Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

Slow cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup is a wintertime classic for a reason! Chock full of veggies, chicken and fresh tortellini, this homemade soup is easy to make and even easier to share with the people you love. Makes 6-8 servings.

Looking for more soups highlighting chicken? We love Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Spaetzle Soup and Dutch Oven Chicken and Dumplings!

A ladle lifts soup out of the Instant Pot

Slow cooker soup: into it or not so much?

I’m into it. (“Surprise!” said no one ever.)

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    This classic Chicken Tortellini Soup is a fan-favorite at our house, and for a reason: it’s insanely comforting, chock full of my favorite veggies and shredded chicken… and is finished with a favorite pasta, too.

    We’ve been making this recipe for years, and I wanted to present it to y’all to enjoy all throughout the wintertime.

    Other soup recipes we love this time of year: Potato and Leek Soup | Fresh Cream of Tomato SoupInstant Pot French Onion SoupTurkey Taco SoupBroccoli Cheddar SoupSlow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

    Looking for another winter dish, but don’t know where to begin? Check out my Winter Recipe Index.

    Here’s what you need to make this comforting slow cooker soup:

    Disclaimer: The links below are affiliate links. If you click through and take action, I will receive a small commission. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about the affiliate programs The Speckled Palate participates in.

    • A sharp knife and a cutting board
    • A slow cooker or Instant Pot (notes on the variations are in the recipe card and in this post for you)
    • A nonstick skillet (if using a traditional slow cooker without a Saute function)

    How to make Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

    First and foremost, dice your veggies using a sharp knife. You want them to be finely diced so that you don’t have giant chunks of them floating around in your final soup (unless, of course, that’s your jam, and if that’s the case, feel free to do a rough chop on ’em instead.)

    Saute the veggies in a skillet or in the Instant Pot. Make sure to add the oil to the pan first so that they don’t stick, and let ’em cook for 10-15 minutes until they are translucent.

    Put together the soup ingredients in the pot. This means you’ll add the chicken breasts whole, as well as the water and the stock ON TOP of the veggies that you just sauteed. (If you didn’t saute the veggies in the Instant Pot, add them in now.) Pour the water and stock on top of the other ingredients.

    Let it cook low and slow for six hours.

    When the soup has finished cooking, shred the chicken using a fork.

    Add the uncooked tortellini to the slow cooker/Instant Pot. Cover, and let it cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the tortellini has cooked through. Make sure to test it before you serve!

    When everything is warmed through, serve immediately!

    Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips and Tricks

    Soup is a wonderful dish to serve to friends during the winter months because generally speaking, soup recipes make a ton! We love serving this Chicken Tortellini Soup because it’s so easy to put together (and it cooks low and slow.)

    Serve it with your favorite homemade bread (or a store-bought one) and invite your people over for a comforting dinner!

    Make it easy on yourself. 

    • Purchase pre-chopped veggies if you think chopping is going to stress you out.
    • Another way to combat the morning of stress is to chop the veggies the night before so all you have to do is saute them in the morning.

    You can make substitutions, too.

    • If you cannot find Mural of Flavor, which is available at Penzey’s Spice stores and on Amazon, you can use another salt-free chicken seasoning. If you have a chicken seasoning that is NOT salt-free, omit the salt from the recipe and do a taste test before adding some, as it might be salty enough for you without the extra salt.
    • No vegetable stock? Use water or chicken stock instead. If using chicken stock, just make sure it’s the low-sodium kind. (Or the salt-free.)

    A bowl of cheese tortellini sits on a striped blue towel

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I really need to saute the veggies first?

    It’s not necessary, but I like the depth of flavor it adds to the soup. If you don’t want to saute the vegetables, it won’t make this soup taste bad, so you do you.

    How do I make this in the Instant Pot? 

    You’re going to follow the same instructions that you’d use for the slow cooker and use it on the slow cooker setting. Confirm that it’s on the highest setting for the slow cooker, as the Instant Pot’s temperatures vary from a classic slow cooker.

    At this time, I do not advise making this Chicken Tortellini Soup on the Pressure Cook setting, as I have not tried it myself.

    A white bowl holds Chicken Tortellini Soup, from above

    What should I serve alongside this Chicken Tortellini Soup?

    If you’re hosting a crowd, check out these 9 Easy Bruschetta Recipes for a Winter Party because you can never go wrong with bruschetta.

    If you want to serve some bread, we love Quick Rosemary Drop Biscuits, as well as Soft Homemade Parmesan Bread Sticks when paired with this soup.

    Looking for a fresh side, like a salad? I highly recommend this Plum Quinoa Kale Salad or a Kale Caesar Salad (without the chicken since your soup has plenty of protein!)

    A ladle lifts soup out of the Instant Pot

    Chicken Tortellini Soup

    Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
    5 from 1 vote
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 309 kcal
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 6 hours
    Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 large onions diced finely (about 2 ½ cups)
    • 4 celery stalks diced finely (about 1 ¼ cups)
    • 1 large carrot diced finely (about 1 cup)
    • 4 cups water
    • 4 cups vegetable stock
    • 1 lb. chicken breasts
    • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon Mural of Flavor or another salt-free poultry seasoning
    • 1 lb. cheese tortellini

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    Instructions
     

    • Dice the veggies finely using a sharp knife.
    • Heat the oil in a skillet or in the Instant Pot on the Saute setting. Add the vegetables when the oil is hot, and saute for 10-15 minutes, or until translucent.
    • Pour in the water and stock. Add the chicken breasts whole. Add the thyme, salt and poultry seasoning, too.
    • Place the lid on the slow cooker/Instant pot, and cook on low for at least 6 hours. (If using the Instant Pot, cover and set for 6 hours on the highest slow cooker setting.)
    • Once the soup has finished cooking, shred the chicken.
    • Add the uncooked tortellini, and let it cook in the warm soup for 10-15 minutes. Be sure to cover the slow cooker/Instant Pot as it cooks.
    • Test the tortellini to confirm it's cooked through, then enjoy warm.

    Notes

    Do I need to saute the veggies first? It's not necessary, but I like the depth of flavor it adds to the soup.
    How do I make this in the Instant Pot? You're going to follow the same instructions that you'd use for the slow cooker and use it on the slow cooker setting. Confirm that it's on the highest setting for the slow cooker, as the Instant Pot's temperatures vary from a classic slow cooker. At this time, I do not advise making this on the Pressure Cook setting, as I have not tried it myself.
    Substitution alert:
    • If you cannot find Mural of Flavor, which is available at Penzey's Spice stores and on Amazon, you can use another salt-free chicken seasoning. If you have a chicken seasoning that is NOT salt-free, omit the salt from the recipe and do a taste test before adding some, as it might be salty enough for you without the extra salt.
    • No vegetable stock? Use water or chicken stock instead. If using chicken stock, just make sure it's the low-sodium kind. (Or the salt-free.)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 26gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 1028mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g
    Keyword dinner, entree, Instant Pot, slow cooker, soup
    Course Entrees
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This recipe originally appeared on My Cooking Spot, where I was a contributor.

    The photos and recipe for this Chicken Tortellini Soup were originally published on August 8, 2014. The photographs, along with the text of this blog post, were updated on January 14, 2020.

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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