Creamy Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan (Easy Recipe!)

When you’re craving a meal that feels like a warm hug in a bowl, nothing delivers quite like a hearty, creamy soup. This Italian Sausage Soup is the ultimate one-pot comfort food, guaranteed to become a new family favorite. It’s loaded with savory Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and fresh spinach, all swimming in a ridiculously creamy Parmesan broth. It’s a simple, rustic, and incredibly satisfying dish that tastes like it simmered for hours but comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Your Italian Sausage Soup

This recipe uses simple, flavor-packed ingredients to create a rich and satisfying one-pot meal.

Ingredient	Amount/Quantity
Italian sausage (halal beef or turkey)	1 pound
Olive oil	1 tablespoon
Medium onion, diced	1
Fresh garlic, minced	3 cloves
Low-sodium chicken broth	4 cups
Medium potatoes, peeled & diced	4
Heavy cream	1 cup
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese	1 cup
Fresh spinach	2 cups
Dried oregano	1 teaspoon
Dried basil	1 teaspoon
Salt and fresh ground pepper	To taste
Fresh parsley, chopped	For garnish

Timing

This hearty and impressive soup comes together surprisingly quickly, making it a perfect choice for any night of the week.

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: Approximately 55 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create a restaurant-quality soup in your own kitchen.

Step 1: Brown the Italian Sausage

Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the Italian sausage. Use a wooden spoon to break the sausage into bite-sized crumbles as it cooks. Cook for 5-7 minutes until it’s browned and cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage to a separate plate, leaving the flavorful drippings in the pot.

Step 2: Sauté the Onions and Garlic

In the same pot, add the diced onion to the remaining drippings. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened and become translucent. Next, add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.

Step 3: Build the Soup Base and Cook the Potatoes

Pour the chicken broth into the pot. Use your spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot—this is where so much flavor lives! Add the diced potatoes, dried oregano, and dried basil. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.

Step 4: Make It Rich and Creamy

Once the potatoes are tender, reduce the heat to low. Slowly stir in the heavy cream and the grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir gently until the cheese is completely melted and the soup is wonderfully creamy. Return the cooked sausage to the pot and stir to combine. Let the soup simmer on low for another 5-10 minutes for all the flavors to meld together.

Step 5: Wilt the Spinach and Serve

Just before serving, stir in the fresh spinach. It will wilt down into the hot soup in just a minute or two. Give the soup a final taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Ladle the hot soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Here is an estimated nutritional breakdown per serving, based on 6 servings.

• Calories: ~450 kcal
• Protein: 22 g
• Fat: 35 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g

Healthier Alternatives & Variations

This versatile soup can be easily adapted to your dietary needs and preferences.

• Leaner Protein: To reduce the fat content, use lean Italian turkey or chicken sausage instead of pork or beef.
• Lighter Creaminess: You can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or evaporated milk for a lighter, yet still creamy, broth.
• Add More Vegetables: Boost the nutrition by sautéing chopped carrots and celery along with the onions to create a classic Italian soffritto base.

Serving Suggestions

This hearty Italian Sausage Soup is a complete meal in a bowl.

• For Dipping: The best companion for this soup is a side of warm, crusty bread or garlic bread. It’s absolutely perfect for soaking up every last drop of the creamy broth. 🥖
• Simple Side: A crisp green salad with a simple lemon vinaigrette offers a fresh contrast to the rich soup.
• Extra Toppings: Serve with extra grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for those who like a little extra heat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

For a perfect pot of soup every time, keep these simple tips in mind.

• Boiling the Cream: Bringing the soup to a rolling boil after adding the heavy cream and cheese can cause the dairy to curdle or separate. Solution: Always reduce the heat to a very low simmer before stirring in the cream and Parmesan.
• Losing the “Fond”: The browned bits left in the pot after cooking the sausage are called “fond,” and they are pure flavor. Solution: When you add the broth, be sure to use a wooden spoon to gently scrape the bottom of the pot. This process, called deglazing, releases all that savory goodness into your soup.
• Unevenly Cooked Potatoes: If your potatoes are cut into different sizes, some will be mushy while others are still hard. Solution: Try to dice your potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes. This will ensure they all cook at the same rate and are perfectly tender.

Storing Tips

This soup is fantastic for leftovers, as the flavors get even better overnight!

• Refrigerate: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. The soup may thicken as it sits, so feel free to add a splash of chicken broth or milk to bring it back to your desired consistency.
• Freezing: Cream-based soups can sometimes separate when thawed. For the best results, you can freeze the soup before adding the cream and cheese. When you’re ready to eat, thaw the soup, reheat it, and then stir in the dairy at the end.

Conclusion

This Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup is the definition of comfort food. It’s hearty, savory, incredibly easy to make, and comes together in just one pot. The combination of flavorful sausage, tender potatoes, and that luscious, cheesy broth is a guaranteed winner for the whole family. It’s the perfect recipe to have in your back pocket for a chilly evening when you need a delicious, satisfying meal without a lot of fuss. We hope you love this cozy soup recipe. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

FAQs

Q1. Can I use hot Italian sausage for a spicier soup?

Absolutely! Hot Italian sausage is a fantastic choice if you want to add a spicy kick to the soup. The level of heat is easily customizable to your preference.

Q2. Can I use kale instead of spinach?

Yes, kale is a great substitute. Since kale is heartier than spinach, you should remove the tough stems, chop the leaves, and add it to the soup along with the potatoes so it has enough time to become tender.

Q3. Can I make this soup in a slow cooker?

Yes. Brown the sausage, onions, and garlic in a skillet first, then transfer them to a slow cooker. Add the broth, potatoes, and seasonings and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the cream, Parmesan, and spinach during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

Q4. My soup isn’t as thick as I’d like. How can I fix it?

An easy way to thicken the soup is to mash a few of the cooked potato cubes against the side of the pot with a fork. The starch from the potatoes will naturally thicken the broth. Alternatively, you can make a small slurry by whisking 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, then stirring it into the simmering soup until it thickens.