Step 1

In a large saucepan, cook sausage together with Italian seasoning, chopped onion, and minced garlic until browned.

Step 2

Add chicken broth, diced carrots, and red pepper flakes, and bring to a boil.

Step 3

Once the soup is boiling, reduce it to simmer (a visible boil), cover the pot with a lid, and cook for 10 or 15 minutes until the carrots are tender.

Step 4

Add tortellini and spinach to soup in the pot, cover with a lid and boil on low simmer for about 5 minutes or until tortellini is cooked and the spinach is wilted

Step 5

Remove the soup from the heat. Add the cream and stir it in.

Step 6

Season with salt and more red pepper flakes (add spice especially if you did not use spicy sausage).

Step 7

Top with bacon bits (or chopped cooked bacon), grated parmesan cheese, and fresh thyme.