Description
This hearty Italian Sausage Soup combines savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, and a creamy tomato broth infused with garlic and crushed red pepper for a comforting meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound Italian sausage
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Liquids and Broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream, brought to room temperature
Pasta & Garnishes
- 8 ounces short pasta (casarecce pasta recommended)
- Fresh basil, for serving
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: Crumble and cook the Italian sausage in a large soup pot over medium heat until fully cooked, about 7-10 minutes. Drain excess fat and remove sausage from the pot using a slotted spoon. Set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Add olive oil to the same pot and cook the diced onion over medium heat until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper, cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add broth and tomatoes: Increase heat to high, add chicken broth and diced tomatoes, then bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook the pasta: Add the pasta to the boiling soup and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually 7-15 minutes depending on pasta type.
- Combine and simmer: Reduce heat to low, return the cooked sausage to the pot, stir in the heavy cream, and let the soup simmer gently for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves and freshly grated Parmesan cheese as desired.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Add more chicken broth as needed if the soup becomes too thick during cooking.
- Use low-sodium broth to better control salt levels.
- For a spicier version, increase crushed red pepper amount.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
