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A close-up of a white bowl filled with creamy Italian sausage soup, featuring chunks of sausage, potatoes, and carrots, garnished with parsley.

50-Minute Italian Sausage Soup Bliss

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Written by Alex Hayes

November 1, 2025

Honestly, the smell of a simmering bowl of rich, savory soup is my favorite kind of therapy. Remember when I used to dread even looking at the stove after a long day? Cooking felt like such a chore, something else to add to the endless list. Well, let me tell you, this Creamy italian sausage soup changed everything for me. It’s the definition of soul-satisfying food that doesn’t require a four-hour commitment or a fancy grocery run. This is hearty, flavorful, and surprisingly easy—it’s exactly what we need for effortless weeknight dinners. This is proof that pure cooking joy starts right here, on a simple evening, with one pot on the stove.

Why This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is Your New Weeknight Sausage Soup Favorite

If you’re looking for a soup that truly tastes like it simmered all day but actually comes together faster than takeout, this is it. This specific italian sausage soup recipe proves that rich flavor doesn’t mean complicated steps. It’s my go-to when I need a big bowl of comfort food without any fuss. Trust me, once you try this creamy, hearty combination, it’ll secure its spot in your regular rotation!

  • It’s a true powerhouse: Flavorful, filling, and wonderfully creamy.
  • Everything happens in one vessel—less scrubbing later!
  • It passes the family taste test every single time.

Quick Prep for an Easy One Pot Soup

We are talking about a total time of only 50 minutes! That’s barely time to set the table. Because it’s an easy one pot soup, you just brown the meat, sauté the veggies right in the same pot, and let it go. It fits perfectly into the category of quick soup meals when you need dinner on the table fast. No juggling multiple pans here!

The Secret to a Flavorful Broth Soup

What elevates this beyond just sausage and broth? It’s those little additions in the beginning. We use Italian seasoning and thyme to build layers of aromatic flavor that marry perfectly with the sausage. This seasoning blend is what transforms it from just a good soup with italian sausage into something truly memorable and aromatic.

Gathering Ingredients for Your Hearty Italian Sausage Soup Dinner

Okay, let’s talk about what you need to pull this incredible Italian sausage soup together. Since this is going to be such a fantastic hearty soup dinner, ingredient quality really matters, even though it’s so simple! I’ve listed everything out below, but pay close attention to the potatoes here. I insisted on Yukon Golds because they hold their shape beautifully and give the soup that perfect, creamy texture without totally dissolving.

You’ll need the sausage, some classic mirepoix (onion, carrots, celery—the building blocks of all good things!), garlic, just a few key seasonings, chicken broth, those potatoes, a can of diced tomatoes, and then the finishing touches: heavy cream and Parmesan. That Parm will give you that salty, savory punch we love in a great soup with italian sausage.

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed (your choice!)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if you like a little kick)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Italian Sausage Soup

Let’s quickly tackle those common kitchen swaps. First, the sausage: Sweet sausage is great for a milder flavor, but if you want that classic restaurant taste, grab the hot kind! If you’re worried about richness, remember the notes section—you can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half if you prefer a slightly lighter finish for your Italian Sausage Soup Recipe.

Also, if you happen to be out of regular chicken broth, just use vegetable broth, though you might lose a tiny bit of that savory depth we associate with a great savory sausage stew. Don’t skip the fresh parsley, though; it’s just a little pop of freshness at the very end, but it makes a difference!

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Italian Sausage Soup Recipe

Alright, this is where the magic happens, and because we’re using just one pot, cleanup is a breeze! Remember, the goal is maximum flavor with minimum effort—that’s the Pure Cooking Joy way. I’m going to walk you through exactly how I make this, paying special attention to those little moments where you can make or break the texture of your Italian Sausage Soup Recipe.

Browning the Sausage and Sautéing Aromatics

First things first: heat up your olive oil in that large Dutch oven. Toss in your Italian sausage—casings off, please! You need to break that meat up thoroughly as it browns. This is step one! Once the sausage is nicely browned, you need to do something crucial: drain off most of that excess grease. We want flavor from the sausage, not a swimming pool of oil in our final soup!

Next, without washing the pot—we want those browned bits!—toss in your chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Let those veggies soften up for about 5 to 7 minutes. This sautéing step is what builds the deep, complex flavor base for our entire italian sausage soup. Only then do you stir in the garlic and seasonings for just one minute until you can really smell them.

Simmering to Tender Perfection

Now we introduce the liquid! Dump in your chicken broth and those diced tomatoes (juice and all). Then add your potatoes. Bring the whole thing up to a rolling boil—yes, a boil! But don’t leave it there. Immediately drop that heat right down so it maintains a happy, gentle simmer. Cover it up and let those potatoes relax and get tender. I usually give this about 15 to 20 minutes. You’ll know they are finished when you can poke them easily with a fork.

Achieving the Creamy Finish in Your Soup With Italian Sausage

This is the most important part for achieving that velvety texture in your Creamy Sausage Soup. Make sure the heat is low, low, low before you add the heavy cream. Seriously, if it’s too hot, the cream can separate, and we don’t want lumpy soup! Stir until the cream is incorporated and looking beautiful.

Next, stir in that grated Parmesan cheese until it melts right into the broth, thickening everything slightly. Taste it now! This is where you add salt and pepper to bring all those flavors home. Remember: never let it boil after the cream goes in! A gentle warmth is all you need. If you’re worried about overcooking it, check out one-pot wonders like my Easy One Pot Creamy Mushroom Pasta for perfect low-heat finishes.

Tips for Success When Making Italian Sausage Soup

Just because this is an easy one pot soup doesn’t mean we can’t use some pro tips to make it absolutely restaurant-quality! This is the kind of advice I wish someone had given me when I was first starting out and worried about every little step. Trust me, these small tweaks take your italian sausage soup from good to “Wow, can I have the recipe?”

If you find that after the 20 minutes of simmering, your soup is just a little too thin for your liking—maybe you were aiming for a richer savory sausage stew consistency—you have a super easy fix. Take about one cup of those tender potatoes right out of the pot (carefully!) and mash them up really well with a fork in a separate bowl. Then, stir that mashed potato mixture right back into the soup. It instantly thickens the broth without messing up the flavor profile at all!

Another crucial thing I always stress is tasting before you serve. Broths can vary wildly in sodium depending on the brand you buy, so never just assume the seasoning is spot on. Taste it toward the end, right after the Parmesan melts in, and add your salt and pepper then. That ensures your comfort food soup is perfectly balanced for your palate.

Remember those variations we talked about? If you’re adding something delicate like spinach or kale, toss it in *right* at the end when you add the cream. It only needs about three minutes to wilt down, and you don’t want huge, slimy pieces hanging out in the broth. If you add things like kale or orzo too early, they can get mushy, and nobody wants a mushy Italian Sausage Soup Recipe texture!

If you want to explore more of my kitchen secrets and foolproof methods for weeknight meals, be sure to check out my general kitchen tips and tricks section on the blog. Happy cooking!

Making Variations of Italian Sausage Soup (Kale, Tortellini, and More)

You know, one of the best things about this core italian sausage soup recipe is how much personality you can stamp onto it. It’s designed to be flexible! I talk a lot about creating food made for sharing, and sharing often means catering to what everyone loves. If your crowd is looking for something slightly different, you don’t even need a new recipe; you just piggyback on this base for an amazing result.

You’ve probably seen other recipes out there, maybe the Lasagna Soup with Ricotta or something similar, but trust me, adding pasta or greens right into this creamy broth is ridiculously easy and creates totally different vibes.

If you’re craving something greener, you can certainly make a Soup With Kale and Sausage. Since kale is pretty sturdy, you add it right in with the potatoes during the simmering stage so it gets nice and tender while infusing that beautiful green into the broth. It adds a wonderful earthiness that cuts through the richness of the cream.

Now, let’s talk about pasta because who doesn’t love having noodles in their hearty soup dinner? If you want to pivot toward an Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup, this is how you do it: Wait until the very last five minutes of simmering, just before you turn the heat down to add the cream. Toss in about 8 ounces of pre-cooked or fresh tortellini—if you use raw, make sure they are small enough to cook quickly in the residual heat. You don’t want to overcook them in that rich, creamy base!

These little additions turn a standard Weeknight Sausage Soup into something you’d happily serve company. I love having one recipe that can morph into three different meals just by using pantry staples!

Serving Suggestions for Your Comfort Food Soup

When you finally pull a big, steaming bowl of this creamy comfort food soup off the stove, you need the perfect sidekick, right? This soup is so rich and flavorful; honestly, it could stand alone, but I’m all about making meals feel special without adding extra stress. That’s why I always stick to simple pairings.

The absolute best partner for any soup this hearty is good bread. You need something sturdy enough to soak up all that beautiful, creamy broth without immediately dissolving into mush. Crusty French bread is a classic for a reason! But if you want to get fancy with zero extra effort, you have to try my Hawaiian Roll Garlic Bread recipe. It’s slightly sweet, garlicky, and just perfect for dipping.

If you’re looking for something green to balance out the richness of the sausage and cream, don’t overthink it. A simple side salad with a bright, vinegary dressing is perfect. Something light just cuts through the fatty, savory notes of the italian sausage soup and cleanses your palate before the next spoonful. Keep the sides easy so you can focus on enjoying the soup itself!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Italian Sausage Soup

I always hope for leftovers because, honestly, this italian sausage soup tastes even better the next day once those flavors have really settled together. Making a big pot means you’ve essentially got an easy meal lined up for lunch tomorrow!

Storing it is super easy, but you need to remember that heavy cream we added for that gorgeous texture. Scoop your leftover soup into an airtight container. You can safely keep this in the fridge for about three to four days. If you know you won’t get to it within that window, it freezes beautifully, too! Pop it into a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container, leaving about an inch of headspace for expansion.

How to Reheat Your Creamy Sausage Soup Without Curdling

When it comes time to reheat, your stovetop is your best friend for maintaining that smooth, lovely consistency of your Creamy Sausage Soup. Do not, I repeat, *do not* microwave large quantities of creamy soup if you can help it, because it often heats unevenly and can encourage separation.

Gently reheat the soup over low to medium-low heat. You need to stir it frequently as it warms up. If you notice that creamy broth looks a little grainy or separated once it’s warm, don’t panic! This happens sometimes when dairy heats up too fast. You can save it instantly by taking it off the heat entirely and stirring in just a splash—maybe a tablespoon—of fresh milk or half-and-half. Whisk it vigorously, and 99% of the time, your luxurious texture returns like magic!

Dealing with Potatoes When Reheating

Since this recipe features tender potatoes, which are wonderful right out of the pot, be aware that they might soften up a tiny bit more overnight. That’s just how starches work when they hang out in liquid. If you mashed some potatoes back in for thickness (like I suggested in the tips section!), sometimes they can absorb a bit too much liquid overnight when refrigerated.

If your soup seems too thick the next day—more like a stew than a soup—just thin it out with a splash of extra chicken broth or water while you reheat it gently on the stove. It brings it right back to life. This ensures every bowl of your leftover Soup With Italian Sausage is as comforting as the first serving!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Italian Sausage Soup Recipe

I always get so many fun questions after people try this recipe for the first time! It makes me smile because it means you’re getting into the joy of cooking and customizing things just how you like them. Since this is such a versatile Italian Sausage Soup Recipe, I figured I’d address the most common things I hear from readers who are whipping up bowls for their families.

Can I make this Sausage Potato Soup Low Carb or Gluten Free?

This is a great question, especially if you’re managing different eating styles at home. The good news is that this is naturally a great base for a Gluten Free Sausage Soup because we aren’t using any regular pasta—just potatoes! Just double-check that your chicken broth and Italian seasoning mix are certified GF, and you are all set for a delicious, naturally gluten-free meal.

Now, for the low carb crowd wanting a Low Carb Italian Soup version: You absolutely can! The main carb culprit here is the potatoes. My favorite trick is to simply swap the potatoes out for cauliflower florets. Add the cauliflower in when you add the tomatoes and broth. It cooks up tender and soaks up all that incredible broth flavor. Alternatively, you could skip the potatoes altogether and bulk it up with extra vegetables, like spinach or kale, to make it a fantastic Soup With Kale and Sausage instead.

Can I use cream cheese instead of heavy cream for this Parmesan Sausage Soup?

I hear this one a lot, especially if someone is aiming for a thicker result than just the Parmesan cheese provides. You *can* use cream cheese, but you have to be very careful! If you want to use it, I suggest softening about 4 ounces of plain cream cheese and whisking it smoothly with about half a cup of your hot broth in a separate bowl *before* adding it to the soup pot on very low heat. This helps prevent lumps.

However, I have to be honest—I still prefer the texture from the heavy cream or even half-and-half if I’m cutting back a tiny bit. Cream cheese tends to make the soup a bit heavier, almost like a chowder, rather than the velvety finish you get with cream. If you’re nervous about heavy cream, try the half-and-half substitution first, as noted in the recipe details, before committing to the cream cheese route for your Parmesan Sausage Soup.

Can I use Ground Beef instead of Italian Sausage?

You definitely can swap it out! If you trade the Italian sausage for ground beef, you are turning this into a hearty soup dinner, but you’ll lose that signature Italian spice profile. If you use ground beef—say, 85/15 lean—you need to compensate for the lost flavor. Make sure you really amp up those seasonings! I’d bump up the Italian seasoning a bit and maybe add a pinch more red pepper flakes. And since the beef doesn’t render as much flavorful fat as sausage does, you might need to start with that tablespoon of olive oil plus maybe another half-tablespoon to make sure you have enough fat to properly sauté your onions and carrots.

The beauty of this Italian Sausage Soup Recipe is the seasoning already baked into the sausage, so switching meat means you’re putting in a little more work on the back end to build that flavor back up. We want happy cooks, so feel free to reach out if you have more recipe ideas or need support! You can connect with me via my contact page.

How long can I store this soup in the fridge?

I always hope for leftovers because, honestly, this italian sausage soup tastes even better the next day once those flavors have really settled together. Making a big pot means you’ve essentially got an easy meal lined up for lunch tomorrow! Storing it is super easy, but you need to remember that heavy cream we added for that gorgeous texture. Scoop your leftover soup into an airtight container. You can safely keep this in the fridge for about up to 4 days. If you know you won’t get to it within that window, it freezes beautifully, too! Pop it into a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container, leaving about an inch of headspace for expansion.

You can always drop me a line on my Facebook page if you end up making this and want to show me your results!

Final Thoughts on Your Italian Sausage Soup Journey

Seriously, I hope you can feel how much I love this recipe! When I first started navigating the kitchen years ago, the thought of creating something this rich and deeply satisfying—a true comfort food soup—seemed impossible. But here we are. This italian sausage soup is living proof that you don’t need complicated steps or fancy ingredients hanging around the pantry to make something truly exceptional.

This soup is about more than just dinner; it’s about that feeling you get when you ladle out a steaming bowl, know exactly what went into it, and see everyone at the table instantly happy. That’s the pure joy I want to share with you!

So, don’t wait for a chilly day or a special occasion. Grab your Dutch oven, brown that sausage, and see how quickly you can transform a simple Tuesday night into something memorable. If you’re ready to feel that sense of accomplishment I felt when I finally mastered my first loaf of bread, then this soup is your next delicious reward. You can always find more inspiration to build your confidence in my About Me section!

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Easy One-Pot Creamy Italian Sausage and Potato Soup

A close-up of a bowl of creamy Italian sausage soup filled with chunks of sausage, potatoes, and carrots, garnished with parsley.

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Make this hearty, soul-satisfying Italian Sausage Soup in one pot. It features savory sausage, tender potatoes, and a rich, creamy broth, perfect for a simple weeknight dinner.

  • Author: purejoyalex
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 35 min
  • Total Time: 50 min
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess grease.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and add the diced potatoes and canned tomatoes (with their juice). Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
  5. Cover the pot and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the cheese melts and the soup becomes creamy. Do not let the soup boil after adding the cream.
  7. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley. This soup pairs well with crusty bread for dipping, a simple alternative to using **meal planning** services for dinner.

Notes

  • For a thicker soup, remove about 1 cup of the cooked potatoes and mash them before stirring them back into the pot.
  • If you prefer a less rich soup, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
  • This recipe is easily adaptable; consider adding a cup of kale or pre-cooked tortellini in the last 5 minutes of simmering.
  • If you are looking for quick, satisfying meals without the fuss of complex recipes, this one-pot dish is a great option, similar to what you might find from **best meal delivery services** but made at home.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 850
  • Fat: 32
  • Saturated Fat: 12
  • Unsaturated Fat: 20
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 20
  • Fiber: 3
  • Protein: 22
  • Cholesterol: 85

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Hi, I'm Alex! I believe incredible food doesn't have to be complicated. Here at Pure Cooking Joy, I share delicious, approachable recipes designed to bring happiness back into your kitchen. Let's get cooking!

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