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A bowlful of creamy, cozy comfort featuring zesty Italian sausage, tender pasta, and a rich Parmesan-infused broth that warms you from the inside out. This Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup combines the best elements of pasta night and soup season into one satisfying meal that comes together in just 30 minutes.
I created this recipe on a chilly Sunday when craving both pasta and soup - the combination was so perfect that it's become our family's most requested winter meal!
Essential Ingredients Guide
- Italian Sausage: Sweet or hot works well - choose bulk sausage or remove casings yourself
- Ditalini Pasta: These tiny tubes are perfect for soup, but any small pasta shape works
- Cream Cheese: Let it soften at room temperature for smoother melting
- Fresh Parmesan: Grate it yourself for the best melting and flavor
- Petite Diced Tomatoes: The smaller chunks distribute better throughout the soup
- Heavy Cream: Creates that perfect silky finish - don't substitute with lighter options
Detailed Instructions
- Building the Base
- Brown sausage thoroughly, breaking into small pieces
- Let onions caramelize slightly for deeper flavor
- Add garlic just until fragrant
- Drain excess fat but leave a little for flavor
- Creating the Perfect Broth
- Add liquids gradually while stirring
- Let pasta cook in the broth to release starches
- Maintain a gentle simmer to prevent curdling
- Stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking
- Achieving Creamy Perfection
- Lower heat before adding dairy
- Add cream cheese in small pieces
- Stir constantly while adding Parmesan
- Let thicken slightly before serving
- Final Touches
- Taste and adjust seasonings
- Add fresh herbs last
- Let rest briefly before serving
- Garnish with extra Parmesan
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Through many bowls of this soup, I've learned that the order of adding ingredients matters significantly. Adding the cream cheese too early or too late can affect the smoothness of the final broth.
Mastering the Consistency
The key is finding the right balance of liquid to pasta. I've found that slightly undercooking the pasta ensures it won't become mushy as the soup sits.
Temperature Control
Keeping the heat moderate prevents the dairy from separating. I learned this the hard way - rushing with too high heat can break the beautiful creamy texture.
The Art of Seasoning
Italian sausage provides most of the seasoning, but a light hand with additional herbs enhances rather than overwhelms.
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This Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup has become our favorite cold-weather meal. It's the perfect combination of familiar comfort food flavors in a new, exciting format that never fails to satisfy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use different pasta shapes?
- Yes! Any small pasta works great - try small shells, orzo, or even broken spaghetti. Just adjust cooking time based on package instructions.
- → How can I make it healthier?
- Use turkey Italian sausage, add extra vegetables like carrots and spinach, and use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- → Can I freeze this soup?
- Cream-based soups can be tricky to freeze. If freezing, do it before adding the cream and cheese, then add those when reheating.
- → What if my soup is too thick?
- Simply add more chicken broth until you reach your desired consistency. The pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits.
- → Can I make this ahead?
- Yes, but the pasta will continue to absorb liquid. Either cook pasta separately or add a bit more broth when reheating.