jen, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe, it really is amazing on a gloomy day!