Italian Lentil, Sausage and Pasta Soup
When soup season rolls around, make a pot of Italian Lentil, Sausage, And Pasta Soup. It is a flavorful and hearty soup, nourishing and quick cooking, so it makes a delicious a weekday meal for you and your family.
I try to cook healthy meals and lentils are highly nutritious. They have a low caloric content, are high in protein and fiber and support good heart health. But, and it is a big BUT, if I told my husband that dinner was going to be a bowl of lentils he would probably mumble and grumble but would eat and probably enjoy them. Now if I take those same lentils and add some Italian hot sausage and just a little pasta, he is all smiles. I didn’t tell him that this high fiber, antioxidant filled soup is good for him. Keeping our loved ones healthy sometimes takes a little bit of strategy, don’t you think.
This is a versatile soup in that you can use either chicken or pork sausage, vegetable or chicken stock. You can use as much or as little pasta as you like or leave it out entirely. Want more vegetables, add tomatoes, spinach or kale. Prepare this flavorful soup according to your family’s tastes and I think there will be smiles all around the table.
Italian Lentil, Sausage and Pasta Soup
Serves 2 – 4 as a main course, adjust the recipe accordingly.
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil plus extra for drizzling
- 8 oz (about 2 links) Italian sausage, pork, turkey or chicken, casings removed
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 stalk of celery, diced
- 2 – 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 c. lentils (I used French green because they hold their shape) sorted and rinsed
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/2 c. white wine
- 1 c. water (if needed)
- 4 c. stock, chicken or vegetable
- 2 – 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 c. small tube pasta such as ditalini*
- a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Sauté the sausage in 1 tablespoon of oil in a pot over medium heat, breaking up the meat into pieces, until brown. Add the carrots, celery and onions and cook until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic, herbs, bay leaf and tomato paste, stir well and cook about 1 minute. Add the lentils and mix to coat. Add the wine and scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Add in the stock and bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer covered, with the lid slightly ajar, until lentils are almost tender, about 20 minutes. Season with the salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using. Stir in the pasta and continue to cook until the pasta is done, about 10 minutes. The pasta will absorb some of the stock so ff the soup gets too thick, you can add some water. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil, if desired. Serve with freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese.
*If you plan to eat the soup over several days, cook the pasta separately. Add the pasta before serving so that it doesn’t overcook.
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This is a complete meal in a bowl but if you want, a green salad and a piece of crusty bread would be a nice addition. A good glass of Tuscan red wine would be great as well. The next time you think about making soup for dinner, try this hearty Italian lentil, sausage and pasta soup. I know your family will enjoy it even if they may not realize that it is also a meal that is good for them.
Wonderful recipe with lots of delicious ingredients.
You are right Jovina, there are lots of flavorful ingredients in the soup. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Gorgeous soup and great for supper now winter is setting in.
I agree with you Kay, soup is so very nice when the weather turns cool. Thank you.
Warming, filling and so tasty…indeed perfect for the season.
Hi Angie, It is all that you mentioned…I’m happy to know that you like the lentil soup recipe, thank you.
Ha ha – I do things like that to convince myself! Your soup looks delicious.
I’m not surprised Mad Dog, knowing what you cook. Thank you for your compliment on the soup, I believe that you would enjoy it. ☺️
Definitely soup weather here today — cold, windy, and rainy. Love lentil soups! I sometimes make something similar, though without the pasta (often, not always) and with some greens added at the end. This looks wonderful — thanks.
Thank you John, I’m glad you like the idea of adding pasta to the lentils. I like your idea of adding greens.
This sounds just delicious — especially as winter closes in!
Thank you Jeanie, the lentil soup is tasty warm up for winter day.
This sounds do good! Hearty, and perfect for this time of year!
Thank you David, I glad you like the lentil soup. It is a great soup when the weather turns cold.
Lentil soup is one of my favorite soups. My German girlfriend just brought some over. My husband had to add some sausages.
Gerlinde, your husband sounds just like mine when it comes to sausage. 😁
We love soup at our house and this recipe looks delicious — I must make it very soon!
Thank you Kelli, I hope if you had a chance to make the lentil soup for you and your family that you all enjoyed it.
It sounds wonderful, I need to use lentils more often, thanks Karen!
Jenna
Thank you Jenna for your nice compliment. I agree that lentils are an under used ingredient, especially since they are a great source of protein.
Love such hearty and flavorful soups in the winter. Will keep it in mind for colder days. 🙂
Thank you Ronit, I hope you will enjoy the lentil soup if you get a chance to prepare it over the winter.
Nice warm comforting food. Thank you, Karen!
I’m happy you like the lentil soup Amy, thank you.
I love lentil soup and your recipe sounds great!
Thank you Penny, I hope you enjoy my version of lentil soup if you get a chance to make it.
Sounds and looks delicious especially this time of year. 🙂
Oh that looks yummy!!!!!
Thank you Jeanne, I’m glad you like the lentil soup.
I love lentils. 🙂
Smiling about your hubby’s reaction to lentils. (Mine, too…) Just printed off the recipe (your pork Cordon Bleu, too) and subscribed to your blog. 🙂 Thanks again, Karen!
Thank you Kim for your visit and lovely compliment about my recipes. I appreciate your subscribing to my blog and I hope you enjoy the recipes.
This looks and sounds really delicious..
A great combo of flavors.
Thank you for your nice compliment Joanne, I think you would enjoy the lentil soup.
Oh, it looks really delicious, Karen! I love lentil soup, but have never made it, you have inspired me to change that. That’s a new pasta to me and I will definitely look for it at the grocery store. It’s Halloween and we’ve had 7″ snow here today in Chicagoland. Only 9 trick or treaters, too bad! Crazy weather!
Hi Pam, I appreciate your nice compliment about the lentil soup, I think you would find this an easy soup loaded with flavor. I don’t think you will have any trouble finding ditalini pasta and it is a nice addition to soups. Enjoy!
Perfect for this time of year and very nutritious too. Also, a nice change from Minestrone soup! 👍
Thank you Fatima, I’m glad you like the lentil soup and yes, it is a nice change from minestrone which I also like.
Great inspiration, Karen! I had already taken out the carrots and tiny parsley roots and some grains for making soup today, and after reading your post got some salsiccia out of the fridge. Plus, a good reason to open a bottle of wine as per your instructions 🙂
Hi Kiki, I happy to know that my lentil soup recipe inspired you to make a few changes to the soup you were preparing.
I’m WAY overdue to make lentil soup, but yours has inspired me. Plus, it’s in the 20’s this morning—eek!!! Have a great weekend!!!
I’m happy that my post about lentil soup has inspired you Liz, thank you for your nice compliment and wish. Sorry that it took so long to answer.
A perfect soup. I was thinking about making a soup like this for lunch on or the day after Thanksgiving. Trouble is, my daughter is a pescatarian, so I thought I’d make a meatless soup, and have meat like sausage or sliced sausages separate as an optional add-in. It’s a great recipe.
Thank you for your lovely compliment on the lentil soup Mimi. One nice thing about soup is that as you saw, you can serve accompaniments on the side. I often do that with friends that don’t like cilantro or mushrooms.
All the good stuff we want when it’s cold here in Colorado. Tuscan wine and crusty bread take this over the top! So good, Karen. 🙂
I appreciate your nice compliment Judy, I’m glad that you like the recipe for the lentil soup. Yes, it would be perfect for your Colorado weather.
What a great looking soup, love the addition of Italian sausage. Will get this on my menu asap! Thanks Karen
Hi Eva, yes the Italian sausage does add lots of flavor to the lentil soup, thank you for your compliment.
Karen, your lentil soup with sausage looks so comforting! I just know this must smell amazing while it’s simmering. I will definitely try this soon! Thank you for sharing the recipe. It’s crazy cold outside here and perfect soup weather. Can’t wait!
Thank you for your compliment Marcelle, I’m glad you like my recipe for the lentil and sausage soup.
The perfect comforting hot dish for these chilly temos here.
The lentil and sausage soup is indeed a comforting meal on a cold day Denise. I’m glad you like the recipe…thank you.
This soup looks absolutely amazing! Saving the recipe!😋
Thank you Ursula, I have to say that the sausage and lentil soup is as good as it looks.
I love lentils too, Karen! After reading the ingredients that you’ve used in this soup make me know for certain that the flavor has to be over the top! Perfect for this chilly time of year!
Thank you Roz, for your nice compliment. If I add Italian sausage, I’m sure that my husband will love whatever I’m preparing. 😁
Your soup looks delicious Karen and Bev has the same reaction as your husband.
You gave me a chuckle about Bev Larry, I’m glad you like the recipe.
LOL Your husband sounds just like mine. If I tell him I’m cooking lentils, he shrugs. But if I tell him I’m adding sausage or bacon to them, he is all in. 😉
Hi Carolyn, It does sound like are husband are alike…bacon or sausage will do it everytime. 😁
This soup looks really good. I make lentil soup when the weather gets chilly but I have never added greens, sausage, or pasta. I´m definitely going to try this.
Thank you for stopping by for a visit and your nice compliment. I’m glad you like my version of lentil and sausage soup
Lovely warming soup… I’m a big fan of lentils and welcome every new recipe! I have never tasted lentils Italian way. Luckily my husband loves lentils too!
Hi Sissi, Since both you and your husband enjoy lentils, I hope you get a chance to try this Italian version of lentil and sausage soup.
I also love lentils, Karen. And I love soup! So here we go. This is a very tempting recipe. 🙂
I’m happy to know that the lentil soup recipe sounds temptation Debra, thank you for your nice compliment.
mmm. . . this soup looks wonderful. I like how you used both sausage and lentils in this recipe.
Hi Sheryl, I think you would enjoy this healthy and very flavorful soup.Thank you for your nice compliment.
Such a cozy soup and hearty. Just what you need on a cool autumn day.
Thank you Bobbi, I think this is a hearty soup that is perfect for your cold weather days.
This is the time of year for hearty soup dinners like this. My lot would love this too as they love a thick tasty soup!
I hope you get a chance to try the lentil and sausage soup Amanda and that your family enjoys it. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Delicious and I’m going to try it because I’m trying to keep my carbs to a minimum and I love lentils. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Carolyn
I’m happy to share the recipe with you Carolyn, I hope you will enjoy the lentil soup if you get a chance to prepare it.
Heavenly! I think the pork sounds especial;y good with the lentils and broth. Hooray for the addition of wine…it’s an addition to soups and stews that many don’t try.
Jane ❤️
I appreciate your lovely compliment on the lentil and sausage soup Jane, thank you. Yes, a little wine adds to the overall flavor of the soup.
That is so true! Best not to divulge too much information to family members before the meal! Perfect timing for this soup recipe. Thanks Karen 🙂
Hi Dana, So true…sometimes it is better to leave somethings unsaid. 😁 Once my husband can smell the sausage or bacon cooking in the kitchen for a recipe, I know he will like it.
This sounds DElicious!!! I can’t wait to try making a pot of our own!! Hugs to you for sharing!!❤️
Thank you for your compliment Dawn Marie. I hope your family will enjoy the lentil soup if you get a chance to make it.
It sounds delicious … 🙂
Thank you for your compliment…the lentil soup really is a good one.
Just the kind of hearty meal to combat the colder, darker days ahead. I actually have a bunch of meatless sausages on hand, believe it or not, so this is truly perfect.
Hi Hannah, I’m always happy that when I share one of my recipes that you can adapt it…thank you for letting me know.
How delicious! It’s so cold here already that this looks like warm mittens in a bowl!
“Warm mittens in a bowl”…I like that, thank you Susan! 😘
When our cold winds start blowing (which was about a week ago) the first thing I want is a tasty and hearty soup. We love lentils and eat them in a number of dishes and now we have one more fine recipe to add to our lentil recipe box. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Ron, I think you two would enjoy this lentil soup recipe. Thank you for your nice compliment.
Karen this is a wonderful soup recipe and I am on a soup making kick right now, so adding to my list of “to-make”. I also love the bowl….of course. Happy November to you.
Thank you Teresa, I’m glad you like my lentil and sausage soup recipe. I love that bowl, I have four plates and bowls…they are from France.
Karen, I made this soup (as written) last night for supper. It was so delicious! I took some over for my mom and her neighbor as well and they asked me to make it again this weekend for their game night potluck. Such a wonderful recipe — thanks again!
Thank you so much Kelli for letting me know that not only you but your mom and neighbor enjoyed the lentil soup. It always makes me smile when someone tries one of my recipes and gets back to me saying that they enjoyed it. ❤️
Wow, this looks amazing Karen. I am sooo in the mood for soup and really need some new recipes. You are my savior!
I appreciate your lovely compliment about the lentil soup Inger. I’m glad that I could supply you with a new soup recipe.
this is clearly a delicious and healthy soup karen. probably not the best time of year for it here in hot and sunny and bushfire-ridden queensland at the moment – but next year…. cheers sherry
Hi Sherry, I worry so much about my Australian friends every year when your fire season starts. Yes, this would be a nice soup to enjoy when your weather turns cool.
What a wonderful soup!! I love everything in it!
Thank you for your lovely compliment about the lentil and sausage soup, I’m happy to know that you like the recipe Mollie.
Looks like a bowl full of comfort! Happy feasting.
Delicious, also very nutritious! Thank you, Karen! 💖