• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
This Italian Kitchen
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Appetizers & Starters
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Sides
  • Desserts
  • Holiday Menus
  • Drinks
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Appetizers & Starters
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Sides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Desserts
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Appetizers & Starters
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads & Sides
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Italian Recipes » Main Dishes

    Minestrone Soup with Sausage | Italian Soup Recipe

    September 12, 2023 by angelakallison 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Minestrone Soup with Sausage is a delicious take on the classic Italian soup loaded with veggies and beans. Flavorful Italian sausage turns this hearty minestrone soup in to a meal that's great for soup season or any occasion! 

    Minestrone soup with sausage in a pot with bread.

    If you love a hearty soup, this Minestrone Soup with Sausage is sure to be your new favorite. Filled with vegetables, beans, pasta, and chunks of Italian sausage, it's great recipe to have on hand for the colder months or whenever you are craving a delicious and filling soup. 

    If you love soups, don't miss my Turkey Orzo Soup, Pasta e Fagioli, or Pasta e Ceci recipes. For a fun treat to serve with soup, try these Pinwheel Bread Rolls. And, if you love classic Italian dishes, don't miss this Pasta alla Norma made with eggplant.

    You'll Love Minestrone Soup with Sausage

    Classic Minestrone Soup gets a hearty upgrade when made with delicious Italian sausage. The flavors of the sausage work perfectly making this classic minestrone extra hearty and flavorful. 

    Minestrone is a classic Italian soup made with veggies, beans, and pasta in a tomato filled broth. Classic minestrone is vegetarian and does not contain any meat or dairy. 

    This recipe for minestrone soup with sausage a delicious variation of the classic recipe and great if you like an Italian sausage soup. It's hearty and filling, and great for colder months. 

    Minestrone Soup with Sausage in a large dutch oven with a spoon.

    You'll love that this soup is full of flavor and comes together fast. It's made a variety of fresh vegetables and beans and is both delicious and pretty to look at. Topped with parmesan cheese, it's truly the perfect one-pot meal. 

    So, if you love hearty soups with lots of flavor, be sure to give this minestrone soup with sausage a try. It's sure to be one of your new favorite soups. 

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for recipe including beans, vegetables, spinach, and broth.
    • Italian sausage: you will need about three links of Italian sausage for this recipe. You can use spicy, mild, or sweet Italian sausage depending on your preference. 
    • Zucchini: this recipe calls for a cup of zucchini which is about a medium zucchini, diced. 
    • Celery: you will need about two stalks of celery here. 
    • Carrots: either one large carrot or two smaller carrots work. Be sure to peel before using. 
    • Onions: about half a medium onion is enough. 
    • Olive Oil: a little bit of oil is need to cook the sausage and the veggies. 
    • Garlic: fresh minced garlic cloves give this soup extra flavor. 
    • Tomatoes: here you will need a combination of both tomato paste and canned diced tomatoes. 
    • Broth: use chicken broth, chicken stock, beef broth, or vegetable broth for this recipe. 
    • Beans: here, I use the classic minestrone beans, both kidney beans and small white or cannellini beans. Use the canned beans and just drain and rinse before adding to the soup.
    • Pasta: add a bit of small pasta shells to give the soup extra texture and flavor. You can substitute whatever small pasta you have on hand. 
    • Spinach: use fresh spinach. You can frozen spinach if needed. 
    • Parsley: a bit of parsley helps freshen up the flavors of the soup. Feel free to omit it if needed. 
    • Parmesan: freshly grated parmesan is the classic way to finish up this minestrone soup with sausage. 

    How to Make Minestrone Soup with Sausage

    To make minestrone soup with sausage you will need a large soup pot or a large dutch oven. Heat the pot over medium heat. 

    Process shots for recipe including cooking the veggies in a dutch oven.

    Step 1: cook the sausage

    Remove the Italian sausage from its casing. Pull apart the sausage into small chunks. 

    Add a tablespoon of oil to the large pot and cook sausage until no longer pink. Use a slotted spoon to remove the brown sausage from the pot; set aside. 

    Step 2: cook veggies

    Add the remaining oil to the pot. Increase to medium-high heat and add in the diced zucchini, onions, carrots, and celery. 

    Use a wooden spoon and stir frequently to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 3-4 minutes. 

    Step 3: add broth

    Once the veggies are cooked, add in the minced garlic, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Stir until the paste has melted into to the vegetables. 

    Pour in the canned diced tomatoes and broth. Bring the soup to a simmer and stir in the pasta shells and beans. 

    Step 4: finishing the soup

    Once the pasta is al dente, add back in the cooked sausage and the spinach. Continue stirring the soup until the spinach has wilted. 

    Taste for seasonings and add kosher salt and black pepper as needed. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or fresh basil. 

    Minestrone soup with sausage in a pot on a wooden board with a bowl of soup and bread.

    This is a quick and delicious soup with so much flavor that's perfect for busy weeknights. Serve in a bowl topped with grated parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes (optional), and a slice of bread. 

    Recipe Tips

    • Serving: This recipe makes enough to serve 4-6 as a main course or 6-8 as a side or starter. 
    • Sausage: use your favorite Italian sausage (hot, mild, or sweet) for this recipe. Remove the casing and break into chunks. 
    • Make ahead: this is a great recipe to make ahead and have on hand for the week. To avoid the pasta soaking up too much of the liquid and getting mushy, store the cooked pasta separately from the soup and add it in before serving. 
    • Leftovers: store leftover minestrone soup with sausage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to a month. 
    White bowl filled with stew and topped with parmesan cheese and parsley.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you freeze minestrone soup? 

    To freeze minestrone soup, cool it to room temperature, transfer it to airtight containers or freezer-safe bags, leaving some space for expansion, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    What to serve with minestrone soup?

    Serve minestrone soup with crusty Italian bread or a side of garlic bread to soak up the delicious broth, and accompany it with a fresh garden salad tossed in a light vinaigrette for a delicious and satisfying meal.

    Can you add sausage to minestrone soup? 

    Yes, you can minestrone soup with sausage for added flavor and protein, making it a heartier variation of the classic soup. 

    Pot of minestrone soup with sausage.

    More Italian Sausage Recipes

    • Focaccia Stuffing
      Focaccia Stuffing with Italian Sausage
    • Italian Sausage Kale Bean Soup
      Sausage Kale Bean Soup
    • sausage kale pasta
      Sausage Kale Pasta
    • Plate of Italian Sausage and Lentils
      Italian Sausage and Lentils

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or review in the comments section further down the page.

    Minestrone Soup with Sausage.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Minestrone Soup with Sausage

    Hearty Italian minestrone soup loaded with vegetables, beans, pasta, and Italian sausage in a tomato broth.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Italian sausage, minestrone, soup
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 383kcal
    Author: Angela Allison

    Equipment

    • large dutch oven or pot

    Ingredients

    • ¾ pound Italian sausage, crumbled (about three links)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
    • 1 cup zucchini, quartered and sliced (about a medium zucchini)
    • ½ cup onion, diced
    • ½ cup carrots, peeled and sliced (about 2 small carrots)
    • ½ cup celery, sliced (about 2 stalks)
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • ¼ cup tomato paste
    • 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 4 cups chicken broth
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend (or dried oregano)
    • 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
    • 15 ounce can small white beans
    • ½ cup cut green beans (frozen is fine)
    • ½ cup small shell pasta
    • 2 cups baby spinach leaves
    • ¼ cup chopped parsley
    • parmesan cheese for topping

    Instructions

    • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a dutch oven or large pot over medium high heat. Add in the crumbled Italian sausage and cook until the sauce is no longer pink, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage from pan and set aside.
    • Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the same pot over medium high heat. Add in the zucchini, onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Stir in the tomato paste until its melted into the vegetables. Pour in the canned diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning, and bring to a simmer. Add in the kidney beans, white beans, green beans, and pasta. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
    • Stir in the cooked sausage and spinach leaves and cook until the spinach leaves are wilted, about 2 minutes.
    • Add in chopped parsley. Pour the minestrone into soup bowls and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    • Serving: This recipe makes enough to serve 4-6 as a main course or 6-8 as a side or starter. 
    • Sausage: use your favorite Italian sausage (hot, mild, or sweet) for this recipe. Remove the casing and break into chunks. 
    • Make ahead: this is a great recipe to make ahead and have on hand for the week. To avoid the pasta soaking up too much of the liquid and getting mushy, store the cooked pasta separately from the soup and add it in before serving. 
    • Leftovers: store leftover minestrone soup with sausage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to a month. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 841mg | Potassium: 1005mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2499IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 6mg
    « Strawberry Ricotta Cake Recipe | Italian Dessert
    Pasta Alla Norma | Italian Eggplant Pasta Recipe »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Madame7

      September 16, 2023 at 3:03 pm

      There are a lot of words on this recipe page, but not the words that tell us when to add the beans.

      Reply
      • angelakallison

        September 16, 2023 at 3:10 pm

        Hi. Thanks for the message. When you look at the recipe card at the bottom of the post, it details all of the specifics of making the recipe, including adding in the the beans when you add in the pasta. To get to the recipe card, you can just click the "jump to recipe" button on the top of the page. Hope this helps!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Angela, the recipe creator of This Italian Kitchen. Cooking alongside her Italian family, she grew up creating authentic meals and desserts.

    More about me →

    Authentic Pasta Dishes

    These classic Italian pasta recipes are guaranteed to please!

    • sausage kale pasta
      Sausage Kale Pasta
    • Italian Turkey Lasagne in a white baking dish.
      Italian Turkey Lasagna | Easy No Boil Recipe
    • Anchovy Breadcrumb pasta in a white bowl on a checkered cloth.
      Anchovy Breadcrumb Pasta
    • Cheese & Meat Stuffed Shells in a glass baking dish.
      Cheese Beef Stuffed Shells

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    *Posts on this site may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you

    Copyright © 2023 This Italian Kitchen

    51 shares
    Minestrone Soup with Sausage.