Indulge in a truly comforting experience with our **Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Soup**, a hearty and flavorful dish boasting a rich, velvety base, savory Italian sausage, perfectly tender pasta, vibrant fresh vegetables, and a delightful burst of herby sun-dried tomatoes.

If you love the irresistible combination of sausage and soup, you’ll also adore our White Bean and Sausage Soup or the robust flavors of Tuscan Sausage and Potato Soup.

The Ultimate Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Soup

Prepare to meet your new favorite soup! This Italian Sausage Pasta Soup recipe expertly blends the best elements of two classic comfort foods – a rich, savory sausage potato soup and a delightful pasta soup – into one incredibly satisfying bowl. The result is pure culinary magic, a dish so good it might just become a regular staple in your kitchen.

Our soup is wonderfully thick and luxuriously creamy, packed with bite-sized, tender pasta, perfectly browned, savory Italian sausage, and a medley of soft, sweet vegetables. What truly elevates this dish is the addition of intensely flavorful, herb-packed sun-dried tomatoes, which provide a vibrant burst of umami and aromatic depth that complements the creamy base beautifully.

This Italian Sausage Pasta Soup isn’t just a meal; it’s a warm hug in a bowl, promising comfort and satisfaction with every spoonful. For an even more indulgent experience, serve it alongside soft and fluffy dinner rolls or a crusty baguette, perfect for soaking up every last drop of that delicious broth!

Essential Ingredients for Your Italian Sausage Pasta Soup

Crafting this incredible Italian Sausage Pasta Soup requires a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that work together to create its signature flavor and texture. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:

• Olive Oil: Start with a good quality extra virgin olive oil. It’s essential for browning the sausage and building the initial layer of flavor for your soup.
• Italian Sausage: The star of the show! You can choose mild (also known as sweet sausage), hot, or a blend, depending on your spice preference. Sausages with higher fat content typically render more flavor into the broth, enriching the soup. If using cased sausage, remember to remove the casings before cooking.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds a luxurious richness and depth to the soup, forming the base of our savory vegetable sauté.
• Yellow Onion and Carrots: These classic aromatics form the foundation of flavor. Dice them finely so they soften beautifully into the soup, contributing natural sweetness without an unwanted crunch.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the most pungent and authentic flavor, but jarred minced garlic is a convenient substitute if time is short. Don’t skimp on this essential ingredient!
• All-Purpose Flour: This is used to create a roux, which thickens the soup to a perfect, creamy consistency and helps emulsify the broth and cream, preventing separation.
• Chicken Broth: The quality of your broth significantly impacts the final taste. Opt for a good store-bought option, like Swanson’s, or homemade chicken broth for the best results.
• Mini Farfalle Pasta (Mini Bowtie): Small pasta shapes are ideal for this soup, ensuring every spoonful has a balanced mix of ingredients. Mini farfalle, ditalini, or even small elbow macaroni work wonderfully. Just be sure to use a small size to prevent the pasta from dominating the texture.
• Heavy Cream: This is what gives the soup its incredibly rich and creamy texture. It transforms the broth into a velvety, decadent base.
• Kale: Fresh, finely chopped kale adds a touch of vibrant color, a pleasant texture, and a boost of nutrients. Fresh spinach is an excellent and equally delicious substitute if you prefer.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For a burst of concentrated tomato flavor and herbaceous notes, choose sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, preferably with herbs. Chop them finely to distribute their intense flavor throughout the soup.
• Parmesan Cheese: Always use good-quality grated Parmesan cheese from the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Its salty, nutty flavor and superior melting qualities are incomparable to the shelf-stable, pre-grated varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents and lack true cheese flavor.

Crafting Your Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Soup: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making this delightful soup is a straightforward process that yields incredibly flavorful results. Follow these steps for a perfect batch:

• Brown the Sausage: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage, along with salt and pepper. Sear it for about a minute on each side to develop a flavorful crust, then break it apart with a spoon and continue cooking until fully browned. Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from the pot, leaving approximately 1 tablespoon of grease behind. Drain and discard any excess fat. Set the browned sausage aside.
• Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the unsalted butter to the pot. Once melted, add the finely diced yellow onions and carrots. Sauté these vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and translucent, which should take about 7-9 minutes. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
• Form the Roux: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the sautéed vegetables. Cook for about one minute, stirring constantly. This step cooks out the raw flour taste and creates a light roux, which will thicken your soup.
• Build the Broth Base: Gradually pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, whisking continuously to create a smooth slurry (a thick, lump-free mixture). Then, slowly add the remaining chicken broth, whisking constantly and scraping the bottom of the pot to incorporate any flavorful browned bits. This prevents lumps and ensures a smooth soup base.
• Cook the Pasta: Bring the broth mixture to a rolling boil. Add your mini bowtie pasta (or chosen small pasta shape). Cook the pasta according to the package directions, but reduce the cooking time by one minute to ensure it’s slightly al dente and won’t become mushy when simmering in the soup. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Combine and Simmer: Once the pasta is nearly done, reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, chopped kale, and finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring until each addition is fully melted and incorporated to prevent clumping. Finally, return the browned Italian sausage to the pot.
• Final Adjustments and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can add a little more chicken broth or cream. Serve the soup hot, perhaps with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil.

Perfect Pairings: What To Serve With Italian Sausage Pasta Soup

This rich and creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Soup is incredibly satisfying on its own, but pairing it with a complementary side can elevate your meal to a whole new level. Here are some fantastic options:

1. Crusty Bread or Dinner Rolls: There’s nothing quite like dipping a slice of warm, crusty No-Knead Bread, slathered with butter, into a hearty soup. Another fantastic option is a soft and airy Focaccia, perfect for soaking up all the delicious broth.
2. Fresh Italian Salad: To contrast the richness of the creamy soup, a light and zesty Healthy Italian Salad is a superb choice. The crisp greens, fresh vegetables, and tangy vinaigrette offer a refreshing balance.
3. Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich: This iconic duo is a comfort food match made in heaven. A gooey, melty Grilled Cheese Sandwich provides the perfect savory counterpoint to the creamy soup.
4. Simple Fruit Salad: For a light and easy side, a bowl of fresh fruit is always a good idea. A seasonal Winter Fruit Salad can add a burst of freshness and natural sweetness to your meal.

More Comforting Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul:

• Cheeseburger Soup with a rich, cheesy, and creamy base that’s utterly irresistible.
• Ham And Bean Soup, an ideal recipe for utilizing leftover holiday ham and creating a hearty meal.
• Lasagna Soup with savory Italian sausage, delivering all the beloved flavors of lasagna in a comforting soup form.
• Buffalo Chicken Chili, a spicy and satisfying chili made effortlessly in the slow cooker.
• Southwestern Corn Chowder featuring sweet fire-roasted corn and vibrant Southwestern flavors.

★★★★★ (5 from 9 votes)

Italian Sausage Pasta Soup Recipe

By Chelsea Lords

This Italian Sausage Pasta Soup combines a creamy base, savory sausage, tender pasta, fresh vegetables, and herby sun-dried tomatoes for a truly comforting meal.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

• Large pot (5.5-quarts recommended)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or hot, see Note 1 below)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cups finely diced yellow onion (about 1 large onion)
• 2 cups finely diced carrots (about 4–5 carrots)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 7-1/2 cups chicken broth (Swanson’s is a good choice)
• 2 cups mini bowtie pasta (or other small pasta shape, see Note 2 below)
• 1-1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2-1/2 packed cups finely chopped kale (or spinach)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil with herbs)
• 1/2 packed cup grated Parmesan cheese (refrigerated, sandy texture, see Note 3 below)
• Hearty buttered bread (optional, for serving)
• Red pepper flakes (optional, for serving, for extra heat)

Instructions

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over high heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the Italian sausage, salt, and pepper. Sear for a minute on each side, then crumble and cook until thoroughly browned. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon, leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease in the pot. Set the cooked sausage aside.
2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter, diced onions, carrots, and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 7–9 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for another minute, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
3. Gradually add 1 cup of chicken broth, whisking constantly to form a smooth slurry. Slowly pour in the remaining broth, whisking and scraping the bottom of the pot to incorporate all the flavorful bits.
4. Bring the broth to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook according to package instructions, but subtract one minute from the recommended cooking time to ensure the pasta remains al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, chopped kale, and sun-dried tomatoes. Add the Parmesan cheese gradually, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring until it is fully melted and incorporated to prevent clumping. Finally, return the browned sausage to the pot.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. If you desire a thinner consistency, add a little more broth or cream. Serve hot with hearty buttered bread on the side. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if you enjoy a touch of heat.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Italian Sausage Selection: The quality of your sausage will significantly impact the soup’s flavor. Choose mild (sweet) or hot sausage based on your preference. If your sausage comes in casings, simply slice the casing and squeeze out the meat before cooking.

Note 2: Pasta Shape: Any small pasta shape will work well in this recipe, provided it cooks in approximately 6–8 minutes. Avoid using larger pasta shapes, as they can absorb too much liquid and alter the soup’s texture.

Note 3: Parmesan Cheese: For the best flavor and melting quality, use refrigerated grated Parmesan cheese with a sandy texture. Avoid the shelf-stable varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents, are overly salty, and lack authentic flavor.

Storage: To prevent the pasta from becoming mushy, store cooked pasta separately from the soup broth when saving leftovers. You can use a skimmer to easily remove the pasta. Reheat the soup gently, adding a bit more broth or cream if it has thickened too much.

Make Ahead: This soup is great for meal prep! Prepare the soup up to step 4 (cooking the pasta). Once the pasta is cooked, remove it and store it in a separate container. Add the cream, Parmesan, kale, and tomatoes to the broth, and stir in the sausage. Store this broth mixture separately from the pasta. When ready to serve, simply reheat both components and combine.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 754kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 1940mg | Potassium: 1286mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 30288IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 279mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.