Got extra Italian sausage? Check out my Tuscan White Bean Soup or Sausage Tortellini Soup next or swap it for the ground beef in my easy Cabbage Roll Soup recipe! Soup season is my favorite season, so today I’m bringing you one of our new favorites! This Sausage Orzo Soup is loaded with flavor, protein and veggies. Italian sausage is one of my favorite ingredients for a comforting meal (it adds so much delicious spice!), and orzo is the perfect size for spoon-scooping. It has plenty of veggies, protein and grains to make it a well-rounded meal! Soups are easy to make, and they’re nutritious as well as comforting, especially when pasta is involved. I know my family is getting ample nutrients, and it’s filling enough that you shouldn’t need many sides to make it into a complete meal! (As long as there’s bread for dunking 😉). If you love this sausage soup recipe, you’ll also enjoy my Italian Wedding Soup, Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup, and my Italian Sausage Soup recipe!
Ingredients Needed:
Oil: canola oil or olive oil will work well to sauté the vegetables. Vegetables: a classic mirepoix of carrots, celery, and onion will give you a great savory flavor base for this delicious soup. Sausage: I’ve used a mild Italian sausage here, but you can use spicy or sweet Italian sausage instead if you prefer. Tomatoes: use a combination of canned diced tomatoes and tomato paste to give the soup its tomato base. Seasoning: freshly minced garlic, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes (for a bit of spice), and salt make this a flavorful soup! Broth: I use low-sodium chicken broth to add flavor as it allows me to better control the saltiness of the soup. Pasta: orzo pasta works well in this recipe, but other types of short-cut pasta would work well too. (Bought extra orzo? Try this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup next!) Spinach: use fresh spinach leaves to add a great texture, nutrition, and color here. Cream: heavy cream makes this soup deliciously creamy. Full-fat is best, but lower-fat cream will work too. You can also leave it out for a dairy-free option. Red Pepper Flakes: add a bit of heat to the soup.
How to Make Italian Sausage Orzo Soup
This recipe is easy to make, and it’s ready in just 40 minutes. The full recipe with detailed instructions and tips can be found in the recipe card below.
Tips and Notes
Chopping vegetables: Chop the onion, carrots, and celery into small pieces to release the most flavor, and help them cook more evenly. Soup thickens as it cools: The soup may thicken as it cools, so add in some extra broth or a little bit of water if you need to before serving, or after reheating it from being in the fridge. Cook the pasta separately: I usually cook the pasta right in the soup. This works great if you are serving right away. If you are cooking the soup to freeze or serve later, you may find that it works better to cook the pasta separately and add just before serving. This way it will stay al dente and not become soft and soak up the broth.
Sausage Orzo Soup Variations
Add extra flavor. Add even more flavor to this great soup with some freshly cracked black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, or garnish the soup with some crispy bacon to the soup! Spice it up! Use spicy Italian sausage, or put some chili powder, cayenne pepper, or diced jalapeño to add more spice to this recipe. Serve it with cheese. Top the soup with some freshly grated parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This hearty soup is great on its own, but if you want it to go a bit further, you can serve it with a side salad or other veggies as some bread to soak up the juices! Try my Easy Broccoli Salad, this Air Fryer Broccoli, Roasted Carrots, or Air Fryer Green Beans for more nutrients. These Homemade Breadsticks, Mom’s Homemade Buns, or crusty bread like this No Knead Artisan Bread would be delicious!
More Delicious Soup Recipes To Try
Crockpot Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Creamy Vegetable Soup
Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Soup (with hidden veggies!)
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