Sausage Orzo Creamy Soup

Featured in Master the Art of Main Course Creation.

Whip this velvety soup together with sausage, orzo, and a tomato base in only 40 minutes—perfect for busy nights.
Rana
Updated on Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:51:30 GMT
A delicious bowl of orzo pasta soup with sausage, fresh spinach, and a tomato-based creamy broth, served with a golden spoon. Pin it
A delicious bowl of orzo pasta soup with sausage, fresh spinach, and a tomato-based creamy broth, served with a golden spoon. | flavorsenthusiasts.com

Gotta tell you about my ultimate comfort soup that's become our number one family meal! I came up with this Italian Sausage Orzo Soup one cold night when I needed something hearty and filling. These days it's what everyone begs me to make when temperatures drop. That smooth tomato broth paired with soft orzo and flavorful Italian sausage just hits the spot!

What Makes This Dish Special

The magic of this soup happens when everything cooks together in a single pot creating knockout flavor combinations! I'm crazy about how the orzo drinks up that tasty broth and how the spinach brings such nice pops of green. And somehow it always tastes way better when you eat the leftovers!

Stuff You'll Need

  • Italian sausage Johnsonville works great.
  • Onion and celery chopped fresh for the base.
  • Garlic cloves lots of them.
  • Flour just enough to thicken things up.
  • Chicken broth full-flavored stuff.
  • Diced tomatoes from a can.
  • Orzo pasta those tiny rice-shaped bits!
  • Heavy cream to make everything silky.
  • Spinach leaves nice and fresh.
  • Oregano dried for that classic Italian flavor.

Cooking Steps

Brown Your Meat
Cook that sausage until golden since that's your flavor foundation!
Add Aromatics
Those veggies and garlic will fill your house with mouthwatering smells.
Pour In Liquids
Mix in your wet ingredients and see everything come alive.
Toss In Main Stuff
When you add the orzo and cream that's when the real transformation happens.
Drop In Greens
The spinach goes in last and softens up just right!
A steaming bowl of chunky soup with orzo pasta, crumbled meat, tomato chunks, and wilted spinach in rich broth. Pin it
A steaming bowl of chunky soup with orzo pasta, crumbled meat, tomato chunks, and wilted spinach in rich broth. | flavorsenthusiasts.com

Fun Twists

We sometimes throw in hot sausage for a kick or switch spinach with kale. Don't worry if you can't do dairy – coconut milk works great too! And a little sprinkle of red pepper always perks things up!

Tasty Companions

Nothing beats dipping chunks of crusty bread into this soup! Add a basic green salad and you've got dinner sorted. On special nights we make some buttery garlic bread too – total game changer!

Storage Tips

This soup stays good in your fridge for several days just warm it up slowly. Want to freeze some? Leave out the orzo, cream and spinach until you're ready to eat it. That way everything stays just right!

Fits Every Occasion

From regular weeknight dinners to having company over, this soup always delivers. It's that rare combo – super easy to throw together but tastes like you slaved away for hours!

Close view of white bowl containing hearty soup with tiny pasta, sausage crumbles, diced tomatoes and green spinach, with gold spoon visible. Pin it
Close view of white bowl containing hearty soup with tiny pasta, sausage crumbles, diced tomatoes and green spinach, with gold spoon visible. | flavorsenthusiasts.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why keep orzo separate for leftovers?
Orzo soaks up liquid as it sits. Cooking it separately stops the pasta from getting soggy and keeps the texture right.
→ Can I swap heavy cream for something else?
Heavy cream is best. Other types might curdle because of the tomato acidity and high temperature.
→ Which sausage works best?
Any Italian sausage does the trick—use it ground or pulled from casings. Sweet or spicy both taste great.
→ Do I really need spinach?
Spinach adds a pop of nutrients and color, but you can skip it, and it’ll still be delicious.
→ Why stir orzo a lot while cooking?
Stirring stops the orzo from sticking to the bottom and makes sure it cooks evenly.

Conclusion

Whip this velvety soup together with sausage, orzo, and a tomato base in only 40 minutes—perfect for busy nights.

Sausage Orzo Creamy Soup

A rich soup with sausage, orzo, and a creamy tomato base. Super quick to fix and loved by families.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
40 Minutes
By: Rana

Category: Main Courses

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (Serves 6 people)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 1 cup heavy whipping cream.
02 16 oz of Italian sausage, uncooked.
03 2 celery stalks, chopped small.
04 Salt and pepper, season to your taste.
05 4 minced garlic cloves.
06 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried.
07 4 cups broth (chicken is best).
08 2 cups fresh spinach (optional).
09 1/2 an onion, chopped fine.
10 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, don’t drain.
11 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.
12 Uncooked orzo, about 1 cup.

Instructions

Step 01

Cook sausage over medium heat for around 7-10 minutes. Move to a plate lined with paper towels.

Step 02

Using 1 tablespoon of sausage drippings, cook celery and onion in the same pot for 4-5 minutes.

Step 03

Toss in minced garlic and flour. Cook for about a minute. Gradually stir in chicken broth until no lumps remain.

Step 04

Add browned sausage, tomatoes (with juices), and oregano back into the pot. Heat until it starts to boil gently.

Step 05

Pour in the cream and toss in the uncooked orzo. Let it simmer, stirring often, for about 12 minutes until the orzo softens.

Step 06

If you’re adding spinach, stir it in here. Sprinkle salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

  1. If saving leftovers, cook orzo separately.
  2. Heavy cream is non-negotiable.
  3. Keep stirring to stop anything from sticking.

Tools You'll Need

  • One big soup pot.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains cream (dairy).
  • Pasta and flour include wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 541
  • Total Fat: 39 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 31 g
  • Protein: 18 g