Italian Sausage Soup

This hearty Italian Sausage Soup combines crumbled Italian sausage, fragrant onion and garlic, and flavorful seasonings in a creamy tomato-based broth. The pasta adds volume for a satisfying main meal – it’s the perfect budget-friendly weeknight dinner!

This comforting Italian sausage soup is the perfect hearty and filling stand-alone meal. Perfect for anyone who loves Italian sausage – like my son, who happily gobbles up this soup whenever I make a big pot for dinner.

It can be easily adapted to include your favorite type of short pasta, a different type of sausage or ground meat, and additional veggies.

It’s the ideal budget-friendly meal that pairs perfectly with crusty bread or a light salad. With simple and flavorful ingredients, you can make it in less than an hour.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Italian sausage: The key ingredient for this meat-filled soup, Italian sausage adds great flavor and a boost of hearty protein. You can use hot Italian sausage or sweet Italian sausage, depending on your preference. Ground pork could be used instead of sausage. 
• Olive oil: Canola oil or vegetable oil can be used instead. 
• White onion: Yellow onion could be used instead. 
• Garlic: Fresh garlic will give the best flavor.
• Seasonings: A combination of crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Feel free to add additional seasonings, such as Italian seasoning.
• Chicken broth: Homemade bone broth or chicken stock could be used instead. 
• Canned diced tomatoes – Regular canned diced tomatoes are used, but you could try something like Ro-Tel tomatoes for a little heat. 
• Pasta: Short pasta, such as shells, orzo, cavatelli, or ditalini, works great for this soup.
• Heavy cream – Allow this to reach room temperature before slowly adding to the soup.

What Else Can I Add to This Soup?

I love adding all kinds of veggies to this soup, such as frozen peas, zucchini, kale, baby spinach, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. If you prefer a spicy soup, swap regular Italian sausage for hot Italian sausage and use spicy canned Ro-Tel tomatoes.

How to Make Italian Sausage Soup

1. Cook the sausage: Crumble and cook the Italian sausage in a large soup pot set over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Once cooked, drain any excess fat from the pot and set the cooked sausage aside in a bowl.
2. Soften the onions: In the same pot that was used to brown the sausage, add the olive oil and cook the diced onion for about 3 minutes or until translucent. 
3. Add seasonings: Stir the minced garlic and seasonings into the onions and continue to cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. 
4. Add broth and tomatoes: Turn up the heat to high and pour in the broth and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil. 
5. Cook the pasta: Add the pasta mixing well to combine, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, stirring often. 
6. Add the cooked sausage and cream: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cooked sausage and cream. Simmer the soup for 2 minutes. 
7. Serve: Serve this Italian sausage soup with fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

Can I Cook the Pasta Separately?

Cooking the pasta directly in the soup broth helps to thicken the soup and maximizes its flavor as the pasta absorbs the flavorful broth. That said, to avoid overcooked and potentially mushy pasta, you may prefer boiling the pasta separately.

That said, cooking the pasta separately has a few benefits. For example, it avoids overcooked and mushy pasta and prevents it from absorbing a lot of the broth, so if you plan on having leftovers, you may want to consider cooking the pasta separately.

Should you cook the pasta separately, you can thicken the soup by adding a cornstarch slurry, 1-2 tablespoons of tomato paste, or cream cheese.

How to Serve

I almost always serve Italian sausage soup with fresh bread smothered in butter, although it can be enjoyed as a complete meal without anything else added. You can also enjoy it with soft dinner rolls, grilled cheese sandwiches, or a light side salad, such as this classic wedge salad or Caesar salad. 

Storage and Freezing

You can store this Italian sausage soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Then, reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through. For best results, freeze this soup without the pasta. Add freshly boiled pasta to the thawed and heated soup just before serving. 

More Delicious Soup Recipes

• Turkey Soup Recipe
• Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe
• Caldo de Pollo Recipe (Mexican Chicken Soup)
• Albondigas Soup Recipe (Mexican Meatball Soup)
• The Best Chicken Soup Recipe
• Egg Drop Soup
• Soothing Pastina Soup
• Okra Soup Recipe