Marry Me Soup with Italian Sausage Recipe
Marry Me Soup with Italian Sausage is a rich, flavorful Italian-inspired soup combining savory ground Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and creamy spinach-infused broth. Enhanced with aromatic herbs and tender pasta shells, this comforting and hearty soup offers a perfect balance of spice and creaminess, ideal for a cozy dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 ounces uncooked small pasta (such as small shells)
- 2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves, divided
Toppings
- Black pepper, to taste
- Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the sausage and vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, crumble and cook the ground Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic, sautéing until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings: Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for another 2 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Add chicken stock and pasta: Pour in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, add the uncooked small pasta. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the pasta is al dente, usually around 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Incorporate spinach, cream, and basil: Stir in the roughly chopped fresh baby spinach, allowing it to wilt into the soup. Then add the heavy cream and half of the julienned fresh basil leaves. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat through and blend flavors.
- Serve with toppings: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the remaining fresh basil leaves, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use either mild or spicy Italian sausage according to your spice preference.
- You can substitute small shells pasta with any small pasta like ditalini or elbow macaroni.
- Drain excess oil from the sun-dried tomatoes to avoid overly oily soup.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, keeping in mind the flavor and texture changes.
- This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently to avoid curdling the cream.
Keywords: Marry Me Soup, Italian Sausage Soup, Creamy Italian Soup, Sun-Dried Tomato Soup, Comfort Food Soup, Easy Italian Soup