30-Minute Italian Sausage Soup — EASY, hearty soup that’s full of flavor from the sausage, rice, and vegetables!! Comfort food the whole family will LOVE and it’s healthier from the vegetables! It keeps you warm and cozy on cold winter nights!!
Easy Sausage Soup Recipe
During the cold weather months, soup recipes are the most popular on my website. I made this soup on a miserable, rainy, cold dreary day and my daughter had a terrible cold and this really hit the spot.
I love soups throughout the year but especially now because they are warm and cozy.
This one is hearty and it’s pure comfort food in a bowl. If you know someone who says that soup is not a meal, this satisfying recipe will prove them wrong. Not only do the vegetables keep the soup healthier, they also make it very filling.
The soup reminds me and my family of one of our all-time favorite soups, The Best 30-Minute Lasagna Soup. The tomato-ey beef broth along with the sausage is just perfect, the rice adds a comforting dimension. there is great texture from the zucchini and green beans, and the fresh basil and lemon juice really brighten it up.
It’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, which is nice for many people or if you’re serving it to a mixed group with dietary restrictions. Many soup recipes rely on noodles and/or use a dairy-based cheese sauce but not this one.
What’s in Italian Sausage Soup?
To make the Italian sausage vegetable soup, you’ll need:
- Italian sausage
- Olive oil
- Sweet Vidalia onion
- Garlic
- Beef broth
- Canned petite diced tomatoes
- Oregano
- Cayenne
- Cooked rice
- Zucchini
- Green beans
- Fresh basil
- Lemon juice
How to Make Italian Sausage Soup
This soup is beyond easy, ready in under 30 minutes, made in one pot, and is full of robust flavor.
Simply brown Italian sausage with onions before adding red peppers, garlic, beef broth, diced tomatoes, oregano, and bring the mixture to a boil. After it’s boiling, add cooked rice, zucchini, green beans, and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
Use precooked rice to save time. I used ready rice in packets but feel free to separately cook 4 cups of rice for use in the soup. Your favorite type of rice from brown to basmati is fine.
Garnish the soup with basil, a squirt of lemon juice, and and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you’d like (but not if you’re trying to keep it dairy-free, see below). So easy and dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes, making this perfect for busy weeknights.
What Type of Sausage Should I Use?
I used hot Italian pork sausage because we like the extra flavor the ‘hot’ adds although we don’t think it’s spicy or actually hot. But if you are your family do, regular sausage is fine.
You’re looking for a pound of ‘natural’ sausage (looks like raw ground beef) that’s not in casings or links.
Can I Use Ground Beef Instead?
Yes, you could easily swap the sausage for ground beef. I have a beef and pasta soup that has lots of similarities to this one.
Or check out this Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup, which is made with ground beef, rice, and tomatoes in your slow cooker.
Tips for Making Italian Sausage Soup
I did not drain the sausage after it finished cooking, but you can if desired. Note that the fat keeps the rice from sticking and adds flavor to the broth.
Because I used lower/no salt-added products, I added a total of about 3 teaspoons of salt to the soup but this will vary based on personal preference and products used. Remember that rice is also bland and benefits from adequate salt.
Lastly, the Italian sausage vegetable soup may seem quite brothy initially, but in time the rice and vegetables absorb some of the broth, reducing the brothiness.
Pin This Recipe
30-Minute Italian Sausage, Vegetable, and Rice Soup
EASY, hearty soup that’s full of flavor from the sausage, rice, and vegetables!! Comfort food the whole family will LOVE and it's healthier from the vegetables! It keeps you warm and cozy on cold winter nights!!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, optional
- 1 pound fresh Italian pork sausage (I used spicy sausage)
- 1 large sweet Vidalia onion, diced small
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced small
- 3 to 5 cloves finely minced or pressed garlic
- 64 ounces beef broth (I used 50% reduced sodium)
- one 15-ounce can petite diced tomatoes (do not drain; I used no-salt added)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1+ teaspoons kosher salt, as needed to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- pinch cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
- two 8.8-ounce packets cooked rice] (or about 4 cups of your favorite [cooked rice
- 1 medium/large zucchini, diced into small pieces
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh green beans
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, optional but recommend
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese, optional for garnishing as desired
Instructions
- To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the optional olive oil , sausage, onion, red pepper, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until onion is becoming soft and translucent. Stir and crumble the sausage as it cooks. I did not drain the sausage but you can if desired; the fat keeps the rice from sticking and adds flavor to the broth.
- Add the garlic, stir to combine, and cook for about 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add the broth, tomatoes, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, optional cayenne (doesn’t make the soup spicy but adds flavor), bring to a boil, and once boiling, add the zucchini, green beans, rice, and cook uncovered for about 7 minutes or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Turn the heat off, add the basil, optionally add the lemon juice (it really brightens up the flavor of the soup and I recommend it), stir to combine, and taste the soup. If necessary, add more salt. Because I use lower/no salt-added products, I added a total of about 3 teaspoons salt but this will vary based on preference and products used; rice is also bland and benefits from adequate salt.
- Ladle into bowls and optionally garnish with Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Storage: Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months. Soup may seem quite brothy initially but in time, the rice and vegetables absorb some of the broth, reducing the brothiness.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 271Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 1612mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 15g
More Quick Soup Recipes:
15 Best Fast and Easy Soup Recipes – Warm up with these easy soup recipes!! Most are ready in under 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights! Hearty, comforting, and so good!!
The Best 30-Minute Lasagna Soup – All the flavor of lasagna minus the work! Loaded with juicy tomatoes, sausage, and topped with melted cheese! Easy, hearty, comfort food that’s perfect for busy weeknights!
Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup – Stuffed peppers in HEARTY soup form and made in your SLOW COOKER!! Peppers, onions, ground beef, tomatoes, and rice in this EASY comfort food recipe!!
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Slow Cooker Beef Chili – Easy, hearty, comfort food! As the chili simmers in your slow cooker it develops so much flavor! A foolproof chili recipe that you’ll want to add into your regular rotation!
Easy 30-Minute Turkey Chili – Don’t have all day for chili to simmer? No problem! This easy, hearty, healthy chili is ready in 30 minutes and it’s full of flavor! Perfect for busy weeknights!
Could I use a tomato sauce vs diced tomatoes? I HATE TOMATOES!!! But really want to make this.
I don’t know how anyone can hate tomatoes as I love them! But if you hate them that much, then just omit them and don’t use tomato sauce. IMO that would be a weird addition here. Replace with another 1/2 to 1 cup broth if the soup seems to need more liquid.
Delicius recipe, thank you! Wishes from Lithuania!
Looks Delicious! I did not see the calorie count per serving.
Delicious. Personal preference but I would go with a full 2 cups of the green beans !
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that it was delicious! It’s such a flexible soup recipe that you can always adjust things like the green bean level to taste.
Apparently I am missing something when I read the recipe. When do you add the red pepper and basil?
Step 1 and step 4.
It wasn’t you not seeing it – I just updated the recipe.
Thank you!
This was so delicious! I made it with brown rice and Italian turkey sausage. It really hit the spot on this cool day. And there was enough for leftovers since I’m only cooking for 3. 😊
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad it turned out great and that you have leftovers!
Awesome soup! I used the last of my homemade bone broth so I guess it’s time to get another batch started.
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad you thought it was awesome and I’m sure your homemade bone broth made it extra delish!
Oh dear, my cup of tea ! Grazie milla !
Sounds perfect! I love that soups are a “meal in a bowl” and it’s an easy way to increase my veggie intake!
Yes this is definitely in the “meal in a bowl” category with an easy option to increase your veggies as you said!
Anxious to try both of the skillet recipes you posted this week!!
I think you will enjoy them both!