Get ready to discover your new favorite weeknight meal: this incredibly easy and flavorful Italian Sausage Cannellini Bean Soup. It’s a rustic, hearty soup that delivers a rich, satisfying taste with minimal effort. In just over 30 minutes, you can have a comforting bowl of this one-pot wonder on the table, packed with spicy sausage, creamy white beans, and nutritious greens. It’s the perfect answer to a chilly evening or a busy schedule.
This recipe is designed for simplicity without sacrificing flavor. We use simple, accessible ingredients to build layers of taste that feel like they’ve been simmering for hours. It’s a complete meal in a bowl that the whole family will love.
Why This Italian Sausage Cannellini Bean Soup is a Weeknight Winner
There are so many reasons to love this recipe, but here are the highlights that make it a true standout for any home cook.
- One-Pot Simplicity: Everything comes together in a single Dutch oven or large pot. This means less time washing dishes and more time enjoying your delicious creation.
- Fast and Flavorful: This soup is ready from start to finish in about 35 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The spicy Italian sausage provides a robust flavor base that makes the soup taste slow-simmered.
- Hearty and Healthy: Packed with protein from the sausage and beans, plus vitamins from the fresh spinach, this is a balanced and filling meal you can feel good about serving.
The Core Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this soup comes from a few well-chosen, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to grab:
- Spicy Italian Sausage: This is the star of the show. The fat renders out to create an incredibly flavorful base, and the spices infuse the entire soup. You can also use mild or sweet Italian sausage if you prefer less heat.
- Cannellini Beans: These white kidney beans are prized for their creamy texture and nutty flavor, which complements the sausage perfectly. Canned beans make this recipe quick and easy.
- Aromatics: A classic mirepoix base of onion, carrots, and celery, along with plenty of fresh garlic, builds the foundational flavor of the soup.
- Chicken Broth: Use a good quality chicken broth or stock, as it makes up the bulk of the liquid.
- Diced Tomatoes: A can of diced tomatoes adds a touch of acidity and sweetness that balances the richness of the sausage.
- Fresh Spinach: Wilted in at the end, fresh spinach adds color, nutrients, and a tender texture. Kale is also a fantastic substitute.
- Herbs and Spices: Dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper are all you need to round out the flavors.
How to Make Italian Sausage and Bean Soup: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to create a perfect pot of soup.
- Brown the Sausage: In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the Italian sausage removed from its casings. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot with the sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice), cannellini beans, and dried oregano. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Wilt the Greens: Uncover the pot and stir in the fresh spinach. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, just until the spinach has wilted completely.
- Serve and Enjoy: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. For a complete meal, serve with some delicious homemade garlic knots or crusty bread for dipping.
Tips for the Best Sausage and Bean Soup
A few simple tips can take this soup from great to absolutely unforgettable.
- Don’t Drain the Beans: The starchy liquid in the can of cannellini beans adds a bit of body and creaminess to the soup broth.
- Use Quality Sausage: Since the sausage is the primary flavor driver, using a high-quality brand will make a noticeable difference in the final taste.
- Add a Parmesan Rind: If you have one, toss a Parmesan cheese rind into the soup while it simmers. It will dissolve slightly and add an incredible depth of savory, umami flavor. Just be sure to remove it before serving!
Delicious Variations to Try
While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also very adaptable. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:
- Add Some Kale: For a heartier green, substitute chopped kale for the spinach. Add it a few minutes earlier, as it takes longer to become tender.
- Make it Creamy: For a richer, creamier broth, stir in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half at the very end of cooking.
- Include Pasta: Turn this into a pasta e fagioli style soup by adding a cup of small pasta, like ditalini or small shells, during the last 10 minutes of simmering. You may need to add a bit more broth. Check out our white chicken lasagna soup for another great pasta-based soup.
Storing and Reheating Your Soup
This Italian Sausage Cannellini Bean Soup is perfect for meal prep, as the flavors get even better the next day. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the soup for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the soup has thickened, you can add a splash of chicken broth to reach your desired consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can easily turn this into a pasta e fagioli style soup. Add about 1 cup of a small pasta shape like ditalini or small shells during the last 10 minutes of simmering. You may need to add a bit more broth as the pasta will absorb liquid.
Absolutely! This recipe uses spicy Italian sausage and red pepper flakes for heat. For extra spice, you can add more red pepper flakes or even a dash of your favorite hot sauce.
For a naturally creamy soup, you can blend one cup of the soup (with beans and broth) and stir it back into the pot. The pureed beans will create a wonderfully creamy texture without any dairy.
Yes, this soup freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating on the stovetop.
If you don’t have cannellini beans, Great Northern beans or navy beans are excellent substitutes. They offer a similar creamy texture and mild flavor.
This soup is a meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with crusty bread, homemade garlic knots, or a simple side salad with a vinaigrette dressing.
The Perfect Italian Sausage Cannellini Bean Soup Recipe
Italian Sausage Cannellini Bean Soup (The Best Easy Recipe!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the Italian sausage removed from its casings. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot with the sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice), cannellini beans, and dried oregano. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Uncover the pot and stir in the fresh spinach. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, just until the spinach has wilted completely.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Use Quality Sausage: Since the sausage is the primary flavor driver, using a high-quality brand will make a noticeable difference in the final taste.
Add a Parmesan Rind: If you have one, toss a Parmesan cheese rind into the soup while it simmers for extra flavor. Remove it before serving.
Share Your Creations!
We are so excited for you to try this simple yet satisfying Italian Sausage Cannellini Bean Soup recipe. It’s a testament to how wonderful and comforting a quick meal can be. If you make it, we’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below with your thoughts or any creative variations you tried. And don’t forget to save this recipe and share your beautiful soup photos on Pinterest!
