This slow cooker chicken tortellini soup is full of chicken, veggies and cheese tortellini, all simmered together in the crock pot. A family friendly dinner option that takes just minutes to put together.
When it’s cold outside, I find myself making soup every week. Some of our favorites include taco soup, vegetable beef soup, and this hearty chicken tortellini version.
To me, chicken noodle soup is a classic recipe that never gets old. This chicken tortellini soup is a take on the old favorite with plenty of chicken and veggies, but it also contains cheese tortellini instead of the more traditional egg noodles. My whole family loves this soup, and I love that it’s super easy to make in my slow cooker. This tortellini soup will definitely be on our regular rotation in the cold weather months.
How do you make chicken tortellini soup?
This soup starts with boneless skinless chicken breasts, carrots, celery and onions. The chicken and veggies go into the crockpot with herbs, spices and chicken broth. Then you simply need to set the slow cooker and go about your day. At the end of the day when you’re ready to eat, shred the chicken breasts and return them to the soup. The final step is to add fresh cheese tortellini to the pot and cook the pasta until it’s ready. Grab a ladle and dinner is served!
Tips for chicken tortellini soup
- I always use fresh cheese tortellini for this recipe because they cook a lot faster than the frozen kind. If you only have frozen on hand, it will still work, you’ll just need to add an additional 10 minutes to the cook time.
- Cut the vegetables into larger pieces so they won’t get overly soft during the long cooking time.
- This soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the pasta will continue to absorb the broth as it sits, so you may need to add more broth upon reheating.
- You can chop up your vegetable the night before to save on prep time in the morning.
- This soup can also be made on the stove top. Simply saute the vegetables in a tablespoon of butter, then add diced raw chicken to the pot. Add the broth and seasonings, then cook for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through. Stir in the tortellini, simmer for a few minutes until tender, then serve.
Tortellini Soup Variations
I love this recipe as-is, but there are so many different ways to customize it to your tastes.
- Protein: Try chicken thighs or chicken sausage instead of chicken breasts.
- Vegetables: You can add all different vegetables to the mix such as spinach, zucchini, green beans, peas or corn.
- Pasta: Other flavors of tortellini can be used instead of the cheese variety, or try mini ravioli for a fun twist!
Once you try this soup, you’ll find yourself making it all winter long. It’s the perfect blend of flavors all conveniently located in one pot.
More soup recipes you’ll love
- Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Cabbage Roll Soup
- Hamburger Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Chicken Tortellini Soup Video
Chicken Tortellini Soup (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 1 onion diced
- 3 medium carrots peeled, halved and sliced
- 3 stalks celery sliced
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 9 ounce package cheese tortellini
- optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Place the onion, carrots, celery, chicken breasts, garlic, salt , pepper, thyme, parsley and chicken broth in a slow cooker.
- Cook for 3-4 hours on HIGH or 6-8 hours on LOW. Remove the chicken breasts and shred with two forks, then return to the soup.
- Add the tortellini to the slow cooker and cook for 10-15 minutes more or until they are puffy and heated through.
- Serve, garnished with parsley if desired.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on October 11, 2017 and was updated on November 13, 2019 with new content.
Jo says
Could you make this without a slow cooker or pressure cooker? Looking to make it in a saucepan and need a guide for cooking times. Thanks
Sara says
Yes that should be fine, you’d need to simmer the chicken for 30 minutes or until you can shred it.
Catalina says
Tortellini soup is my favorite! I am drooling over this!
Lora says
Great weeknight idea for the colder months. The kids and their friends just loved it!!
Beth says
I made this for the kids last week and they really loved it! Definitely keeping this on my weekly menu plan!
jade manning says
Soup is perfect for this time of year, I cannot wait to try this!
annie says
Even my picky eaters gobbled this up!! Great recipe!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This slow cooker chicken tortellini soup is looks incredibly delicious!
Ashley Anderson says
I have made this 2x and it’s like chicken noodle soup except with tortellini. Excellent! I have increased the veggies and salt. I have done 3 breasts or 4 thighs. Great flavor. Chicken is done in 4 hrs on low (but I continue till we’re ready) and my tortellini has taken 20min.
Bea says
I’ve made this a few times now and it always come out so good! Sometimes I change up the vegetables!
Lynn says
Looks good, I will have to try. But I am curios how this soup is considered Asian cuisine?
Sara says
Thanks for catching that typo!
Chey says
If you use frozen Tortellini due you have to thaw it or put it in frozen?
Sara says
You can put it in frozen!
Beth says
Can this be made using cooked chicken?
Sara says
Yes that will work just fine!
Mary Ellen says
Very good! I left my pasta in a little too long. Next time I think I’ll cook the pasta separately and add it to each bowl to prevent over cooking the pasta. May also add a little red pepper flakes to add some heat. Definitely will make again. Thank you for sharing!
glennh says
If you use rotisserie chicken, when do you put it in? I was thinking of adding it when I add the tortellini.
Sara says
That would work perfectly!
Rachel says
Is it fresh or frozen tortellini that is used?
Sara says
Fresh but frozen will work too!
Connie polhill says
i just made this tonight for dinner but i put in pressure cooker half for one hour then i added tortellini and cooked for 5 minutes turned out great
Trish says
Thanks for posting that. I was going to ask for suggestions for using a pressure cooker rather than a crockpot.
Susan says
So yummy 😋 , easy to make
Sarah says
Do you put the chicken in raw?
Sara says
Yes you do, it cooks in the slow cooker!
Debbie says
A new family favorite! Easy yet hearty and nutritious!