Name: Amazing Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 lb hot or mild Italian turkey sausage; 3 carrots (peeled and chopped); 1 onion (peeled and chopped); 2 cloves of garlic (peeled and chopped); 48 oz (1.5 L) low sodium chicken broth; 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes; 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans (rinsed and drained); 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 cup dried medium shell-shaped pasta; 6 oz baby spinach leaves; salt to taste; pepper to taste; ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup in a bowl with bread, spoon, and napkin — Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup

This Amazing Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup will not disappoint if you love Italian flavors such as oregano, basil, and tomatoes. And because it has a good source of protein from the sausage and beans, it is filling enough to have as a meal. To keep the calories down, I chose turkey sausage because it is leaner than pork sausage but does not take away from the flavor.

Eating soups in the winter is definitely comforting and one of my favorite go-to type of foods to eat. They warm you up when you come in from the cold. And they can feel very soothing if you are feeling under the weather. Homemade soups are the best because they taste so fresh and delicious.

How to Make this Amazing Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup

First, you remove the sausage from the casings into a large pot or Dutch oven. Heat the sausages over high heat and be sure to stir often and break up the sausage with a large spoon. After about 8-10 minutes or until the sausage has browned, spoon out the fat and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.

Browned sausage in dutch oven with wooden spoon

Then, add the carrots, onion, and garlic, stirring often until the onion is soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the broth, tomatoes, beans, basil, and oregano and bring to a boil.

Cooked Italian sausage with carrots and onions and garlic

broth, tomatoes, carrots and Italian sausage in Dutch oven

Once the broth is boiling, add the pasta and reduce the heat, and simmer. Cover the pot and stir occasionally until the pasta is al dente. This will take about 10 minutes. Skim any fat on top. If using turkey sausage, then the fat will likely be minimal. Stir in the spinach and cook until it has wilted which is about 30-60 seconds. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup in Dutch oven

Ladle the soup into bowls and add parmesan cheese.

Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup in 2 bowls with sliced French bread, spoon on napkin — Delicious and Amazing Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup

Nutritional Benefits of the Amazing Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup

This soup is not only loaded with flavor but is also loaded with fiber! Over 6 grams of fiber in 1 serving! With all the vegetables and beans, the fiber in the soup makes this filling and good for digestion. Fiber also helps to lower cholesterol levels.

Carrots are a great source of beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in your body. In addition to vitamin A, carrots are a good source of biotin, vitamin K, B6, and potassium. One serving of carrots, about ½ cup, contains 25 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of fiber.

Spinach also has amazing nutritional benefits and is one of the top nutrient-dense foods! Spinach is a great source of insoluble fiber, 2.2 grams in 100 grams of raw spinach. It is also an excellent source of vitamin A, C, K, and folic acid. And if you are a vegetarian, it is a great vegetarian source of iron and calcium.

In addition to fiber and loads of vitamins and minerals, this soup is high in protein with 27 grams of protein per serving! Protein and fiber together help to keep you full longer which can help with weight maintenance or loss. Protein helps to preserve and build lean body mass. And the protein from this soup comes from animal (turkey sausage) and plant protein sources (beans and vegetables) which ensures you are receiving all the essential amino acids.

Tips

Using turkey sausage helps to keep this soup lower in fat. You can use hot or mild sausage depending on your tastes. I love using Jennie-O’s Hot Italian Turkey Sausage.
You can also use whole wheat pasta if you want to add additional fiber.

Recipe adapted from Sunset