This Italian Sausage Soup is insanely delicious and easy to make, and even your picky eaters will love it. A creamy-pasta-filled meal made with a tomato base & flavorful Italian sausage.
This recipe for Italian Soup is one of our family favorites. We love cheese, and the more cheese a recipe has, the more we love it.
This Italian Soup is one of my favorites because it’s loaded with cheese. And besides the cheese, another great thing about this soup recipe is how easy it is to make.
I love being able to quickly whip up an amazing meal using only a few ingredients. This is perfect for busy weeknights when I need to get dinner on the table fast, or if I’m taking a dish to pass at a friend’s house. It’s also a nice change from more traditional Italian fare like lasagna or spaghetti.
To me, some of the best comfort food is cheesy pasta. The more cheese and sauce, the better. I love how simple they are to make – just throwing everything in a pot and letting it simmer.
This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is the perfect meal for any occasion. It’s hearty enough to be the main course but can also serve as an appetizer or first course at a party. The soup is very easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients. Plus, it makes a lot so you’ll definitely have leftovers if you’re not serving a large group.
I created this soup to be easy, so I used a jarred marinara sauce. This both simplifies the recipe and ingredient list, as well as adds tons of flavor. You could absolutely use your own homemade sauce too.
Additionally, while you could easily use any sort of pasta, I grabbed penne noodles because they are aesthetically pleasing in the soup and don’t get mushy like some other kinds of pasta can. Finally, to make this dish cheesy and creamy Mozzarella cheese was used.
Ingredients for Italian Sausage Soup
- Italian sausage
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Marinara Sauce
- Penne Pasta
- Chicken broth
- Half and half, heavy cream or whole milk
- Canned Whole Tomatoes
- Diced tomatoes
- Italian seasoning
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Butter
How do you make this recipe for Italian Soup?
In a pot, cook the pasta according to the package directions with six cups of water.
After the pasta is done cooking, rinse it with cold water and drain the water. Set the pasta aside for later use.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pot. Add sausage, onion, and garlic; cook until the sausage is done. Drain grease from sausage and set sausage aside.
Over medium-high heat, pour in the chicken broth, and whole tomatoes – breaking them into smaller pieces as you add them to the pan, diced tomatoes, Barilla marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and heavy cream.
Slowly bring to a boil while stirring, then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the sausage mixture, butter, and two cups of shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese into the pot. Simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
Stir the contents of the pan every few minutes to avoid burning. Remove from heat once finished. To finish, stir in the rest of the shredded Mozzarella cheese.
Add the pasta to the sauce and serve.
For an extra bit of flavor, I love to top this soup with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and Italian seasoning.
More soup recipes
On those nights when I can’t muster up the energy to come up with something new, I always fall back on soup. It’s easy and there are endless possibilities. Here are a few of my favorites.
What can I serve with this Italian Soup recipe?
Don’t forget to pin this Creamy Italian Sausage Soup recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Ingredients
- 16 ounces mild Italian sausage
- 1/2 large yellow onion diced
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 jar Barilla Marinara Sauce
- 1/2 lb Barilla Penne Pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups half and half, heavy cream or whole milk
- 29 ounces whole tomatoes
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cups shredded Gambilin Mozzerella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- In a large pot fill with 6 cups of water and cook pasta according to package directions.
Once pasta is completely cooked, rinse with cold water and drain. Set pasta aside for later. - Using the same pot, heat 2 tablespoon olive oil. Once heated add sausage, onion and garlic; cook until sausage is completely cooked through.
- Drain grease from sausage and set sausage aside.
- Place the same pot over medium-high heat and add chicken broth, whole tomatoes – squeezing the whole tomatoes with your hand so that it breaks them up as you are pouring them in the the pan, diced tomatoes, Barilla marinara sauce, Italian seasoning and heavy cream. Bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add in sausage mixture, butter, 2 cups shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Stir every few minutes so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Remove from heat. Stir in remaining shredded Mozzarella cheese. Stir in the pasta and serve immediately.I love to top the soup with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and Italian seasoning.
Nutrition
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Made tonight. Very good!
Will make again.
I made this over the weekend and it was amazing! My family loved it. I followed the directions exactly as posted. I will add this to my winter recipe rotation. Delish!
I love how quick and easy this comes together! Perfect for a busy weeknight!
Good lord I am positively drooling!!
Lol, you will enjoy it.
Oh my goodness! Sounds amazing! Thank you for this!
This soup looks so delicious! My whole family will love it!
I love a good soup! I need to try it!
Wishing I had a big bowl right now for lunch 🙂
This has become a family favorite. They call it ‘Lasagna Soup”. The only thing I changed is, I used hot sausage instead of mild. Amazing!
I love it! Hot italian sausage would be delicious with this. Thanks for sharing!
This is amazing! I spent the extra on the Galbani fresh mozzarella and shredded myself, and this cheese is what makes the dish for sure! I used half-n-half, in place of heavy cream. This is so decadent, thick, creamy and DELICIOUS. My stepmother who always complains about my cooking ate 2 bowls of it! This recipe is a keeper for sure! 🙂
Delicious soup, but way too much cheese! I will cut the cheese at least in half the next time I make this.
The cheese can definitely be changed according to preference. Thanks!
My family isn’t huge on tomatoes…could the can of whole tomatoes be left out?
Hi Nikita, if it’s just the chunky tomatoes they aren’t a fan of you could replace it with a can of crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce.
I made this and served it with cheesy Doritos. Hot TAMALE! SIMPLI DELICIOUS. I also froze some for later. It is an interesting dish. The next time I am going to try a different kind of pasta. Either way it’s good. If I had to rate this on a schedule from 1 – 5 , I would give it an 9. It was good.
I’m super glad you liked it. Definitely experiment with the pastas and let us know what you like best! Thank you so much!
This looks so warm and delicious! Perfect dinner!
Thank you, enjoy!
What a robust and flavorful soup! Easily, a new family favorite recipe! Delish!
So glad you like it, thanks!
This soup is creamy perfection! We loved it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
That looks sooooo good and flavorful, I can’t wait to try it!
Let us know what you think! Enjoy!
Such a hearty, flavorful soup. Perfect for fall!
Enjoy!
Haven’t made it but it definitely looks DELICIOUS. So I plan to very soon. I just wondered if it’d be just as delicious with kale or spinach added. Has anyone tried it with either of those and how did it turn out?
This soup was/is delicious! The broth is all parts delicious and comforting with the perfect blend of all the flavors. Thank you for posting this one it has earned a spot in the rotation!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
A hearty and delicious soup like this makes me a happy gal!
I’m glad it makes you happy! Enjoy!
Could I make it in a slow cooker?
We haven’t tried it in the slow cooker, so I’m not sure how it would turn out. I would brown the sausage and onion first, then add everything to the slow cooker except the cheeses and pasta, and add those at the end. Let us know if you give it a try and how it turns out!
Trying this recipe for first time. Question: ingredient list calls for 4 TBSP butter, but instructions don’t mention the butter at all Does it call for butter? If so, when is it added?
The butter is listed in step 5 when you add the cheese and sausage. It helps the cheese from clumping together. Let us know how it turns out!
Such a cozy recipe for fall!
Thanks!
Hey Jenn, This looks so yummy! Y’all have a great weekend!
Oh wow, It looks insanely delicious. I’m a raving fan of cheese too, the more cheese the more I enjoy this meal. So yumyyyyyy!!!
You can never have enough cheese! I’m so glad you like it.
I love this dish, having some again for lunch at work. My family loved it and had seconds. I will be making this again soon.Thank you for sharing it with us.
I’m so glad you and your family loved it! Thanks for letting us know how it turned out!
Nothing’s better than hot soup in this weather, thank you for sharing the recipe!
I completely agree! It definitely has been chilly out. Enjoy!
Do you have the ingredient adjustments if this is done in an Instant Pot?
No, sorry. We do not have an instant pot so none of our recipes are tested with one. Let us know if you do give it a try!
Can you use Kraft mozzarella cheese in the can instead of freshly shredded cheese?
You can totally use pre-shredded/grated Mozzarella and Parmesan in this recipe. I find that fresh cheese melts just a little bit better as it has no added starch, but it shouldn’t affect the taste at all.
We loved this recipe. Next time I will freeze half without the noodles in it and probably use smaller pasta. Very filling and sooooooo good. I love it when I find a GREAT recipe.
Can you use the crockpot to make this?
We have not tested this recipe in the crockpot but it is similar to our other Slow Cooker Tuscan Soup. I would recommend cooking the sausage as directed, then add everything except the cream, cheese, and pasta to the slow cooker for 2-3 or 4-6 hours on low. Add the cream and cheese in the last hour to let it melt and combine, then add cooked pasta for just 5 minutes to heat. Let us know how it turns out if you do give it a try!
Absolutely delicious! I only used 1 cup of spaghetti sauce instead of a entire jar. It makes plenty.
So glad you enjoyed it!
I made this soup tonight, followed the recipe to a t, with the exception of cutting it in half as I was making it for just me and my better half. It was absolutely delicious, definitely going on the “keeper” list.
So glad you both enjoyed it!
Would this be a recipe good for a slowcooker ?
I am not sure how this would turn out in the slow cooker, we have never made it that way. You can definitely give it a try and let us know! You would still have to cook the sausage first to brown it. Add the cream and cheese in the last half hour and add the cooked pasta at the end to heat it through.
This looks incredible. Going to make it this week. Question about the sausage: whole, chopped, sliced, skin removed, ground sausage meat … HELP!, Many thanks.
We use ground sausage for most recipes! If you can only find links, remove the casing first. Break it up as it cooks in the pan so it is crumbled. Enjoy!
Made this tonight, quick and easy. I used half and half instead of heavy cream and added fennel seed and fresh spinach.
Yum! Spinach sounds like a great (healthy) addition! I’m glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
I love Italian food, soup, and I adore tomatoes. There was no doubt in my mind that I would love this. Guess what? I DO!
Just made it today. Yummy! Very easy to make. Thanks much for sharing.
I’m so glad you liked it so much! Thanks!
Hi
Planning on trying the recipe, do you think I can cook it in the Crockpot?
Hi Martina, We haven’t tested this recipe in the slow cooker so we are not sure how it would turn out! You can definitely give it a try. I would suggest still cooking up the sausage, onion, and garlic first to give it a bring out the flavors first. Then add that along with everything except cheese, heavy cream, and cooked pasta in the crockpot. Add those at the end, in the last hour of cooking, just to melt/heat them up. Let us know if you give it a try!
Yes I cooked it in my crockpot it turned out great! I also did the method you suggested!
Can u used stewed Italian tomatoes instead of the whole tomatoes and diced tomatoes, not a fan of tomatoes
Yes, it works great, I have done it before!
Can you tell me how many calories and sugar this yummy looking soup has?
Hi Brenda! One serving (about 1 cup or 8 ounces) has approximately 553 calories. This can of course be lowered by adjusting the amount of cheese to your liking or using non-fat cream. The amount of sugar per serving is 5g per serving, mostly from the marinara sauce. I updated the recipe card to include the full nutrition facts so if you have questions about any other amounts, you can find it at the bottom of the recipe!
This recipe is delicious!!!! The problem is, it’s so delicious I’ve been requested to make it for a soup potluck. I would like to prepare the soup the day before and store it in the crock pot over night. I’m hoping I’ll be able to set the crock pot to warm the next day and bring up to a nice hot soup temp. Would you recommend this? Should I leave the noodles out and prepare those the day of?
That should work well! I would prepare the soup base and then add the last bit of mozzarella and pasta the next morning when you turn it on. I’m so glad you like the recipe and get to share it! Enjoy!
Delish!!
Enjoy!
This was AWESOME! Made this last night and everyone loved it, even the kid who hates soup. The only thing I would add to the recipe, for those who don’t know how to make pasta, just make sure your boiling water tastes like ocean water before you start boiling and put a wooden spoon on top of the boiling pot so it doesn’t over flow. Also, use a LARGE pot. I had to transfer to another pot cause i underestimated how much this recipe makes. One last comment, just add a little bit of salt to the soup, not too much, but about 1/2-1 teaspoon helps. Thanks!
That is a great tip! Thank you for sharing! We definitely recommend salting your pasta water. It does make quite a lot of soup as San has a big family. If you do need to cut back, you can adjust the recipe amount by clicking on the serving size and sliding the bar to adjust to your needed amount. Thank you for the review!
Can this be frozen and heated later?
You can definitely freeze it for later! We recommend no longer than 3 months for best flavor. Enjoy!
This meal is a favorite in our home!
I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you!
So creamy and so flavorful, this is my kind of soup!
Thank you, enjoy!
This Italian Sausage Soup is such an exciting idea!
Thank you!
This looks so hearty & delicious! Wish I had a bowl of this right now. 🙂
Thank you! I hope you can enjoy it soon!
This soup looks so creamy and hearty! Love it!
Thank you!
This turned out so creamy and delicious! Perfect kind of comfort fodo!
So happy to hear that! Thank you!
This soup is calling my name! I have to make it up on our next cold day!
Enjoy!
The soup is so delicious, and it’s super comforting and very easy to prepare. This is filling enough to be a meal all by itself. We did eat it with some crusty bread though. 🙂
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I totally want to make this! We have been having soup several times a week!
I hope you enjoy it!
I love soup and our entire family adores cheese! Another winning recipe – thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe!
This is always a huge hit every time I make it!
So glad to hear that!
Oh my goodness girl! This soup sounds so hearty and delicious. The more cheese the merrier in my world too. I’m going to save this one to have this weekend. Thank you!
I hope you enjoyed it!
Oh wow, so creamy!!
It started snowing here last night, so I was craving comfort food today. This was so perfect 🙂
Thank you! We had a foot of snow here that day too, crazy right! Soup is definitely the best on cold days. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This has been a hit every time I have made it!
So glad to hear that!
This sounds marvelous, just the kind of soup my family loves!
Thank you!
Cheesy, creamy and delicious!
Thank you!
This Italian Sausage Soup couldn’t look any more perfect!
Thank you!
WOW! SO creamy and delicious! I can’t wait to try this!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!
This looks SO flavorful!!!!!!
Enjoy!
My family loved the creaminess!!!
So glad to hear that!
This looks so hearty & delicious! Wish I had a bowl of this right now! Will surely enjoy this soon!
Thank you, I hope you do enjoy!
To avoid a trip to the store…wondering if it would work to use Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce and only diced tomatoes??
Hi Nicole! You can use pasta sauce with sausage, however you’ll find the soup won’t have as much sausage as in the recipe. The only issue with using diced tomatoes is that they are packed in juice, whereas whole canned tomatoes are packed in puree or sauce. If you use all diced tomatoes it will be very watery! You can instead sub a large can of tomato sauce, and if you want more chunks you can use an extra can of drained diced tomatoes.
I love soup in the winter time always filling I love it more when they change up a bit thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
This recipe is insanely delicious. When I made it i cut off the rind of the parmesan and added it to the pot while the soup stews. It adds to much umami flavor! Highly recommend it.
That sounds like an amazing idea! What a great way to use the rind that’s usually overlooked. So glad you enjoyed the soup!
delicious soup,it so yummy i tried at my home.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it.
Made it exactly the way you said, the famiy LOVED it!! We put croutons on top. Def going to be making this alot this winter!!
Topping it with croutons sounds so delicious! So glad you loved it!
This is my kind of soup, perfect comfort food!
It really is! Enjoy!
This looks so delicious and perfect for this semi-cold weather we’ve been having here! I can’t wait to make this! My family is going to love this recipe!
It definitely is perfect for cold evenings! I hope you and your family enjoy it!
This soup sounds so good right now! I want to have a big bowl of it!
Thank you! Enjoy!
This looks so creamy & comforting!
It definitely is! Enjoy!
I love soup season for recipes just like this one! Looking forward to warming up with this for dinner tonight, indeed!
I hope you enjoyed it!
Who doesn’t love a warm soup during this cold weather! This one looks so inviting!
Thank you!
Going to make this this week but I live alone… does it refrigerate well? If not, maybe omitting the pasta would help? Sounds delicious!
It refrigerates well, you won’t have an issue. 🙂
Very yummy! Made exactly as directed and it turned out great. Will be making again!
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Do you drain the liquid off of the whole tomatoes and the diced tomatoes before adding?
No, we did not 🙂
can it be frozen to eat later?
If you do this, don’t freeze with the pasta in it – the pasta breaks apart a bit when you do that. If you freeze with the pasta just make that note to yourself, it still will taste might fine.
Making this tonight. Something quick and easy for a busy night. I look forward to it seeing all the wonderful comments. I am right along with you. Cheese makes everything better.
Oh my this soup is amazing. My whole family is in love. My Mom made this the other day and I wanted to try it. So many flavours. I did have to cut the cheese down because we are all sensitive to lactose. So I used lactose free milk and 1 1/2 cups of cheese and it was still so good. I also used fusilli pasta which as it expands and sits in the soups drinks up more liquid. So I added more broth later. As a side note My Mom canned the soup as it’s good fir 2 months to grab and eat for lunches. Thank you for this recipe
I am so happy you loved it xo
That is just the thing for the coming cold weather! It look so good, and I know my family is going to love a big bowl of this on a cold day.
This looks so creamy and full of flavor. I am so excited to make this for the family!
This Italian Sausage Soup looks incredibly delicious!
I made this more for my husband than myself a he is a huge fan of spicy sausage. Well, it was a hit. I am making this in my soup rotations for the winter … and he’s excited as it will be tomorrows dinner (expecting a snowstorm here in Atlantic Canada) so its a good day for a warm and delicious soup. Thanks again for this great recipe.
Soup is so flavorful and absolutely delicious!
This looks like it’s going to be another family favorite – on the menu for this week! 🙂
Save me some ♀️
I love how creamy and delicious this is! Thanks for the recipe! So good!
I love how creamy and delicious this soup is!! I would love a BIG bowl of this right now!! SO yummy!
YUM! This looks and sounds incredibly delicious!! I love the flavors!
This is just what we needed this chilly night. Easy to make and amazing flavor.