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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.
JMART7 says
I’ve made this at least 5 times, and it is always a winner with the whole family. I like to add zucchini and spinach and top it off with fresh Parmesan. Delicious! Thanks
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome!!! So glad to hear you're enjoying this recipe. Hard to go wrong with Italian Sausage Soup, but your add-ins are on point Thanks for the review!
Vickie Brown says
Delicious! I used 1 lb of sausage and 1 cup of orzo because I like a less brothy soup! Makes a hearty meal in a snap!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Vickie! Glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks so much for the feedback
Joanne says
Traci..this is a winner. Did it on stovetop. Added 5 oz bag of fresh spinach. I pound of mild sausage and 3/4 cup of orzo to the other ingredients. Wanted to make sure we had leftovers. Also extra liquid. It was delicious. We enjoyed with French bread. Just the two of us.here and we loved it. My broth was turkey broth I had made with carcass from Thanksgiving I had in freezer.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Joanne! So glad you enjoyed it. Spinach is always good in Italian sausage soup. Thanks for the review
Kim says
Awesome soup!!! Used 3/4 c orzo and 8 c broth -our family likes a higher pasta ratio in soup! Hubby said in the top 10 of our soup recipes!
The Kitchen Girl says
Woot! That's quite a compliment! I'm so glad your family is enjoying it. Italian sausage soup is def in our top 10 too Thanks for the feedback
Relaine says
I'm making this tonight. Could not find the orzo so im using another whole wheat pasta and im going to add a little kale. I dont doubt it should be a hit.
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Relaine...sounds perfect! Are you planning to make it in the Instant Pot or on the stove? Either way, any whole wheat pasta will work for this recipe. Let me know if you have any questions. Hope you love it...cheers! 🙂
Kim says
Definitely 2 thumbs up on this one! I will definitely add some spinach the next time around. I used spicy Italian sausage.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Kim! Glad you enjoyed this one 🙂 Yep, spinach or kale are always welcome in sausage soup. Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback
Amanda says
Made this tonight. As we have a younger child, we used mild Italian sausage. I used vegetable broth as that’s what I had on hand. An absolute hit with my family and a recipe that will go on file as a keeper. Next time I will add spinach I think but it’s great without as well.
Sabrina says
This was great! My 4 year old ate an entire bowl! Really great flavor! I added some fresh spinach for for more veggies and 1/2 cup parm cheese and used bow tie pasta. I will def make this again! Very good filling!!!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awww, yayyy! I love it when the littles sign off on a meal. I'm so glad to be part of your dinner success. Thanks for letting me know...much appreciated 🙂
Sherri D says
Great soup recipe! I substituted rotelle with green chiles and doubled the recipe. I love Orzo in anything. My husband is all about it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Sherri! Right there with you on the orzo 🙂 So glad the hubs signed off too! Thanks for letting me know
Tracey says
Delicious and easy.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Tracey! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 Italian sausage soup is one of our favorites for sure!
Marcie Tuggle says
Delicious and easy! I’m about to make another pot to freeze for this winter.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome! Glad to hear it, Marcie and thanks for taking the time to leave a review 🙂 Much appreciated! Cheers!
LISA says
Delicious soup! Did 1lb of turkey sausage instead, AMAZING! Thanks for sharing your recipe!! Leftovers tomorrow!
The Kitchen Girl says
You're SO weclome, Lisa! So glad you enjoyed Turkey sausage soup sounds amazing too 🙂 Thanks for stopping back by to leave review!
Diana Stevens says
Made this soup today and my husband and I loved it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Diana! Italian sausage soup is pretty easy to love and I'm glad to get your vote. Thanks for taking the time to let me know
Kelly T. says
Excellent recipe! Very simple to make& very delicious and comforting.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Kelly! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to review
Tami says
It is a cold, rainy day and we are deep into work/school at home. This soup was just what I needed! My husband doesn't like soup, my teen son doesn't like anything, but we all ate and enjoyed it. It was warm and comforting.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Tami! Can't tell you how many times I've heard an identical story about other half not liking soup but eating the heck out of this one LOL. So glad the family signed off and thanks for letting me know
Rachael says
This was a hit!! I was having family over who had been traveling so I was looking for something easy and comforting to made and this was a winner. I was surprised by the amount of flavor because of how simple it was to throw together. I used diced tomatoes flavored with garlic , basil and oregano and used bow tie pasta because it's what I had on hand , just did the two minute cook. Will be making again !
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Rachael! I'm so glad to be a part of your great experience. This truly is one of our favorite soups too, so I'm feelin the love Thanks for taking the time to let me know
Kristi says
I looked through the comments but didn’t find anything about it being already asked.
Can this be doubled in a 6 quart IP? We love leftovers so I don’t think the single recipe is going to be enough, lol!
The Kitchen Girl says
Hiya Kristi. Yep...this recipe comes up to line 6 in the 6-quart IP so you can double it with no problem. Hope you love it...it's our favorite sausage soup recipe
Kathy Bennett says
Awesome recipe. I tweaked by using 1# chorizo sausage & added some chopped kale at end of cook time. I did cook 4 minutes & came out perfect! Thank you for the great recipe!!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Kathy! So glad to hear it Yep, kale is always a great add for sausage soup! Thanks for the feedback and happy you enjoyed it
Kristi says
This has turned into my favorite soup. I like adding cubes zucchini and yellow squash for some extra veggie action! I make it on Sunday and warm it all week for lunch!
The Kitchen Girl says
Oh awesome, Kristi and thanks for the feedback! I'm so glad to be a part of your awesome meals through the week. We LOVE this soup too
Jeannine says
I have made this recipe over and over again! It’s such an easy dish and all my kids devour it! Definite bonus! A staple in our string of dinners. Absolutely delicious.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Jeannine! Soooo glad to hear it! I always love it when the kids sign off I'm so glad to be a part of your well-loved dinner! Thanks for letting me know
Victoria says
I can't stop recommending this recipe to everyone I know! It's accessible and a delicious base for endless variations depending on what's in season / what you have lying around. Tonight I am feeling fancy and will be serving this with parmesan crisps. I'm hungry just thinking about it! Thank you for sharing this incredible soup!
The Kitchen Girl says
Victoria...boom!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this lovely feedback! It sounds like you love this sausage soup as much as we do Yayyyy! Thanks for sharing it with your people
Teri Knorr says
This recipe was amazing!! Love love love it! I used hot Italian sausage and added a half bag of frozen spinach for kicks. It was perfection. Thank you for such a tasty recipe!!
The Kitchen Girl says
What a great review, Teri! I think you might just feel the same way about this sausage soup as we do But I always love hearing it from someone else...thanks for taking the time
Jeff says
Oh man, delicious EVERY time!! So good that making it once a month is never enough Thanks TKG!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thank you...lovvve hearing it, Jeff! So glad you love this soup as much as I do
Natasja says
Such a yummy recipe! Made it vegan by using beyond meat sausages and veggie broth and added some broccoli. The whole family loved it!
The Kitchen Girl says
Ohhhh Italian sausage soup with vegan sausage...great idea! So glad you enjoyed and thanks for the review ❤️
Grace says
I am making a bunch of food for my in-laws who are quarantining. Does this freeze well?
The Kitchen Girl says
It does! Airtight containers, up to 90 day, thaw first, then reheat. Let me know if you have any more questions...enjoy!