Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
I think about the memories I hope our kids have when they think about their childhood as adults… a LOT.
I want them to remember a kitchen full of hearty, warm, good-for-the-soul-and-actual-nutrition food.
I want them to remember there always being a cozy blanket + a rescue dog to snuggle with.
I want them to remember without a doubt that we were the kind of family that said “I love you” often.
I want them to have a handful of traditions to choose from as their favorites, not because we forced them, but because they want to + genuinely love being a part of what we’ve all built together.
This soup is part of those in-the-kitchen traditions in our family home. What started as a quick experiment off of Pinterest has ended up as a go-to bowl of love that I serve multiple times a year in cold weather.
With only a 30-minute time commitment, this recipe is easy, flexible + guaranteed delicious because honestly, when is sausage + a cream sauce not delicious!?
We love that this conquers the weekly “comfort cheat meal” feeling in a shorter amount of time than going to pick up take-out. Our son refers to this as “That Sausage Soup” + there is something special about a kid’s request for a comfort meal like this. It feels like a recipe that will be in play when he comes home for a visit from college.
And we love that this is Italian because it nods to both of our family’s roots. There’s something so special about a connection to family through food past + present.
So, let’s start making this bowl of simple + delicious amore that saves well for leftovers (even though you likely won’t have any!).
Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
Equipment
- 1 Dutch oven
- 1 Silicone spatula
- 1 Garlic press
- 1 Knife
- 1 Ladle
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed, 12 oz. packages of sweet Italian sausage works fine here
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes or same amount of canned San Marzano tomatoes in sauce, crushed
- 8 oz smaller-sized pasta like ditalini
- 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) grated
- 4 oz cream cheese warmed or room temperature
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- salt + pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, optional (though a great addition!)
Instructions
- Cook the sausage + onion in a large Dutch oven until cooked thoroughly with onions translucent in color. Break apart the sausage as it cooks + drain any excess grease.
- Add the garlic + red pepper flakes. Mix + cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
- Add the broth, tomatoes, pasta + Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat + simmer until the pasta is cooked (about 6-8 minutes).
- Add the parmesan, cream cheese + heavy cream. Let the cheeses melt into the soup (about 5 minutes).
- Season with salt + pepper to taste. Top with the fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!
How to perfect this sausage soup recipe
- Be sure to top with the fresh chopped parsley. Get those greens in + get maximum flavor.
- Fresh ground pepper is significantly different than regular pepper. Use the pepper mill generously.
- Pair each bowl of soup with some crusty baguette slices because what soup isn’t amazing without a great textured bread? Use the baguette to absorb every last bit of that cream sauce broth.
- Make a double-batch + serve generously. Trust me, this goes FAST.
- Keep extra low-sodium chicken broth on-hand to add to the leftovers when you reheat them on the stovetop. The pasta tends to absorb the creamy broth when it’s saved overnight.
Want to make this recipe even healthier?
Here a few options for variations, if you’re feeling curious:
- Add 1/2 cup of diced roasted red peppers
- Add a good handful (4 oz) of fresh baby spinach at the end + let it wilt into the soup. (I love this as a way to use up that last of the spinach in the refrigerator before a fresh grocery shop.)
- Add 2 tablespoons of sliced basil just before serving, too. Paired with the parsley, this makes for a little immunity-boosting herb salad topper.
So, what do you think of this recipe?
Tag us @organicfamilyceo on Instagram to share when you make this soup + share with others!
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