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This cozy Italian sausage soup is pure comfort in a bowl. It’s made with tender orzo pasta, flavorful Italian sausage, and a rich tomato broth, and comes together in about 30 minutes.
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Why you'll love this Italian sausage soup recipe
Let me tell you, this soup is pure comfort in a bowl. The combination of savory Italian sausage simmered in a rich, seasoned tomato broth with fluffy orzo pasta is everything you want in a cozy soup for dinner. Have you tried my lemon chicken orzo soup yet? The comfort factor is off the charts!
If you don’t fancy yourself a strong cook, trust me, this recipe will change that. It’s simple, straightforward, and quick: chop, sauté, simmer, and devour!
You can make it on the stove or in your pressure cooker in about 30 minutes, and the way it fills the kitchen with the most inviting aroma is worth it alone. Serve sausage soup with soft French bread, my easy no-knead focaccia bread, or top with homemade croutons and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Then sit back and enjoy the smiles around the table.
Ingredient notes
These simple ingredients make this soup easy, inviting, and doable for any cooking level.
- Olive oil – A staple for sautéing. You can use any neutral cooking oil if you don’t have olive oil on hand.
- Italian sausage – Choose mild or spicy depending on your taste. If you only have mild sausage, add a pinch of crushed red pepper for a touch of heat.
- Onions – White, yellow, or red onions all work here. Each brings a slightly different flavor, so use whatever you have available.
- Celery – Adds subtle crunch and depth, balancing the heartiness of the sausage.
- Garlic – Essential for that classic savory flavor. Adjust to your liking — garlic lovers, go for it!
- Orzo pasta – Small, rice-shaped pasta that cooks right in the soup, giving it body and a comforting texture.
- Chicken broth – Reduced-sodium broth gives you more control over saltiness. Vegetable or beef broth also work well.
- Canned tomatoes – Diced tomatoes create a lighter, chunkier broth, while crushed tomatoes make it thicker and more tomato-rich. Use whichever you prefer.
- Italian seasoning – Use any store-bought blend or try my easy 5-ingredient homemade Italian seasoning blend.
- Salt and pepper – Essential for enhancing and balancing flavors. Always taste and adjust before serving.
How to make this sausage soup recipe
Start by sautéing the Italian sausage in olive oil over medium-high heat. Browning the sausage adds incredible flavor and depth to the soup, so don’t skip this step! Once it’s nicely browned, transfer the sausage to a plate and set it aside.
Next, use tongs and a folded paper towel to soak up any excess grease, leaving about a teaspoon in the pot for sautéing. Add the onion, celery, and garlic, and cook until tender and fragrant. Return the cooked sausage to the pot, then add the orzo pasta, tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together to combine.
Bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the soup simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked through, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking.
Serve the soup warm. I love topping mine with homemade croutons, Parmesan cheese, and fresh chopped parsley. The mix of textures, colors, and flavors makes every bowl irresistible!
Recipe tips
- Pasta cooking time: When substituting orzo with other pasta, adjust the cooking time as needed to cook the pasta to your liking.
- Soup consistency: To thicken the soup, simmer to reduce excess liquid. Add small amounts of water or broth as it simmers to thin it.
- Stir frequently: Stir as needed during the simmering stage to keep the orzo from sticking to itself or the pot.
- Reheating tip: Orzo absorbs liquid as it cools, so you'll likely need to add broth or water when reheating to bring back the perfect consistency.
Sausage soup variations
- Sausage variety: For a leaner option, use turkey or chicken sausage. For a little extra heat, try hot Italian sausage.
- Tomato options: You can use any variety of canned tomatoes—diced, crushed, or whole. If you’re using fresh tomatoes, depending on their ripeness, give them a few extra minutes of simmering to soften.
- Broth options: Swap chicken broth with vegetable or beef broth to change the flavor.
- Add greens: Stir in chopped kale midway through cooking or spinach toward the end for added nutrients and color.
- Extra vegetables: Add diced zucchini at the start of simmering for more texture, or sauté bell peppers or mushrooms along with the onions and celery.
More favorite soup recipes
- Italian Lentil Soup Recipe
- Ham and Bean Soup
- Easy Loaded Potato Soup Recipe
- The Best Lasagna Soup Recipe
- Sausage Kale and White Bean Soup
- Easy Tortilla Soup
- Zuppa Toscana
- Cabbage Roll Soup
- Stuffed Pepper Soup
📖 Recipe
The Best Italian Sausage Soup Recipe
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Video
Note about scaling
When scaling, the light gray ingredient notes after the comma don’t change. Adjust as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 pound Italian Sausage (mild or hot), casings removed if using links
- ½ medium Onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 ribs Celery, diced
- 3 cloves Garlic, finely grated
- ½ cup Orzo Pasta (uncooked), or 1 cup larger pasta type
- 2 (14.5-ounce cans) Tomatoes (diced or crushed), undrained
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt, or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Water, as needed to adjust consistency
Recommended toppings
- Fresh parsley, croutons, and Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Get pressure cooker instructions in the recipe footnotes
- Heat a 4.5-quart soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the OLIVE OIL and heat until shimmering.
- Add the ITALIAN SAUSAGE and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate and set aside.
- Drain excess grease, leaving about a teaspoon for sauteing. Add the ONION, CELERY, and GARLIC, and sauté until tender and fragrant.
- Return the SAUSAGE to the pot. Add the ORZO, TOMATOES (with their juice), CHICKEN BROTH, ITALIAN SEASONING, SALT, and PEPPER.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the ORSO PASTA is tender.
- Adjust the consistency with more WATER or BROTH if needed.
- Serve warm with recommended toppings.
- To store: Cool completely. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
- Pasta cooking time: When substituting orzo with other pasta, adjust the cooking time as needed to cook the pasta to your liking.
- Soup consistency: To thicken the soup, simmer to reduce excess liquid. Add small amounts of water or broth as it simmers to thin it.
- Stir frequently: Stir as needed during the simmering stage to keep the orzo from sticking to itself or the pot.
- Reheating tip: Orzo absorbs liquid as it cools, so you'll likely need to add broth or water when reheating to bring back the perfect consistency.
Equipment
- 4.5-quart Dutch oven or stockpot or Dutch oven
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
Judyq says
Italian Sausage & Orzo Soup.
I tried this soup today. Quite tasty. I do tend to "cut corners" a bit - ie: I broke up the Italian sausage, sautéed that with the onions, celery and garlic all at the same time - added the orzo pasta for a bit, then added all the rest of the ingredients.
turned out quite nice - quite enjoyed it for lunch today. I used Italian seasoned diced tomatoes, & added the dry Italian seasoning as called for. NEXT TIME - I would cook the orzo separately as it grows quite large & absorbs a lot of the liquid, will add more than the 1 tsp of italian seasoning. so when I warm up the containers than are in the freezer, will have to add more chicken broth t make it more like soup. OR - the other option - is leave it the way it is, and serve it with rye bread & butter and have at as a stew. But, I would add at least double the amount of sausage meat.
sorry - just my opinion. It is a very tasty soup as it is, but I have a tendency to kick things up a notch or 2.
I thank you for the opportunity of stating my thoughts. (Judy - East Selkirk MB Canada)
Traci Antonovich says
Glad you enjoyed the soup, Judy. I added recipe notes about adding broth because orzo does tend to soak it up, even after the soup has cooled. As for ingredient amounts, the beauty of soup is that it's hard to mess up, so add and subtract to your heart's content. Thanks!
Pastor Brian says
A fine soup! A staple for the upcoming winter.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks SO much, Pastor Brian! Love hearing that...we consider it a staple too 🙂
JB says
Love, love, love this orzo sausage soup! Made this in the Instant Pot and it turned out fantastic! Comfort food at its finest.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, JB! So glad you love this as much as I do 🙂
Mary says
I love this soup. I used Italian turkey sausage but otherwise followed exactly. Yummy!
Traci Antonovich says
Mary...thank you so much for the feedback. Turkey sausage is a great idea and I'll add that to the recipe notes. So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks again! 🙂
Christine says
This sounds delicious! If I were to omit the tomatoes should more liquid be used, since the tomatoes aren’t drained?
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Christine, not necessarily, but it won't hurt anything if you do. In fact, the orzo tends to soak up the broth, and you might end up adding more anyway. Hope that helps 🙂
Kyle M. says
I used my homemade Italian sausage, added Sriracha, Thai pepper flakes, fresh basil (at the end) and doubled the sausage. Next time I will use a bit more onion and garlic and substitute Italian stewed tomatoes... Overall, it is an excellent, quick recipe! Thanks! Kyle M.
Traci Antonovich says
So glad to hear it, Kyle. I love your customizations b/c I am crazy about Thai flavors 🙂 I'm happy you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback.
Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says
I love this soup! The weather today is perfect for it. And I appreciate having both Instant Pot and stovetop instructions. Thank you!
Traci Antonovich says
You're so welcome, Marylynn...and thanks for the kind words 🙂
Tisha says
Love a good hearty soup this time of year!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Tisha...enjoy!
Vicki says
Excellent soup! So much flavor. Will definitely be making again. Thank you.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, thanks for taking the time to review 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
This soup is an absolute stunner, Traci. Sausage is one of my favorite bases for soup because it adds so much flavor. It's 95° outside and I would totally eat a BIG bowl of this right now. Actually, you've made me quite hungry.
Traci Antonovich says
Aww thanks, Lisa...I'm so flattered 🙂
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
This is seriously the most comforting soup I've seen a while. Amazing.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Jocelyn! I'm flattered 🙂
Caroline says
I love how hearty this is - a definite meal in a bowl, perfect for colder weather!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Caroline! Love the meal in a bowl reference 🙂
Sara says
Perfect fall soup! Yum!!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Sara! Enjoy!
Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says
This soup is so hearty and flavorful. Love that it can be made in just 30 minutes!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Marlynn. Yep, of course, it's always better the next day, but it gets dinner on the table in a hurry 🙂
Genevieve from @fittyfoodlicious says
Pinning for later! Thank you so much! This looks amazing!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Genevieve! Love hearing that...enjoy!!
Emily says
YUM, this looks so hearty and delicious, perfect for Autumn!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks so much, Emily 🙂 Yes, bring on autumn and ALL the Italian soups 🙂
Andrea says
Such a flavorful and awesome looking soup. My family is going to love this.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Andrea! Hope they love it! 🙂
Rebecca says
this soup looks so warm and comforting! love anything with sausage in it too so I know it's a winner
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Rebecca! Love hearing that 🙂
Soniya says
Such a delicious and hearty soup! I have never cooked orzo but I am too tempted and add orzo in my grocery list! Can't wait to try it!
Traci Antonovich says
Great Soniya and thanks! You can literally throw this into a soup during the cooking process. Let me know if you ever have any questions about it 🙂
Beth says
I, too, have been slightly obsessed with soups lately! It's been so cold! I love the swap of the Italian sausage! It must really bump up the flavor and it's a whole lot easier than making bunches of mini meatballs!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha I love it that you picked up on that trick, Beth. I rarely have the time, or patience, for mini meatballs 😉
Dannii says
That looks like such a comforting soup. I love orzo, but really don’t use it enough in my cooking.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks! And I hope to inspire you, Dannii! It's so easy to throw into a soup while it's cooking 🙂
Natalie says
This soup looks so comforting and delicious! I can't wait to make it when it's a bit colder around here ♥ Thanks for a great recipe!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks so much, Natalie! Hope it inspires you during that cold weather 🙂
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Soup season is the BEST season!! I love nothing more than a bowl of homemade soup on a cold Autumn night! This looks utterly divine and I must make it! Printed the recipe so we can enjoy it; looks so delicious!
Traci Antonovich says
I'm so with you, Annie...and you're so sweet! Love to hear how it works out for you 🙂
David @ Cooking Chat says
Definitely a soup I would enjoy! I like to cook with whole wheat pasta for the nutritional benefit you mention.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks David...yes, I'm all about the whole wheat pasta! Love it in soup 🙂
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
This looks like such a tasty soup! Love that it only takes a short amount of time too.
Traci Antonovich says
Heyy thanks! Yes, it's a quick soup that goes the distance all week 🙂
Pretty says
It's definitely is that time of year to have soup and lots of it! This soup recipe looks lovely.
Traci Antonovich says
Thank you...and I soooo love soup season! 🙂
Luci's Morsels says
I love the flavors you've included in this soup! Yummy! I have to try this one. It would make the perfect easy, reheat meal to eat throughout the week.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Luci!...you're so right about the reheat meal during the week. I live for that! 🙂