Creamy Parmesan Italian Soup

A tasty Italian sausage and pasta soup with a creamy parmesan and tomato broth.

This is a super simple, one-pot, soup with pasta and Italian sausage that’s packed with flavour and eats like a meal.

The star of the show is Italian sausage which brings a ton of flavour all by itself.

Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 25 minutesTotal Time: 30 minutes

ingredients

• 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
• 8 ounces pasta such as ditalini (gluten-free for gluten-free)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
• 4 ounces cream cheese (warmed)
• 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped (optional)

directions

1. Cook the sausage and onion in a large saucepan until cooked, breaking the sausage apart as it cooks, before draining any excess grease.
2. Add the garlic, fennel, and red pepper flakes, mix, and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
3. Add the broth, tomatoes, pasta, and Italian seasoning, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta is cooked, al-dente, about 6-8 minutes.
4. Add the parmesan, cream cheese, and cream, and let the cheeses melt into the soup, about 3-5 minutes.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mix in the parsley and enjoy!

Option: Replace the cream with milk or yogurt.
Option: Add 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch (mixed into 2 tablespoons cool water) to the soup near the end and simmer to thicken.
Option: Omit the pasta; also remove 1 cup chicken broth.
Option: Add 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced!
Option: Add 2 tablespoons of sliced basil just before serving!
Option: Garnish with more parmesan!
Tip: The pasta will have the best texture when served right after cooking. It will continue to absorb the soups broth so if you have leftovers you will need to add some more water before reheating. If you do not plan to eat the whole batch of soup right away, you can leave the pasta out, cook it separately and add it to the soup when you are ready to eat it!

Nutrition Facts: Calories 562, Fat 43g (Saturated 19g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 118mg, Sodium 1111mg, Carbs 40g (Fiber 2g, Sugars 7g), Protein 26g