Description
A rich and creamy Italian sausage soup loaded with hearty vegetables, fresh spinach, and a generous amount of Parmesan cheese, perfect for a comforting meal any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
Seasonings and Liquids
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juices
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Greens and Seasoning
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach or kale
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add diced onion, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook for 4–5 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften and onions become translucent.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes if using, mixing well to combine all flavors.
- Add Broth and Tomatoes: Pour in the chicken broth and diced tomatoes with their juices. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 10–15 minutes to develop flavors.
- Incorporate Cream and Cheese: Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Simmer for another 5 minutes until the soup is creamy and slightly thickened.
- Add Greens: Add the chopped spinach or kale and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Serve the soup hot with extra Parmesan cheese on top if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a lighter version.
- This soup pairs well with crusty bread or garlic toast.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
