Sausage Orzo Soup

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 40

Servings: servings

Calories: 521cal

Author: Ashley Fehr

Sausage Orzo Soup is filling, comforting, and so easy to make, with flavorful Italian sausage and yummy orzo pasta in a savory tomato sauce, it's perfect for warming up on a cold day or for feeding the whole family on busy weeknights!

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
2 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
2 ribs celery (sliced)
½ medium onion (finely chopped)
375 grams mild Italian sausage (¾ lb)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
398 ml canned diced tomatoes (14 oz)
¾ cup uncooked orzo
2 cups fresh chopped spinach
½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

Heat a large soup pot on medium-high heat and add the oil.
Add the carrots, celery, and onion and cook until crisp-tender, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the sausage meat and cook until browned, about 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, parsley, salt, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 2 minutes.
Add the broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Stir in orzo, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until pasta is al dente (8-10 minutes).
Stir in spinach and cream. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

Prep ahead: this recipe is great for making ahead and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days without the pasta. If making in advance, simply leave the pasta, spinach and cream out and add just before serving. You can cook the pasta at the same time in a pot of boiling water and refrigerate until ready to serve if desired.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Italian sausage: you can use any kind of Italian sausage you like: mild or spicy, turkey, chicken or pork. Keep in mind you may want to adjust the red pepper flakes added if using spicy sausage.
Dairy-free: you can make this recipe dairy-free by omitting the cream. It's still delicious!
Pasta: I love orzo in soup because it's small enough that you get a little in every bite. Any small pasta will work here.
Optional additions: feel free to bump up the veg by sauteeing mushrooms, zucchini, or others with the vegetables in step 2.

Storage

Store: Sausage Orzo Soup will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container or tightly covered in plastic wrap in the fridge, although the pasta will become softer as it sits. If you prefer, you can cook the pasta separately and add it just before serving.
Freeze: This soup can also be frozen. Again, if you are planning to freeze it I would leave the pasta out and add cooked pasta just before serving.

Nutrition