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One-Pot Italian Pasta Soup Recipe for Cozy Nights

One-Pot Italian Pasta Soup

A hearty Italian-inspired soup featuring browned sausage, vegetables, cannellini beans, small pasta, tomatoes, greens, and Parmesan. Everything cooks in one pot for a comforting dinner with simple cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Soup Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
  • 1 Medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 Medium carrots, diced
  • 2 Celery stalks, diced
  • 4 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
  • 1 28-ounce can Crushed or diced tomatoes
  • 6 cups Low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 15-ounce can Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 ounces Small pasta such as ditalini, small shells, or elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups Baby spinach or chopped kale
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Finishing Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until browned.
  2. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste. Cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant and slightly darkened.
  4. Add the tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the soup to a boil.
  5. Add the drained beans and dry pasta. Reduce the heat to a steady simmer and cook uncovered for the time specified on the pasta package, usually 8–10 minutes, stirring frequently so the pasta does not stick.
  6. Stir in the spinach during the last 1–2 minutes, just until wilted. If using kale, simmer it for approximately 5 minutes.
  7. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Parmesan. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then serve with additional Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired.

Notes

Serve promptly because the pasta continues absorbing broth as it stands. Add extra broth when reheating. For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage, use vegetable broth, and add an extra can of beans or 1 cup of chopped mushrooms.