Press the “Sauté” function on the Instant Pot and wait for it to heat up. Once hot, add the oil, sausage, and onion. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion is starting to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring to break up the meat.
Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the Italian herb seasoning, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Press “Cancel” to stop the “Sauté” function.
Stir in the chicken stock and marinara sauce.
Add the cheese tortellini and then the kale, but don’t stir. We want the kale to rest on top so it steams and doesn’t overcook.
Cover the Instant Pot, making sure to set the lid to “Sealing”, and cook on “Manual, High Pressure” for 0 minutes.
Once it’s done cooking, carefully release the pressure and open the pot.
Stir in the heavy whipping cream.
Serve topped with a sprinkle of grated parmesan minced parsley if desired.
Notes
Recipe Yield and Serving Size: This recipe makes about 8 to 9 cups of soup. There are 6 servings, and each serving is just under 1 ½ cups.
Spinach Substitution: If you prefer spinach over kale, simply omit the kale and cook the soup without it. Then once the soup is cooked, right before you add the cream stir in 4 cups of baby spinach leaves. The heat from the soup will wilt them perfectly.
Half and Half Substitution: You can use 1 cup of half and half instead of heavy whipping cream if you prefer.
How to Make Tortellini Soup on the Stovetop
Heat the oil in a 5-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onion, and cook until the meat is browned and the onion is starting to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring to break up the meat.
Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the Italian herb seasoning, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
Stir in the chicken stock and marinara sauce. Add the cheese tortellini and kale, and give it a stir. Bring the Tortellini Soup up to a boil, and then turn the heat down and simmer (uncovered) until the tortellini is cooked to al dente and floats, stirring occasionally. This typically takes between 3 to 7 minutes.
Stir in the heavy whipping cream and remove from the heat.
Serve topped with a sprinkle of grated parmesan minced parsley if desired.