Name: Tomato Tortellini Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 24 oz. jar marinara; 1 onion, diced; 2 14.5 can tomatoes; 1 6 oz. can tomato paste; 2 handfuls Spinach; 1 tsp garlic powder or 3 cloves; 1 tsp basil (Italian seasoning works too!); 4 -5 c broth; 1/4 tsp Red pepper; 1 8-12oz. Tortellini package; sea salt and pepper to taste; olive oil (for stove top)

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Simple and hearty, this Tomato Tortellini Soup is a great recipe for dinner when you need some good comfort food that will fill you up. Stove top and Slow cooker variations to fit your need!

Overhead shot of tomato tortellini soup with parsley and shredded parmesan.

I love pasta, and I ain’t afraid to show it!

You know how there are certain things out there that have suddenly become synonymous with “healthy” and then the opposite becomes demonized? Well that is certainly the case with gluten. Over the past several years the term “gluten free” is seen everywhere and it has become the norm that gluten is a big NO-NO if you want to live a healthy, nutritious life.

Going gluten free has become the latest health trend, but is it really healthy?

If you have a gluten sensitivity or have been diagnosed with celiac, then it is certainly a great idea to avoid gluten. However, according to recent studies, it’s not something that everyone should avoid.

White bowl of tortellini soup with pot in background.

It appeared that those individuals who consumed the lowest levels of dietary gluten had a 15 percent higher risk of heart disease,” says study leader Andrew Chan, an associate professor at Harvard.
–Reader’s Digest

But we have been told that eating gluten free is supposed to be good for our health?? How can this be then?!

Many of us really do need the pasta!

The problem in avoiding gluten for those without a sensitivity or health condition that makes it necessary to skip the wheat is that this means we are missing out on the heart healthy grains that our body needs!

But leave it to social media and the world of diet culture to push the message that gluten equals BAD NEWS. Recently I saw a post form someone who does not have a gluten issue and she was promoting a gluten free pizza.

She stated something along the lines that she didn’t feel quite as guilty eating more than half a pizza since it was gluten free. What?!

Overhead shot of tomato tortellini soup in white bowl.

I was once too under the impression that giving up gluten would make me a healthy person as well. I saw gluten as bad and gluten free as good. And I felt better about myself for skipping the bread–I mean a lettuce wrapped sandwich is soooo much better, right? (NOOOTTTTT)

But gluten is NOT the enemy. Our ancestors would have died without it, literally. Even white bread can have a place in a healthy diet. What?! Yep, you heard it here. Balance my friends.

Don’t give food the power. Don’t make certain foods evil. You are not superior for your food choices just as you are not less of a person for them.

Tomato tortellini soup in bowl with fresh parsley, parmesan and a side of garlic toast.

What does Tomato Tortellini Soup have to do with all of this??

So in case you haven’t figured it out by now, today’s recipe features none other than gluten–pasta for that matter! A simple soup recipe that you can slow cook or whip up in no time stove top.

We eat tortellini every few weeks but sometimes I get into a rut with how I fix it. As in I just boil it and toss it in sauce. Always. However, this Tomato Tortellini Soup pushed me out of my comfort zone and got me to enjoy the cheesy goodness in a new way.

Some things to note about the Tomato Tortellini Soup recipe:

The thing I find to be the best part of this recipe is using a jar of your favorite marinara sauce. This allows you to really make it your own. And you can switch up the type each time you make it! We loooooove Newman’s Sockarooni the most but I have made this also with a spicy marinara and that was fun.
The tortellini can also be any flavor you love. Another way to fine tune this one and switch things up every time. We love using a four cheese but a spinach and ricotta or something meaty for Anthony are coming soon to our home.
Garlic bread–that goes without saying, right? It’s the perfect pairing with this soup!
Don’t overcook the tortellini. You will definitely want to wait until just before serving to add the tortellini for best results.

Can I freeze this Tomato Tortellini Soup?

This question gets asked often. I would encourage you to freeze it without the tortellini. You can add some tortellini then when you thaw it. Otherwise the past doesn’t always hold up very well and that’s not what you want out of this soup at all, right??

Other than that, this Tomato Tortellini Soup is cozy and delicious and sure to make everyone’s belly’s happy!

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