. Creamy Parmesan Italian Ditalini Sausage Soup

Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Serves: 4–6

Intro:

This Creamy Parmesan Italian Ditalini Sausage Soup is comfort in a bowl. It features browned Italian sausage, tender ditalini pasta, and a rich, garlicky broth finished with cream and parmesan cheese. Add a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale, and you’ve got a balanced, filling, and ultra-satisfying meal — perfect for chilly evenings or anytime you need something cozy and quick.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Italian seasoning

½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup water

¾ cup ditalini pasta (or small pasta of choice)

1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)

¾ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 cups baby spinach or chopped kale

Salt & black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Brown the sausage:

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up, until browned and fully cooked. Remove excess grease if needed.

Sauté the aromatics

: Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute.

Add liquids & pasta:

Pour in chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil, then add ditalini pasta. Simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente.

Make it creamy:

Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and parmesan. Mix well until cheese is melted and soup is smooth and creamy.

Add greens

: Stir in spinach or kale until wilted, about 2 minutes.

Season & serve: Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot with extra parmesan and crusty bread if desired.

✅ Tips:

Don’t overcook the pasta — it will continue to soften in the hot broth.

For extra richness, stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese.

Want more veggies? Add diced carrots, celery, or zucchini with the onions.

Make it spicy with hot Italian sausage and extra red pepper flakes.

Use gluten-free pasta to make it GF-friendly.

❓ Q & A:

Q: Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of sausage?
A: Yes! You may want to add extra Italian seasoning and salt since sausage brings its own flavor.

Q: Can I make this ahead?
A: Yes, but for best texture, cook the pasta separately and add it when reheating to prevent it from getting mushy.

Q: Can I freeze this soup?
A: It freezes best without the cream and pasta. Add those fresh when reheating.

Q: What if I don’t have ditalini?
A: Any small pasta works – orzo, small shells, elbows, or even rice.

Nutrition Info (Per Serving – approx. 1/6 of recipe):

Calories: ~430

Protein: 21g

Fat: 28g

Saturated Fat: 13g

Carbs: 24g

Sugar: 3g

Fiber: 2g

Sodium: ~880mg

Calcium: 20% DV

Iron: 12% DV