Crockpot Turkey Sausage & Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

- 6 ounces cooked smoked turkey sausage
- 2 cups packaged shredded coleslaw mix
- 1 cup loose-pack frozen cut green beans
- 2 x 14.5 oz. cans Italian-style stewed tomatoes
- 1 x 10.5 oz can condensed French onion soup
- 3 cups water
- 1 x 9oz. pkg. refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
- grated Parmesan cheese (garnish)

Halve the turkey sausage lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch slices.  Place sausage, coleslaw mix, green beans, un-drained tomatoes, soup, and water in a 3-1/2 to 5 quart slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8-10 hours, or on high heat setting 4-5 hours.  After cooking, stir in tortellini, cover & cook for 15 minutes more (if using low heat setting, turn up to high).  Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

From the Better Homes & Gardens Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes, page 57.

I modify the recipe a bit when I make this dish.  I use the entire package of turkey sausage, and the entire package of shredded cabbage coleslaw mix.  I add two large sweet onions, add 2-3 large diced potatoes, and increase all of the liquid ingredients by about 50%.

Any soup with cabbage in it has to be good, and this recipe is delicious.  If you don’t like sausage, you could probably substitute cooked, Italian-seasoned meatballs.  While the Italian-style tomatoes and the French onion soup add flavor, the next time I make this recipe I will probably add some dried Italian seasoning or fresh Italian herbs (Basil, Oregano, & Parsley).

Personally, I think that the Crock Pot is the single greatest invention of the 20th Century!

Labels: Recipes