Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo (So Easy!)
This Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo is a great clean out the fridge recipe! It’s packed with veggies, Italian sausage, orzo, and more!
Making this Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo
I think we’ve officially crossed the line into fall here in Colorado. We’ve had plenty of cooler days, changing leaves, and pumpkin patch visits, but just as many warm, late summer days too.
This week, though, I sense a change in the weather and in our meal planning. Soups, like this delicious Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo, and other hearty dishes are making their way onto our weekly menu.
The grill hasn’t been touched in a week. The evenings are cooler, darker, and much more fall-like. Our morning walks to school are chilly.
No one wants to get out of their warm beds in the morning and I’m wearing pants, fuzzy socks, and boots. Yes, it is definitely fall. Yay for that!
What I Love About this Orzo and Italian Sausage Soup
I love that this Italian sausage soup is so full of pretty basic vegetables, yet nothing about it is boring.
I mostly used it as a means to clean out the fridge of a bunch of random bits of leftover produce that was teetering a little too closely to past its prime status.
Italian sausage soup is full of flavor from the rosemary, thyme, and Italian sausage. It is hearty without feeling heavy. And even Logan ate it!
We definitely aren’t there yet, but eventually the novelty of fall and winter produce will wear off. We’ll tire of carrots, potatoes, and squash.
Soups, like this Italian sausage and bean soup, are such a great way to stretch out the fall and winter produce.
Perfect to present seasonal vegetables in different, more interesting ways when dinnertime starts getting repetitive and we find ourselves craving the bright, sunny spring and summer produce.
You can come up with so many different one-pot concoctions using what often feels like a very similar ingredient list and nearly identical preparation techniques. In that way, soup is an amazing dish!
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Italian Sausage Soup Ingredients
This easy homemade soup is packed with veggies and flavorful Italian sausage. Here’s everything I used in this Italian sausage and orzo soup:
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Celery
- Red Bell Pepper
- Italian Sausage
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- Chicken Broth
- Water
- Fresh Rosemary and Fresh Thyme
- Cannellini Beans, or other white beans
- Fresh Spinach
- Green Beans
- Orzo Pasta
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Italian Sausage Soup
This truly is such an easy homemade soup to whip up on busy weeknights. Here’s how I make this Italian sausage soup recipe with orzo:
- Sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and red bell pepper in a large soup pot or Dutch oven until the veggies begin to soften.
- Add the sausage, fire roasted tomatoes, broth, water, and fresh herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the soup simmer for 45 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and cook until the orzo is tender.
Tips for Making Italian Sausage Soup
I prefer using Italian sausage links in this orzo soup recipe. I first brown the sausage, then slice it into half-inch pieces before stirring it into the soup.
This easy homemade soup recipe is fairly flexible, so you can switch up the vegetables quite easily. For example, I used fresh spinach, but you could add fresh kale if that’s what you have on hand.
Once the orzo is added to the Italian sausage soup, be sure to cook it only until the orzo is tender. If you boil the orzo for too long, it’ll become mushy.
What to Serve with this Soup
Serve this soup with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor.
If you’re looking for side suggestions to go with this recipe, I recommend a big green salad and some rustic bread or this rosemary focaccia.
It doesn’t have to be fancy at all. We often use mixed greens, lettuce, cucumber, shredded carrot, and tomato for a basic side salad. Check out these 3 Simple Salad Dressing Recipes to go along with your salad.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for something a little less basic, I would recommend my Copycat Olive Garden Salad Recipe or Mixed Greens and Prosciutto Salad to serve along side this soup.
Italian Sausage Soup Recipe FAQ
Got questions about how to make this Italian soup recipe with sweet Italian sausage? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
Can I Use Another Type of Sausage?
Yes, you’re welcome to use another type of sausage in this Italian Sausage Orzo Soup, if desired.
Just note that the recipe below was created with the flavor of Italian sausage in mind, so be sure to pick a sausage that will taste delicious when paired with the other ingredients.
Here’s what I recommend:
- Mild or Sweet Italian Sausage – is what I normally make this hearty soup recipe with.
- Spicy Italian Sausage – if you’d prefer a spicy Italian sausage orzo soup recipe!
- Turkey Sausage – is great for a leaner option if it has neutral flavors or is Italian seasoned.
Can I Use Another Shape of Pasta?
Sure! If you don’t have orzo, just substitute another small pasta shape. I recommend ditalini pasta, stelline (star shaped), fideo (small, broken spaghetti like pieces), pearl couscous, fregola, mini pene, mini farfalle, or acini de pepe.
What Can I Substitute for the Fresh Herbs?
You can use dried herbs instead if you don’t have fresh on hand.
The basic rule of thumb with this substitution is to use 1/3 of the amount as you would if you were using fresh.
You could also try using fresh basil and fresh parsley. Because they’re more delicate herbs, I would add them at the end just a few minutes before serving.
Can I Make this Recipe Gluten-Free?
You can substitute your favorite gluten-free pasta. Another alternative is to use rice or quinoa instead, however the flavor will be slightly different.
Can I Freeze Italian Sausage Soup?
Very easily! Simply ladle the cooled orzo soup into freezer bags or a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze until ready to enjoy.
Check out this post on how to freeze soup for more instructions. You can reheat the Italian sausage soup from frozen or place it in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Try this Italian Sausage Soup!
Next time you’re looking for an easy soup recipe to make on a cold night, give this recipe for Hearty Italian Sausage Soup a try!
Did the whole family love that it had so much flavor? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this easy recipe.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this Italian sausage and pasta soup!
More Easy Soup Recipes:
Here are a few of our favorite recipes for soups to serve on a cold day. Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a fun twist on classic chicken noodle soup. It’s the perfect soup for soothing sore throats year-round!
This Pumpkin and Turkey Black Bean Chili is a great fall chili recipe with tons of flavor. Even better, it’s super easy to make!
If you’re looking for a creamy, rich and flavorful soup, try this Italian Sausage Kale Soup. It’s a lightened up version of an Olive Garden Classic and crowd favorite, Zuppa Toscana.
Not sure what to do with a ham bone? This Slow Cooker Ham Soup with Potatoes and Kale is both easy to prepare and flavorful, thanks to the use of a slow cooker and the rich flavor that a leftover ham bone imparts.
This Beefy Kidney Bean Chili is a classic chili recipe, super easy to prepare and the perfect chili recipe for loaded baked potatoes or chili dogs.
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Italian Sausage Orzo Soup
I love that this Italian Sausage Orzo Soup is so full of pretty basic vegetables, yet nothing about it is boring. I mostly used it as a means to clean out the fridge of a bunch of random bits of leftover produce that was teetering a little too closely to past its prime status.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced into half moons - about 1/4 inch thick
- 2 celery ribs, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
- 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 - 19 ounce package Italian Sausage, browned, cooked through and sliced into 1/2 inch slices
- 1 - 14 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 3 cups water
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 - 14 ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 ounces chopped fresh spinach
- 1 cup sliced green beans - about 1/2 inch in length
- 2/3 cup uncooked orzo pasta
Instructions
- In a large soup post or French oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the Italian sausage links to the pan and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove and set aside on a plate.
- In the same pot used to cook the sausage, add the onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, carrots, celery and red bell pepper. Sauté for an additional 3-5 minutes, until the veggies are fragrant and begin to soften.
- Slice the Italian sausage into 1/2 inch slices. Then, stir the fire roasted tomatoes broth, water, rosemary, thyme, and Italian sausage into the vegetable mixture.
- Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Add the beans, spinach, green beans, and orzo. Continue cooking over low heat for 20 - 30 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked and tender.
- Remove the rosemary and thyme stems. Serve topped with parmesan cheese, if desired..
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 563Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 1783mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 8gSugar: 9gProtein: 29g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
sue says
Great soup for -10 days here in New York! Easy and rib sticking..:)
Katie says
So glad you enjoyed it! Stay warm!
Cynthia says
Absolutely delicious, hearty and easy to make.
Katie says
so glad to hear you liked it!
Jennifer says
This sounds like a wonderful conduit for leftover turkey as well as a stand-alone soup. Thanks!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
Looks so warm and hearty. I love any soup with Italian sausage because it adds so much flavor. I’m also a huge fan of any soup with kale added at the end. Yum!
Katie Goodman says
Thanks 🙂 It is amazing how much flavor even just a little bit of sausage can add to a soup.