Description
This hearty Italian Sausage Soup combines savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, and a creamy broth infused with garlic, crushed red pepper, and fresh basil. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup is easy to prepare and delivers rich, comforting flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Base
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Broth and Pasta
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces short pasta, such as casarecce
Finishing Touches
- 1 cup heavy cream, brought to room temperature
- 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. Drain the fat and remove the sausage using a large slotted spoon. Set aside in a bowl.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add olive oil and cook diced onion over medium heat until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Broth and Tomatoes: Increase the heat to high and pour in the chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook Pasta: Add your choice of short pasta to the boiling broth and cook according to package instructions until al dente, generally between 7 to 15 minutes.
- Combine and Simmer: Lower the heat to low, stir in the cooked sausage and room temperature heavy cream, and let the soup simmer gently for 2 minutes.
- Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and top 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 extra chicken broth if you prefer a thinner soup consistency.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version, but the soup will be less rich.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free if needed.
- Fresh herbs such as parsley or oregano can be added for extra flavor variations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
