Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup with Coconut Milk Recipe
This Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup is a comforting, flavorful dish perfect for a cozy meal. Featuring tender shredded chicken, cheesy tortellini, and a rich broth thickened with a gluten-free roux and coconut milk, this soup can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker for convenience. It is hearty, creamy, and packed with wholesome vegetables and Italian seasonings, making it an ideal dinner option for families or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (stovetop) or 6-7 hours low (slow cooker)
- Total Time: 35 minutes stovetop or up to 7 hours slow cooker
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Dairy
- 2 ½ cups shredded chicken (use rotisserie or cook 2 medium chicken breasts)
- 1 10-ounce package refrigerated cheese tortellini (gluten-free or regular)
- 1–2 tbsp butter or vegan butter
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk (or substitute half and half or heavy cream)
Vegetables
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 celery rib, chopped
- ½ cup carrots, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
Liquids and Broth
- 5–6 cups chicken broth (more as needed)
Spices and Seasonings
- 3 tbsp gluten-free flour
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh thyme or parsley
Instructions
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large pot over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add minced garlic, diced carrots, onion, and chopped celery, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Make the Roux: Add butter to the pot. Once melted, sprinkle gluten-free flour over the vegetables and stir continuously for about 2 minutes to cook off the raw flour taste.
- Add the Broth and Spices: Gradually pour in 5-6 cups chicken broth while stirring to avoid lumps. Add Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything well.
- Add the Chicken, Coconut Milk, and Tortellini: Stir in shredded chicken and pour in coconut milk or your preferred cream substitute. Adjust with extra broth if soup is too thick. Let the soup heat and simmer for 10 minutes, allowing it to thicken. In the last 5 minutes, add the tortellini and cook until tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh parsley or thyme before serving for added flavor and freshness.
Notes
- For a slower, hands-off approach, use the crockpot method: add all vegetables, broth, spices, and chicken to the slow cooker and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- Make the roux separately about 20 minutes before serving when using crockpot, then stir it in to thicken.
- Add tortellini and coconut milk about 5 minutes before serving in crockpot.
- Gluten-free flour can be substituted with regular all-purpose flour if not gluten-sensitive.
- Coconut milk adds a subtle sweetness and creaminess; half and half or heavy cream can be used as alternatives.
- Adjust seasoning according to taste preferences.
Keywords: Chicken tortellini soup, creamy chicken soup, slow cooker soup, gluten-free soup, easy chicken soup, Italian soup, comfort food
