This Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup is one of those dishes that warms you from the inside out!
Loaded with Italian sausage, veggies, and pasta and finished with parmesan, every spoonful is packed with hearty flavors. It's a recipe you'll want to keep in your winter meal plan rotation.
This soup is perfect for chilly nights when you want something cozy and satisfying. It's filling enough to be a meal on its own, especially when served with a crusty piece of bread for dipping.
Ingredient Notes
These notes are here to help make this recipe a success; they cover some but not all ingredients. For a complete ingredient list, check out the recipe card below.
Italian Sausage: You can use hot or sweet sausage meat. Pick a variety that your family loves. If your sausage has a casing, make sure to remove it and crumble the sausage before cooking. I love the ones that are heavy on fennel.
Onion: I use a regular brown onion but you can use red, yellow, or white.
Garlic: The recipe suggests 5 cloves, but as with all my recipes, measure garlic with your heart!
Dry white wine: Anything that you like to drink is good here. You could also use a red wine. If you don't consume alcohol, replace it with extra broth and a ¼ teaspoon of balsamic vinegar.
Chicken broth: I go for low sodium. You can use beef or vegetable broth as well.
Small pasta shape: Elbow Macaroni, Ditalini, Mini Farfalle, Tubetti, or Mini Penne will all work here. You can break spaghetti or linguine into small lengths if you don't have a small shape. I think Orzo and Pastina are too small and get lost in the soup. The texture of this soup is thick and warming andI like the chunky shape of a pasta in there.
Heavy cream: You can use whipping cream or thickened cream. You can replace it with half and half, but the finished soup won't be as rich and comforting.
Parmesan: Buying a block and grating yourself is the best way to get freshly grated parmesan. Pre-grated cheese is coated to stop it from sticking together, and this coating can make your soup grainy. (And no one wants that!)
Recipe Tips
We've tested this recipe at least 3 times to ensure it works well for you. Have a look at our tips for getting the best dish you can!
- When cooking your sausage, use your spatula to break it into small pieces, but don't go crazy! You want it to be chunky.
- If your sausage is extra fatty, you may need to use less extra virgin olive oil or spoon some excess fat from your pan.
- Don't let the garlic burn; it will make your soup bitter. Give it 30 seconds in the pan before adding the wine. I like to have the wine already in a measuring cup so I can pour it in as soon as I need it.
- The pasta will continue to cook as the soup sits, so I reduce the cooking time by 2 minutes from what the packet suggests.
- Grate your own parmesan; it will make a big difference! I promise!
- Sprinkle the parmesan over the soup and stir it gently to combine. This stops it from clumping together.
Why You'll Love This Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
- It is quick and easy to make.
- It is warm, cozy, and packed with flavor.
- You can add extra veg.
- It is a full meal and just needs a little bread on the side.
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Recipe Adaptations
These are all just suggestions and things that have worked in our test kitchen, but it is your dinner, so adapt it to suit your family. That is the beauty of cooking; we can all create our own delicious meals.
- Add extra veg: You can add mushrooms and/or bell peppers when you are cooking the onions. Or stir through some baby spinach or kale at the end of cooking.
- Add spice: Add some red pepper flakes or some chopped chili for a bit of heat in your soup.
- Add different cheeses: This is also delicious with an aged or smoked gouda. Or go for something rich and creamy like goat's cheese or feta.
Serving Suggestions for Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
Sides: All this soup needs is some crusty bread. You could also serve it with a green salad or maybe a sandwich. (Especially if you have leftover turkey from Thanksgiving/Christmas)
Wine: For a white wine, go with a Chardonnay, but aim for one with a bit of oak. The creaminess of the soup pairs beautifully with the buttery notes in the wine. Another great choice is a Vermentino, which has a bright acidity and a hint of herbaceousness, which pairs well with the creamy soup and the fennel in the Italian sausage.
If you're in the mood for red, a Chianti is a classic Italian choice that works wonderfully here. Its bright acidity complements the savory sausage. Alternatively, try a Barbera - it's smooth, fruity, and has just enough acidity to handle the richness of the Parmesan.
Enjoy x
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Get the Recipe
Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (see note 1)
- 1 onion chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup dry white wine (see note 2)
- 4 cups chicken broth (see note 3)
- 1 can tomatoes 14.5oz/400g can
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon ground fennel
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 oz small pasta shape (see note 4)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan grated
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped (see note 5)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Cook the sausage for 5 minutes until it is starting to color. Use your spatula to break it apart, but leave it chunky.1 lb Italian sausage
- Add the chopped onion and cook for a further 5 minutes.1 onion
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds before adding the white wine.5 cloves garlic¼ cup dry white wine
- Add the broth, tomatoes, dried herbs, salt and pepper. Then, bring to a simmer.4 cups chicken broth1 can tomatoes1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs½ teaspoon dried basil½ teaspoon ground fennel½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cook for 5 minutes before adding the pasta. Cook it for 2 minutes less than the packet suggests.8 oz small pasta shape
- Add in the heavy cream and bring back to a simmer.1 cup heavy cream
- Sprinkle the parmesan over the soup and gently stir to combine.1 cup parmesan
- Check your seasoning, stir through the chopped parsley, and serve.2 tablespoon fresh parsley
Notes
- You can use hot or sweet sausage meat. Pick a variety that your family loves. If your sausage has a casing, make sure to remove it and crumble the sausage before cooking.
- Any wine that you like to drink is good here. You could also use a red wine. If you don't consume alcohol, replace it with extra broth and a ¼ teaspoon of balsamic vinegar.
- You can use beef or vegetable broth as well.
- Elbow Macaroni, Ditalini, Mini Farfalle, Tubetti, or Mini Penne will all work here. You can break spaghetti or linguine into small lengths if you don't have a small shape. Orzo and Pastina are too small and get lost in the soup.
- Buying a block and grating your parmesan is best. Pre-grated cheese is coated to stop it from sticking together, and this coating can make your soup grainy.
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
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