Pasta Soup is the ultimate family favorite with Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and plenty of pasta. Quick, hearty, and bursting with flavor!
A One-Pot Pasta Soup
So many reasons to love this soup! Big, bold flavors with minimal effort, all in one pot. It’s a sneaky way to pack in more veggies (even my kids love it!) and is hearty, comforting, and totally satisfying. Plus, it’s easy to customize—toss in any extra veggies you need to use up!
And in my opinion, nothing beats crusty, buttered bread dunked into a big, steamy bowl of this soup!
Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Pasta Soup recipe:
- Italian sausage: Spicy for heat, mild for a classic flavor. Remove casings if using links.
- Mirepoix: A mix of carrots, celery, and onion creates a rich base. Dice small and evenly for the best texture.
- Garlic: Fresh is best, but jarred works great too!
- Diced tomatoes: Regular works, but fire-roasted adds a nice smoky depth.
- Beef broth: Reduced sodium if you’re concerned about salt.
- Dried basil, Italian seasoning, dried oregano: Classic herbs that bring big flavors.
- Salt and pepper: Add slowly and adjust to taste based on the broth.
- Mini farfalle pasta: Small pasta is best! You’ll get more in every bite.
- Fresh spinach: Adds color and texture. Swap for kale if you prefer.
Cooking Tips for the Best Pasta Soup
- Brown the sausage well: Let it sit for a bit before stirring to develop rich, caramelized flavor.
- Stir: Prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom by stirring every few minutes.
- Add spinach last: It wilts fast, so toss it in right before serving.
- Taste before serving: The broth and sausage add salt, so adjust as needed.
- Brighten the flavor: A squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar at the end adds some nice acidity.
- Add some heat: Red pepper flakes or spicy sausage if you like the heat!
What to Serve with Pasta Soup
- Bread: Crusty French bread or dinner rolls for dipping.
- Salad: A hearty Caesar Salad is so great on the side! Or try an easy garden salad.
- Fruit: A side of in-season fruit or a fruit salad.
- Crackers: These soup crackers are my kids’ favorite!
- Bruschetta: The perfect appetizer!
Storage
Pasta Soup Is Best Enjoyed Fresh!
- Best fresh: Pasta keeps soaking up broth, so enjoy it right after making it.
- If you have leftovers: Keep the pasta and soup separate in the fridge, so the pasta doesn’t soak up too much liquid and turn mushy. I like to use a wire skimmer to scoop out the pasta from the broth.
- Reheat with extra liquid: Add more broth if it’s too thick.
More Soup Recipes:
- Cheeseburger Soup with ground beef
- Stuffed Pepper Soup with rice
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup with carrots
- Couscous Soup with chicken
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup Olive Garden copycat!
Pasta Soup
This Pasta Soup is packed with Italian sausage, veggies, fresh spinach, and mini farfalle. It’s hearty, easy to make, and sure to be a family favorite!
Equipment
- Large pot 6-quart
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2-1/4 cups mirepoix 3/4 cup diced carrots, 3/4 cup diced celery, 3/4 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes fire-roasted preferred
- 2 (32-ounce) cartons reduced-sodium beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups uncooked miniature farfalle pasta
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach coarsely chopped, lightly packed when measured
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese optional, for serving
- Crusty buttered bread optional, for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large 6-quart pot over medium-high. Add 1 tbsp olive oil. Once shimmering, add the sausage and let it cook undisturbed for about 1 minute per side. Then, break it into crumbles and cook until deeply browned, stirring occasionally. Let it sit between stirs so it absorbs its own grease (more flavor). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Drain all but 1 tbsp of grease, then add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Stir in the carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté, stirring often, for 5–7 minutes until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in tomatoes, broth, and seasonings. Adjust salt and pepper to taste (I use ¼ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper, but this may vary based on your broth). Stir well.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then add the uncooked pasta. Return to a boil and cook uncovered for 7–9 minutes, stirring often, until the pasta is tender. Return sausage and add spinach, cooking just until the spinach wilts, about 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese and warm, crusty buttered bread. Enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
Storage: This soup is best fresh since the pasta absorbs broth. For leftovers, store them separately to avoid mushiness—I use a wire skimmer to remove the pasta. Reheat with extra broth if needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 456kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1388mg | Potassium: 983mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2470IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can this be frozen and reheated?
Not with the pasta; it will bloat and absorb all the liquid as it thaws.
This was incredible. I used whole wheat pasta and next time I will try Turkey Sausage just to make it even healthier. This may be my new favorite soup. Thank you!
So happy to hear that, thanks for the comment Jody! 🙂
May 9th and I need a warm delicious soup ‘cause it’s in the 30s according to the wind chills! My house is full of the aroma of your soup and is making us all feel good! Can’t wait to set the table with crusty warm bread and Parmesan cheese, thank you and stay safe and stay strong
I am so glad you are enjoying this Pasta Soup! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
This looks amazing! I don’t have spinach here at home :0( Do you NEED the spinach?
Thanks so much Lauren! You can definitely omit the spinach and it’ll still be delicious! 🙂
Omg this is delicious!!!
YAYY!! So happy you enjoyed! 🙂
Made this for dinner tonight and it is just as good as it looks. My husband loved it!
So happy this was a hit! 🙂
Stumbled across this while looking for a hearty dinner soup! It was amazing! Even my 3 & 5 year old boys loved it! Used Organic Beef Bone Broth and Mini Farfalle with Diced Fire Roasted Garlic Tomatoes . This will be a go-to soup recipe for us!! Thank you!
So happy to hear that! Thanks so much for the comment and review 🙂
This pasta soup with sausage looks so hearty and filling. Can’t wait to try it!
When do you put the sausage back in? I made this last night and just put it in when I put the bow tie pasta in so hopefully that was correct, lol. Even if it wasn’t this was a great dish. I would definitely make again.
So happy you enjoyed it Jennifer! And I updated the recipe, thank you for pointing that out! 🙂
This vegetable soup looks amazing. The ingredients are simple and great. I think I have everything in my fridge so I am heading to make it for tomorrow.
Hope you enjoy!
And your 5 star rating is based on what?