Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
- 2 medium Carrots, diced
- 2 Celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dried Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
- 6 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 2 cups Water
- 1 large Bay Leaf
- 3 cups cooked, shredded Chicken
- 1 (9 oz / 250g) package Cheese Tortellini (Refrigerated or Frozen)
- 5 ounces Fresh Baby Spinach
- Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
- Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese (for serving)
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté gently until softened, about 6–8 minutes.
- Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for 1 minute to lightly toast.
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a rolling simmer.
- Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes to allow the vegetables to soften fully. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
- Stir in the shredded cooked chicken and the tortellini. Return the soup to a simmer and cook according to tortellini package directions (usually 3–5 minutes) until the pasta is tender.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh baby spinach in batches until it wilts completely using the residual heat.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasoning, adding salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
- Ladle the hot Chicken Tortellini Soup into bowls. Garnish generously with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese before serving.