Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

There is nothing better than a dinner you can throw into the slow cooker in the morning and basically forget about until everyone starts asking, “What smells so good?”

This Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup is one of those recipes.

It’s warm, hearty, full of chicken and vegetables, and the cheese tortellini makes it feel a little more special than your everyday chicken soup. But the best part? It requires very little hands-on time.

This is exactly the kind of meal I love during the colder months when we’re busy around the farm and I don’t want to spend an hour standing over the stove at the end of the day.

Just toss everything into the slow cooker, let it do its thing, add the tortellini toward the end, and dinner is ready.

An Easy Slow Cooker Dinner for Busy Nights

I love cooking from scratch, but I also live in the real world.

Some days I have plenty of time to spend in the kitchen. Other days we’re juggling animals, kids, sports, projects around the farm, work, and everything else that somehow finds its way onto the schedule.

Those are the days when the slow cooker earns its spot on the counter.

This chicken tortellini soup uses simple ingredients—chicken breast, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chicken broth, herbs and cheese tortellini—to create a meal that tastes like you put much more effort into it than you actually did.

That’s my favorite kind of recipe.

Don’t Add the Tortellini Too Early!

This is probably the most important tip for this recipe.

While almost everything goes into the slow cooker at the beginning, wait until the end to add your tortellini.

Tortellini cooks quickly. If you put it in for the full six hours, you’ll end up with very soft, overcooked pasta.

Instead, let your chicken, vegetables, broth and seasonings cook together first. Once the chicken is cooked and you’ve shredded or cubed it, add it back to the slow cooker along with the tortellini.

It only needs about 15 minutes to cook.

Easy!

Make It Your Own

One of the reasons soup is such a staple in our house is that it’s incredibly forgiving.

Have some extra vegetables you need to use? Throw them in.

Want more garlic? You know I’m never going to argue with that.

You can also adjust the amount of broth depending on how hearty you like your soup. If you’re feeding a crowd or want to stretch the meal a little further, add some extra broth and vegetables.

And while I use cheese tortellini, you could easily experiment with different filled tortellini varieties.

Can I Use Leftover Chicken?

Absolutely.

If you already have cooked chicken in the refrigerator, this is a great way to use it.

Because the chicken doesn’t need six hours to cook, you can add your cooked chicken later in the process and simply give it enough time to heat through and absorb some of that delicious broth.

Leftover roasted chicken or shredded chicken works especially well.

It’s also a great reminder that cooking from scratch doesn’t mean every single meal has to start completely from zero.

Use what you have.

What to Serve With Chicken Tortellini Soup

This soup can absolutely stand on its own, but I’m always going to vote for bread alongside a big bowl of soup.

A crusty loaf, homemade sourdough, dinner rolls or garlic bread are all perfect for soaking up the broth.

You could also serve it with a simple salad if you want something fresh alongside it.

And don’t forget a little fresh parsley and cracked black pepper over the top before serving. A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan wouldn’t hurt either!

How to Store Leftover Tortellini Soup

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

One thing to keep in mind is that pasta continues to absorb liquid as it sits. Your tortellini may soak up some of the broth overnight, so don’t be surprised if your soup is quite a bit thicker the next day.

When reheating, simply add a splash of chicken broth until you get the consistency you want.

If you’re intentionally making a large batch for meal prep, you can also cook and store the tortellini separately and add it to individual bowls as you reheat the soup.

Simple Food Is Often the Best Food

This is the kind of recipe that reminds me why I love simple, homemade meals.

Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated.

Just real ingredients tossed into a slow cooker and turned into a warm dinner that everyone can gather around at the end of the day.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.

So pull out the slow cooker, chop a few vegetables, and let dinner cook itself.

I have a feeling this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup is going to become one of those recipes you come back to all fall and winter long.

Enjoy!

— Brandelyn
Pivot Farm