Chicken & Cheese Tortellini Soup

If you are looking for a really nice, guest-pleasing meal that is simple to prepare, this Chicken Cheese Tortellini Soup is it. 

We have made this dozens upon dozens of times, given it to couples with new babies, brought it to potlucks, and served it at dinner parties. Each time people beg for the recipe, which is a sure sign of success in my book. I am copying the notes from a well-worn page in my college recipe binder into this blog post. My handwriting preserved my mother's tried-and-true soup, taking a bit of home with me when I moved away. She got the recipe from a close friend, who has a very good reputation in the kitchen.

We served this soup this past weekend in fact, with crusty bread and a green salad. Our aunt and uncle (honored guests) said they felt like they were at a fancy restaurant. My husband and I both replied, "You mean a fancy, and LOUD, restaurant, right?" because of, you know, the children. We can't promise a quiet dinner at our house, but we can promise a delicious one. Here's the recipe, for the next time you need to make something fancy but don't want to spend all day in the kitchen...

Chicken and Cheese Tortellini Soup:

1 lb. chicken breasts or tenderloins

3- 10 3/4 oz. cans chicken broth

2- 10 3/4 oz. cans cream of chicken soup

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped carrots

1 garlic clove (minced)

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Salt & pepper, to taste

7-10 oz. package of cheese tortellini

2 heads of broccoli (chopped)

Parmesan cheese to top

Cook the chicken in boiling water until no pink shows when cut. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the water, remove the chicken, and chop into cubes. 

In a separate large pot, combine chicken, reserved water, canned broth, cream of chicken soup, onion, carrots, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir, and bring to a boil. Add tortellini, and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Add broccoli and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Serve hot, topped with parmesan cheese.

Serves approximately 8.