Sausage-and-Tortellini Soup

Turn this excellent pasta dish into an even better soup with chicken stock.

TOTAL TIME: 5:45

PREP: 0:25

LEVEL: Easy

SERVES: 4 to 6

Ingredients

For the Soup

• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 c. dry white wine
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 6 c. chicken stock
• 2 tsp. italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 small heads escarole, chopped (8 c.)
• 1 9-oz. package refrigerated three-cheese tortellini

For the Pesto Croutons

• 3 tbsp. pesto
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 3 c. cubed ciabatta bread

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up into large chunks with a spoon, until browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a 6-quart slow cooker; reserve skillet. Add wine to reserved skillet and cook, scraping up brown bits, until thickened, 30 seconds; add to slow cooker.
2. Add onion, celery, garlic, stock, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, bay leaf, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours.
3. Stir in escarole and tortellini; cover and cook until escarole is wilted and tortellini is tender, 14 to 16 minutes on low or 4 to 6 minutes on high. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with Pesto Croutons.
4. Make the Pesto Croutons: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Stir together pesto and olive oil in a bowl. Add ciabatta bread and toss to coat. Bake until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes.