🍲🌿 Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo

Here’s a warm, hearty, and flavorful meal in a bowl: Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo — perfect for cozy nights or easy meal prep! 🇮🇹🍲

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🍲🌿 Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo

A comforting, one-pot soup packed with savory Italian sausage, tender orzo pasta, veggies, and bold herbs — ready in under an hour!

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⏱️ Time:

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes

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✅ Ingredients:

• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• 3/4 cup orzo pasta
• 2 cups fresh spinach or kale
• Optional: grated Parmesan & red pepper flakes

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👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Cook the sausage: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook sausage until browned and cooked through. Remove excess grease if needed.
2. Sauté veggies: Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute.
3. Add liquids: Stir in diced tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
4. Add orzo: Stir in orzo and reduce heat. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, or until orzo is tender.
5. Add greens: Stir in spinach or kale until wilted, about 1–2 minutes.
6. Taste & serve: Adjust seasoning. Ladle into bowls and top with Parmesan and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, if desired.

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🍽️ Serving Size:

• Serves 6 people

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📝 Tips & Notes:

• Swap orzo for small pasta shapes like ditalini or acini di pepe.
• Use chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
• Add a squeeze of lemon for brightness before serving.
• This soup thickens as it sits — add a splash of broth or water when reheating.

✅ How to Freeze Italian Sausage Soup:

🥣 Option 1: Freeze Without Orzo (Best Texture)

Orzo can become mushy when frozen and reheated. For the best results:

1. Cook the soup without adding orzo.
2. Cool completely, then pour into freezer-safe containers or bags.
3. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
4. When reheating, cook fresh orzo separately and add it in before serving.

🥣 Option 2: Freeze With Orzo

You can freeze it with orzo too, just know the pasta will soften more:

1. Cool the soup completely.
2. Portion into airtight containers.
3. Freeze for up to 2 months.
4. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a bit of broth to loosen it up.

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🔁 To Thaw & Reheat:

• Thaw overnight in the fridge or run under cold water to loosen.
• Reheat on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Add more broth or water as needed.

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📝 Tips:

• Freeze in individual portions for quick lunches.
• Add a handful of fresh spinach or Parmesan after reheating to brighten the flavor.
• Store in wide-mouth jars or flat freezer bags to save space.