White Bean Soup with Sausage and Vegetables
This satisfying, cozy white bean soup with sausage and veggies is packed with nutrition, heat and fantastic flavors. A perfect meal in a bowl with some hot crusty bread.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: soups and starters
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings (change as needed): 6 -8
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 pound spicy Italian or turkey sausage, casing removed, Note 1
- 2 large carrots
- 3 celery stalks
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp)
- 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 5 cups chicken broth or chicken stock (or vegetarian broth/stock)
- 1 14.5-ounce (411 g) can white cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, Note 2
- 1/2 cup orzo pasta, Note 3
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach (or chopped swiss chard or kale)
- Garnish: fresh grated Parmesan cheese optional
seasonings (Note 4)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or more, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
CHOP VEGETABLES: Dice onions, carrots and celery into small pieces. Shortcut: alternatively, cut vegetables into large chunks and pulse them in a food processor a few times until coarsely chopped.
SAUTE SAUSAGE: Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausage meat, using a spoon to break it up in the pot. Saute for about 3-4 minutes until browned. Drain off most of grease, leaving about 2 teaspoons in the pot.
SAUTE VEGETABLES: Add onions, carrots and celery to the pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic and spices. Sauté another 1-2 minutes over medium heat.
ADD LIQUIDS, BEANS AND ORZO: Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, beans and orzo. Stir. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer on medium-low for about 20 minutes until vegetables and pasta are tender.
FINISH AND SERVE: Add fresh baby spinach and stir one minute until wilted. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve in bowls sprinkled with Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Sausage options:
- Use any fresh sausages such as spicy Italian sausages or Chorizo. Or mild fresh farmers or garlic sausages. The sausages can be mild, medium or very spicy - as you like. For a shortcut you can used a cooked smoked sausage like andouille (and skip the pan fry step).
- For vegetarians, use a vegetarian sausage such as Beyond Meat or leave it out altogether.
- Bean options: Cannellini, white navy, red kidney, pinto beans, butter beans, great northern beans are all good options.
- Pasta options: Instead of orzo, try acini di pepe, baby penne, fine egg noodles, macaroni, etc. Leave out the pasta if you prefer. Or replace it with diced potatoes.
- Seasonings: Use the equivalent of seasonings you like. Thyme, oregano, basil, sage, herbes de province are good options. You can also use a dried Italian seasoning blend.
- Other variations to try:
- Low salt version: Skip the Parmesan cheese. Use cans of low salt beans, low salt tomatoes and low sodium broth.
- Vegetables: We use onions, carrots, celery and spinach. Other good options are zucchini, mushrooms and green beans. Spinach can be replaced with fresh kale or swiss chard. Or with frozen spinach.
- Make Ahead:
- The sausage and white bean soup will keep well in the fridge in a sealed container for 4-5 days. If it thickens up too much in the fridge, just add more broth.
- The soup can also be frozen for several months. Defrost and reheat in the microwave or in a pot.
How to make the soup in the Instant Pot
- Sauté sausage for 5 minutes. Add onions and veggies. Sauté another 5 minutes, then garlic for 30 seconds. Turn instant pot off.
- Add seasonings, broth, tomatoes and beans. (not pasta)
- Lock in lid. Set Pressure to high for 5 minutes. Do natural releases for 10 minutes. Stir.
- Turn on Sauté funtion. Add pasta and cook until tender.
- Stir in spinach until wilted.
How to make the soup in Slow Cooker/Crockpot
- Sauté sausage in a skillet. Add veggies (not including spinach) and garlic. Sauté another 3 minutes
- Transfer to slow cooker and add all other ingredients except spinach, pasta and beans.
- Cook on High for 4-6 hours. Or Low for 8 hours.
- Add beans, pasta and spinach. Cook on high for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.
Nutrition value estimates are based on approximately 1 1/2 cups of soup using fresh turkey sausage. Parmesan garnish is not included.
Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 844mg | Potassium: 1094mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 6356IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 5mg