Italian Sausage Soup

Make this richly flavored hearty Italian Sausage Soup in under 30 minutes.  It's a winter warmer soup!

Italian Sausage Soup

If you’re looking for an easy soup for a busy evening or even a quick lunch, this is it!  It's really flavorful and doesn't require hours of simmering on the stove.  I always love a good soup, especially during the fall and winter months.  It just gives me all kinds of comfort feels.

I was craving Italian flavors to I decided to make a variation of a sausage soup using turkey Italian sausage links that I removed from their casings for a little healthier version.   Pork Italian sausage can be used if you prefer.  I also included some onions, fresh chopped Roma tomatoes, zucchini, and baby spinach.  Add in a little wine and some broth and spices and soup in served!  All under 30 minutes.

There's nothing better than a soup that warms you up inside and tastes delicious.  This is one of those soups.  Perfect with a side salad and some crusty Italian bread to soak up all the scrumptious broth!

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• turkey Italian sausage, mild or spicy, (I used sausage links removed from their casings)
• yellow onion
• fresh garlic
• red pepper flakes
• tomato paste
• Roma tomatoes
• low-sodium chicken broth
• red wine
• Italian seasoning
• small pasta such as rotini
• zucchini
• baby spinach

Substitutions and Variations

• Use pork Italian sausage or any other version of ground meat you would like

• Add 1/2 cup of rice instead of pasta - adjust the cooking time for the rice

• Add kale or Swiss chard instead of the baby spinach

• Add in mushrooms, green beans, carrots, celery, or bell peppers for a variety of vegetables and different flavor profiles

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• I don't want to add alcohol:  If you do not want to add in wine just add in more chicken broth instead.

• One pot dish:  This can be made all in one pot.  I use this cast iron Lodge Dutch oven and it's perfect for all of my soups.

• Pasta type?  Any small pasta will work with the recipe.

• Storing:  This soup will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days.  

• Freezing:  I would not freeze this soup by making it without adding the pasta.  Or you can just use rice and freeze it with that.  Once you thaw the soup you should make some fresh cooked pasta and add it to the soup at that time.  Freeze for up to 3 months.

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Italian Sausage Soup

serves 4-6

1 pound turkey Italian sausage, mild or spicy, removed from casings

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/4 cup (4 oz.) tomato paste
5 fresh Roma tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
7 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup red wine

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 cups pasta
2 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
2 -3 large handfuls baby spinach

In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, heat olive oil. Add the turkey Italian sausage meat and the onion breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon while it cooks.  Cook until onions are translucent and meat is cooked through.  Add zucchini and cook for 4 minutes.   

Add garlic, pepper flakes, and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add wine and deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon.  Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, pasta, and chicken broth stir to combine. Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes, until veggies are tender and pasta is cooked.

Stir in the spinach until wilted and serve.