Description
This hearty Italian Sausage Soup is a comforting blend of savory Italian sausage, aromatic garlic and onions, tender pasta, and creamy broth. Cooked in one pot, it’s perfect for a cozy meal and topped with fresh basil and parmesan cheese for an authentic Italian touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oils
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
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
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream, brought to room temperature
Carbohydrates
- 8 ounces short pasta (casarecce pasta recommended)
Garnishes
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: Crumble and cook the Italian sausage in a large soup pot set over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain the fat and remove the sausage from the pot using a large slotted spoon. Set the sausage aside in a bowl.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the olive oil to the same pot over medium heat and cook the diced onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper, cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add broth and tomatoes: Increase the heat to high, add the chicken broth and diced tomatoes, and 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, typically 7-15 minutes depending on pasta type.
- Finish the soup: Reduce the heat to low, stir in the cooked sausage and room temperature heavy cream. Simmer gently for 2 minutes to combine flavors.
- Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves and freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control salt levels.
- Bring heavy cream to room temperature before adding to prevent curdling.
- Casarecce pasta is recommended for texture, but any short pasta works.
- Adjust crushed red pepper to your preferred spice level.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
