Description
This Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for cozy nights. It combines savory Italian sausage with fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs, creamy Parmesan, and spinach to create a rich, flavorful soup that’s easy to prepare and sure to warm you up.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 lb Italian sausage (casing removed)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 medium carrots (diced)
- 2 stalks celery (diced)
- 2 cups spinach (fresh or frozen)
Liquids and Seasonings
- 4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the Italian sausage with casing removed. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, diced carrots, and diced celery to the pot with the cooked sausage. Sauté until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the dried Italian herbs. Bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and let cook for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Incorporate Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until fully combined and melted, creating a creamy soup base.
- Add Spinach and Season: Fold in the spinach (fresh or frozen) and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted. Taste the soup, then add salt and pepper as needed to enhance the flavors.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately, optionally with crusty bread for dipping.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control the salt content.
- Fresh spinach gives a brighter flavor, but frozen spinach works well too.
- Grate Parmesan fresh for the best flavor and melting quality.
- To make it gluten-free, ensure the sausage does not contain any gluten fillers.
