Description
Hearty Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup delivers comfort straight from Italian kitchens with rich, bold flavors that dance on your palate. Simmering sausage, tender vegetables, and smooth parmesan create a soul-warming meal perfect for chilly evenings you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (450 g) Italian sausage
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach or kale
Liquids and Dairy:
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (150 g) small pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Brown Italian sausage in a large pot over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, crumbling with a wooden spoon until fully cooked. Transfer meat to a separate plate.
- In the same pot, sauté diced onion, minced garlic, carrots, and celery for 4-5 minutes until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, bringing to a gentle boil. Return cooked sausage to the pot and stir thoroughly.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and incorporate heavy cream, milk, Parmesan cheese, and uncooked pasta. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking.
- Season the soup with Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper, adjusting to taste preferences.
- Add fresh spinach or kale, allowing greens to wilt for 2-3 minutes until tender and integrated into the soup.
- Remove from heat and let soup rest for 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
- Ladle into serving bowls and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese if desired, serving immediately while hot.
Notes
- Swap hot Italian sausage for mild versions if you prefer less heat, ensuring a gentler flavor profile for sensitive palates.
- Consider using gluten-free pasta to make this soup celiac-friendly without compromising texture or taste.
- Reduce calories by substituting half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream, maintaining the creamy consistency while lightening the dish.
- Boost nutrition by adding extra vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms, increasing the soup’s vegetable content and creating more complex flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-22 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg