This Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Soup is the ultimate comfort food for chilly evenings. Made with Italian sausage, ziti pasta, and a rich blend of tomatoes and seasonings, it’s an easy, hearty dish. The addition of creamy ricotta and Parmesan cheeses gives it a rich, velvety finish, while fresh basil adds a burst of flavor. It’s a perfect meal for busy nights, as the slow cooker does all the work.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage or turkey Italian sausage
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 8 ounces ziti or penne pasta
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup finely chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. Cook the Sausage: In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onion over medium heat, breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon until browned. Drain the fat.
2. Prepare the Soup Base: Transfer the sausage mixture to a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, green bell pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and crushed red pepper.
3. Cook the Soup: Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours. If using the Low setting, turn it to High once the cooking time is almost up.
4. Add the Pasta: Add the pasta to the soup, cover, and cook for an additional 30 minutes until the pasta is tender.
5. Make the Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil.
6. Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with a spoonful of the ricotta mixture. Serve hot and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 350 kcal
• Fat: 20g
• Carbs: 21g
• Protein: 22g

The Key Ingredients: Italian Sausage and Ricotta

The stars of this dish are undoubtedly the Italian sausage and the ricotta cheese. These ingredients add both flavor and texture, making the soup feel indulgent yet simple.

Italian Sausage: Italian sausage—whether pork or turkey—is a flavorful addition that gives this soup a meaty, savory backbone. The sausage is typically seasoned with a blend of fennel, garlic, and other spices, which contribute a rich, aromatic taste that’s central to the dish. The sausage also infuses the soup base with a hearty flavor, especially when browned and mixed with onions, which bring out its natural sweetness.

For those seeking a lighter version of the dish, turkey Italian sausage is a fantastic alternative. It has a similar flavor profile but contains less fat, making it a great option for anyone looking to reduce their calorie intake without sacrificing flavor.

Ricotta Cheese: Ricotta cheese adds creaminess to the soup and acts as a counterpoint to the spicy sausage. This soft, slightly sweet cheese is commonly used in Italian cooking, and it pairs beautifully with the savory elements of the soup. When dolloped on top of the soup just before serving, the ricotta melts slightly, creating a luxurious, smooth texture that complements the rich broth.

The Flavorful Broth

The base of the soup is made from a mixture of chicken broth and tomatoes, which gives it a light yet savory depth. Using reduced-sodium chicken broth helps control the amount of salt in the soup, which is especially important when you’re using salty ingredients like sausage and Parmesan cheese. The addition of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes adds both acidity and sweetness to the broth, balancing the richness of the sausage and cheese.

Italian Seasoning: A classic blend of dried herbs, such as basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary, Italian seasoning brings an authentic, aromatic flavor to the soup. It enhances the overall taste without overpowering the other ingredients, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.

Garlic and Crushed Red Pepper: Garlic is a must in Italian-inspired dishes, and it’s used here to infuse the broth with its unmistakable flavor. Crushed red pepper adds a touch of heat, making the soup feel warming without being too spicy. You can adjust the amount of crushed red pepper depending on how much heat you prefer.

The Pasta

The soup is finished off with pasta—ziti or penne work perfectly here, as their hollow tubes capture the flavorful broth. Pasta in soup serves as both a filler and a texture enhancer, making the dish feel more substantial. When the pasta is cooked directly in the broth, it absorbs the savory flavors, making each bite even more satisfying.

If you’re looking to make the dish gluten-free, you can easily substitute gluten-free pasta for a comparable texture and flavor. It’s important to note that when adding pasta to slow-cooked soups, you want to make sure not to overcook it, as it can become mushy. Adding the pasta towards the end of the cooking time ensures that it remains al dente and retains its shape.

How to Make It: The Slow Cooker Magic

One of the best things about this Sausage and Ricotta Soup is how easy it is to prepare. It’s a slow cooker recipe, which means you can prepare everything in advance, set it, and forget it until dinner time. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld and intensify, creating a rich, comforting broth.

1. Brown the Sausage: Begin by browning the sausage in a skillet with onions. This step not only cooks the sausage through but also helps to render out some of the fat, ensuring the soup won’t be too greasy. After cooking, transfer the sausage mixture to the slow cooker, which is where the magic happens.
2. Add the Broth and Tomatoes: Add the chicken broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and vegetables to the slow cooker, along with the Italian seasoning, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Give it a stir, and let the slow cooker work its magic for several hours.
3. Add the Pasta: After the broth has had time to develop its flavors, add the pasta to the slow cooker. Since pasta can cook quickly, adding it towards the end of the cooking time helps prevent it from becoming too soft or overcooked.
4. Make the Cheese Mixture: While the soup is cooking, mix together the ricotta, Parmesan, and basil in a small bowl. This mixture will serve as a creamy topping for the soup.
5. Serve: Once the soup is ready, ladle it into bowls and top with a generous spoonful of the ricotta cheese mixture. The ricotta will melt slightly into the hot soup, adding a rich creaminess to each bite.

Why This Soup is Perfect for Any Occasion

This Sausage and Ricotta Soup is more than just a comforting dinner—it’s a flexible dish that can be served in a variety of settings:

• Weeknight Meals: Thanks to the slow cooker, you can prepare it in the morning, and by dinner time, you’ll have a flavorful meal ready to serve with minimal effort.
• Entertaining: The soup is hearty enough to be served as the main course at a casual gathering, and it pairs wonderfully with a side salad or crusty bread.
• Family-Friendly: With its familiar ingredients—sausage, pasta, cheese, and tomatoes—this soup is likely to be a hit with both kids and adults alike.

Conclusion: A Bowl of Comfort

There’s something inherently comforting about a big bowl of sausage and ricotta soup. From the savory sausage to the creamy cheese topping and perfectly cooked pasta, this dish offers warmth and satisfaction in every spoonful. It’s an ideal recipe for cold days when you need something hearty and filling, yet simple to prepare. Whether served to a family of four or a gathering of friends, this soup is sure to become a go-to favorite.

With its delicious balance of savory flavors, easy preparation, and the indulgent addition of ricotta, this soup is a must-try. It’s a perfect blend of Italian-inspired ingredients that come together in the slow cooker to create a meal that’s not only delicious but also a breeze to prepare.