Name: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 6 h 15 min
Total time: 6 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breast; 3 medium carrots peeled and diced; 3 stalks celery diced; 1 medium onion diced; 3 cloves garlic minced; 6 cups low sodium chicken broth; 1 cup water; 2 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 2 cups cheese tortellini; chopped fresh parsley for serving; salt and pepper to taste

When life gets hectic, and you crave that deep-down feeling of a truly comforting meal, where do you turn? For me, it’s always been soup. But let’s be honest, on a Tuesday evening when I’m juggling a dozen things, I don’t have time for fussy simmering.

That’s exactly why this **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup** became a staple in our house. Honestly, I think the slow cooker is one of the great unsung heroes of kitchen sanity. There’s something wonderfully calming about assembling beautiful ingredients—carrots, celery, fragrant garlic—tossing them into the pot, and letting it work its magic all day long.

This soup is the definition of a cozy, hands-off dinner. It fills the house with the best smells and delivers tender chicken and those soft, wonderful pockets of cheesy tortellini. It’s everything you want in a hearty meal without stealing all your evening energy. At Sena Recipes, this soup perfectly captures what I aim for: food that connects us without keeping us stuck over the stove.

Close-up view of a white bowl filled with rich Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup, featuring tortellini, shredded chicken, and carrots.

Why This Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup is Your New Favorite (Lazy Dinners)

If you’re like me, sometimes the thought of planning a meal after a long day feels heavy. That’s where this recipe shines! It’s peak comfort food designed for people who want to enjoy dinner without spending hours prepping. It embodies everything I strive for when I suggest easy family dinner recipes.

Hands-Off Cooking for Busy Weeknights

This is the definition of a “Dump And Go Crockpot Dinner.” You literally toss everything in the pot—the chicken, the veggies, the broth—set it, and forget it until dinner time. Since the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, you get to use those 6 hours to actually relax or tackle other things. No hovering required!

Hearty and Complete Meal in One Bowl

Wow, the tortellini really changes the game here. A soup that’s just broth and veggies is nice, but when you drop in those little cheesy pillows? Suddenly, it’s a hearty, filling, complete meal. You don’t need to fuss with making bread or a side salad; this **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup** stands proudly on its own.

Essential Ingredients for the Best Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

When we’re making **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup**, we aren’t trying to be fancy; we’re aiming for pure, soul-soothing comfort. The beauty of this **Crockpot Dish** is that the slow cooking method extracts incredible flavor from these simple pantry staples. I want you to trust the process here, because even though the ingredient list looks straightforward, every single component plays a role in building that deep, satisfying broth.

I have our ingredient list ready for you below. Remember, this is one of those wonderful classic chicken soup recipes that just works beautifully in the slow cooker. When you’re pulling these components together, you’re setting yourself up for a fantastic, nearly zero-effort dinner!

1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breast
3 medium carrots peeled and diced
3 stalks celery diced
1 medium onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
2 bay leaves (don’t forget these!)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups cheese tortellini
chopped fresh parsley for serving
salt and pepper to taste

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Okay, let’s talk quality, because even in a simple soup, the right ingredients make a difference. This is where we ensure it qualifies as one of the best Healthy Crockpot Meals!

First, the broth. You must use low sodium chicken broth. Seriously! Since the broth is spending 6 hours concentrating its flavor, if you start with salty broth, your soup ends up tasting like the ocean by the end. You can always add salt later, but you can’t take it out!

As for the chicken, grab nice, thick chicken breasts. They hold their shape better during the long cook time and shred like a dream after 6 hours. Don’t worry about fancy seasoning on the chicken itself—the broth and Italian seasoning cover all the flavor bases for us. The veggies are standard diced mirepoix (that’s celery, carrots, and onion if you’re keeping track!), but cutting them yourself ensures they soften just right without turning to mush.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

This is where the magic happens, and by magic, I mean zero actual stirring! Since we are relying on the slow cooker to do all the texture development, we just need to make sure we layer things correctly at the start. If you’re looking for the ultimate slow cook recipes guide, this soup is the perfect example of how gentle heat creates big flavor.

Don’t overthink the layering; just make sure everything gets submerged in that flavorful broth. The long, slow cook time is what tenderizes the chicken perfectly—it comes out succulent and ready to pull apart. Trust me, this hands-off downtime is a dream for busy evenings!

Loading the Slow Cooker and Initial Cooking

First things first: Grab your slow cooker insert. Toss in the boneless chicken breasts right at the bottom. Then, layer in all your chopped veggies—the carrots, celery, and onion—followed by the minced garlic. We want the chicken to be nicely covered, so next, pour in the 6 cups of low-sodium chicken broth and the 1 cup of water. Finally, tuck in those 2 bay leaves and sprinkle everything with the Italian seasoning.

Put the lid on tight and let it cook on the LOW setting for a solid 6 hours. That’s it for the first part! Go run errands, read a book, or just forget about dinner until the last hour.

Shredding Chicken and Finishing the Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

Once those 6 hours are up, carefully take the chicken breasts out of the broth. Use two forks right on your cutting board to shred or cube the chicken—whichever texture your family prefers—and then return that tender meat back into the pot. Now, turn up the heat to high if you need to speed things up a bit, and add in those 2 cups of cheese tortellini.

Let the tortellini cook in the hot broth for just about 15 minutes, or until they float nicely and are perfectly tender. Before you serve, remember that important step: find and toss out those 2 bay leaves! Then, taste the soup. Add salt and pepper until it’s singing just right for you. A little parsley on top, and we are done!

A ladle lifting a serving of Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup, showing shredded chicken, carrots, and tortellini.

Expert Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

We’ve covered the basic steps, but now I want to share a few little bits of wisdom I’ve picked up over the years of making this soup—especially on those days when I’m running on fumes! These tips are what elevate this simple dish from good to ‘make it every week’ status. They help build that E-E-A-T trust because they show I’ve tested this recipe until it’s bulletproof.

My biggest rookie mistake? Adding the tortellini too early *and* forgetting to taste the broth first. I once got distracted and left the tortellini in on high heat while I ran to pick up the kids. When I got back, the beautiful little cheese pockets had utterly dissolved into the broth. It was still tasty, but it went from hearty soup to very thick, cheesy chicken liquid quickly! Never again!

So, when you’re getting ready to serve, remember these two crucial finishing steps. If you want the best flavor and the best texture for your cozy healthy soup recipes, pay attention to seasoning and timing.

Controlling Sodium in Your Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

Like I mentioned earlier, the sodium control starts before you even turn the slow cooker on! Since the broth is the main flavor carrier, and it cooks down for so long, you absolutely must commit to the low-sodium chicken broth. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise for a recipe meant to be easy and wholesome.

When the 6 hours are nearly up and you’ve shredded the chicken, *that* is the time to taste the broth. Dip a spoon in—carefully, it’s hot!—and see where it stands. If you need a little extra kick, add a tiny pinch of salt, stir until dissolved, and taste again. You want to season right at the very end, *after* any evaporation has happened. If your vegetables were extra watery that day, you might need less salt. If you’ve used homemade broth, you might need more! It’s all about tasting right before you drop the tortellini in for the final 15 minutes.

A spoonful being lifted from a bowl of Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup, showing shredded chicken, carrots, and tortellini.

Making This Recipe a Healthy Dinner Recipe

Sometimes the best comfort foods taste heavy, but I promise you, this **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup** totally defies that. It’s genuinely one of the best healthy dinner recipes you can make without feeling like you’re eating diet food! Because the chicken breast is such lean protein and we’re packing it full of carrots, celery, and onions, it ends up being so nutrient-dense.

The main way we keep this cozy favorite firmly in the healthy camp is by relying on low-sodium broth as we discussed. The broth gives the beautiful savory base, and the vegetables provide fiber and flavor without needing heavy cream or tons of cheese if you’re watching things like saturated fat. It’s a genuinely satisfying meal that leaves you feeling nourished, not weighed down. That feels like a win for any busy family!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

I always hope there are leftovers because, honestly, this **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup** tastes even better the next day when the flavors have totally melded together. Since this is easily one of my favorite comfort food recipes, having leftovers means I don’t have to cook dinner tomorrow—total win!

The biggest challenge with any leftover soup that contains pasta or dumplings, like our tortellini, is texture. If you just reheat the whole batch the same way you cooked it, those poor little shells are going to get mushy and start falling apart. We absolutely need to protect the integrity of the cheese filling!

Here’s my trick for making sure your leftovers are just as delightful as the first bowl.

First, when you know you’re saving some bowls, separate the liquid, chicken, and vegetables from the tortellini *before* you cool it down. Wait until right before everyone serves themselves to add the 2 cups of tortellini into the portion you plan to eat immediately. For the rest, scoop out the broth, chicken, carrots, celery, and onion into an airtight container. This part keeps beautifully in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days.

When you’re ready to eat the leftovers later in the week, here’s what you do:

Take the stored soup base (the broth and solids) and heat it gently on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s steaming hot.
Once the broth is hot, add just enough *uncooked* tortellini for the serving you are making right now. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take them out!
Let the new, frozen, or refrigerated tortellini cook directly in the hot broth for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are perfectly tender again.

This method ensures you have fresh, perfectly cooked tortellini every time you reheat a bowl. It sounds like an extra step, I know, but just a few minutes of cooking those final pasta pillows keeps this a fantastic, hearty meal all week long!

Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cook Recipes

I always get tons of great questions when people start trying my favorite soup recipes for every season! It makes sense, you want to make sure your go-to **Fall Dinner Recipes** are perfect the first time around. Since this is such a popular **Crockpot Dish**, there are a few things folks always ask me about. Here are the answers to the most common ones I receive!

Can I use frozen tortellini in this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup?

Oh, yes, you absolutely can use frozen tortellini! That’s one of the great things about these easy **Lazy Dinners**—we love flexibility! The recipe calls for 15 minutes cooking time, which is perfect if you are using standard refrigerated tortellini. If you are using frozen, you might need to add about 5 more minutes to that final cooking time, depending on how big they are.

The most important thing, just like when reheating leftovers, is to add them right at the end. If you toss frozen tortellini in at the beginning with the chicken, they will just disintegrate into paste over those 6 hours. Keep them frozen and add them in for the final 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time. They’ll be perfectly tender and cheesy!

What other vegetables work well in this Crockpot Dish?

I love that readers are looking to customize their meals! This recipe is a fantastic base for trying out different veggies for a truly **Healthy Crockpot Meal** experience. Things that cook quickly are best added right at the end, just like the tortellini.

If you want to sneak in some greens—and you totally should!—a few handfuls of fresh spinach or chopped kale are amazing. Wait until the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking the tortellini, toss them in, and cover the pot. The residual heat will wilt them down beautifully and they won’t turn that dull, unappetizing color that happens when they cook too long.

Mushrooms are another great addition! Rough chop them and toss them in with the carrots and celery at the very beginning. They release a wonderful earthy flavor during that long simmer time and blend perfectly with the chicken and broth.

A close-up view of rich, savory Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup filled with shredded chicken, carrots, and tortellini pasta.

Nutritional Estimate for This Comforting Soup

I always get questions about how nutritious this soup is, especially since it’s so hearty and filling! It’s funny how something that tastes so incredibly comforting can also fit nicely into a healthier meal plan. Because we start with lean chicken breast and use low-sodium broth, this **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup** comes out surprisingly balanced.

Now, this part is important: the calorie and nutrient counts I’m sharing here are just estimates. They are based on the exact ingredients listed in the recipe, using low-sodium broth, and dividing everything evenly across 6 servings. Every brand of tortellini or chicken is slightly different, so use these numbers as a really helpful guideline, not gospel!

If you are trying to keep track of macros or macros, this is a great option for a meal that’s high in protein but still gives you plenty of comforting carbohydrates from the pasta and vegetables. Check out the estimate for one bowl below:

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 350
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 450mg (See our advice on keeping this low!)
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 90mg

Seeing that high protein count makes me feel great about serving this to my family. It proves we don’t have to sacrifice flavor or fullness just because we want something that’s relatively light. Finding delicious weight loss recipes that everyone happily eats is the real victory, and this soup is definitely a trophy winner in my book!

Share Your Experience Making This Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

Now that you have all the secrets to making this the best **Slow cooker chicken tortellini soup**—from low-sodium broth tips to keeping those tortellini perfectly plump—I truly hope you’ll try it out this week!

I absolutely love hearing from you all! When you make this, please come back right here and leave a star rating. Transparency is so important, and your feedback helps others who are looking for a reliable, easy dinner recipe like this comforting classic. Did you add spinach? Did you use leftover roasted chicken? Tell me everything!

If you snap a picture of your steamy bowl, tag us on social media—we adore seeing these wonderful **Fall Dinner Recipes** showing up in everyone’s cozy kitchen. Seeing your creations is genuinely the best part of running Sena Recipes.

Emma Laurent is the Founder & Creative Director of Sena Recipes, where she shares comforting classics with modern flair. Her approachable recipes help home cooks create warm, satisfying meals every day.

Happy cooking, friends. I hope this soup brings as much ease and comfort to your table as it does to mine!