Description
Hearty slow cooker tomato tortellini soup delivers comfort in a bowl, blending robust ground beef with cheesy pasta pillows. Rich Italian-inspired flavors simmer gently, welcoming you to savor each spoonful of this soul-warming meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Liquids and Pantry Ingredients:
- 4 cups (32 fluid ounces) beef broth
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 9 ounces (255 grams) cheese tortellini
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with diced onions and minced garlic in a skillet over medium-high heat until meat is completely cooked, approximately 7-8 minutes. Carefully drain excess grease.
- Transfer meat mixture to slow cooker and pour in beef broth, crushed tomatoes, and season with dried basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly mix all ingredients.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature and allow soup to simmer for 6-7 hours, developing rich, deep flavors. If using high setting, reduce cooking time to 3-4 hours.
- Thirty minutes before serving, gently stir in cheese tortellini and fresh spinach leaves. Continue cooking until pasta becomes tender and spinach wilts, approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Once tortellini is perfectly cooked, carefully ladle soup into serving bowls. Generously sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top for an extra layer of creamy, savory goodness.
- Serve immediately while hot, offering a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for chilly evenings or when craving a hearty, nutritious soup.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and make the soup healthier.
- Consider using pre-cooked or plant-based ground beef for a vegetarian version.
- Experiment with different tortellini fillings like cheese, spinach, or meat to customize the soup’s flavor profile.
- Freeze individual portions for quick meal prep, ensuring the tortellini is added fresh when reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg