Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

Video below on how to make the survey-winning soup

In early February, I did a survey on Instagram asking followers to share if they would prefer a creamy tomato based tortellini soup, or a creamy broth based one. Creamy tomato won by a smidge. Like a tiny, tiny, sliver. But, the people spoke, and in the words of Steve Harvey- survey says!- we are making creamy tomato tortellini soup!

 But my cream and broth based friends, fret not! You were so close, I could not leave you hanging. So, hold tight (or as the band 38 Special said, hold on loosely, but don't let go), because coming next will be for our cream and broth loving friends!

 Ingredients/Recipe:

• 10 oz bag of cheese tortellini

• 15 oz can of crushed tomatoes

• 10 oz can of diced tomatoes with green chiles

• 2 1/2 C of chicken broth

• 1/2 C of spinach

• 3/4 C of shredded parmesan cheese

• 1/2 C of heavy whipping cream

Putting it Together:

Place the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chiles and broth (I also added some salt and pepper to taste) in the crock pot, mix up, and place on low for at least 1 hour. This can sit on low and simmer for up to a few hours based on your schedule and what works. After this, add in the tortellinis, spinach, heavy whipping cream and the shredded parm, give it a good mix, and then place it back on HIGH for 30-45 minutes, keeping an eye on the tortellinis to ensure they don’t overcook.

 Serving:

Serve right when this is done to make sure the tortellinis don’t expand too much, and then I added more shredded parmesan on top of the soup, and had with some crusty bread for dipping.

 Load of Crock Tip(s):

• You can really bulk this soup up if you want by adding things like corn, peppers, mushrooms, or make it a chicken tortellini soup and add shredded chicken. If you add chicken, put it in the first hour or more with the other ingredients to simmer, but leave any added dairy or vegetables ingredients for the last 30-45 minutes.

• If you are not a big cream fan, or in my case, cream is not a big fan of me… do the first step, skip the cream and cheese, and simply add the tortellinis for the last step, and you will have a really great tomato tortellini soup, cream-free!

• Leftover alert. SO GREAT the next day. So great.

Thanks so much to everyone on Instagram who voted, it was fun creating this one (and our next recipe coming soon!) in response to your votes. While I wish Steve Harvey could be here to say it, because it's just not the same, let's be honest, but as they say, the show must go on…SURVEY SAYS! Enjoy this creamy tomato tortellini soup!