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I never thought much about chicken noodle soup until my kids got their first winter colds. Growing up, we always had the canned stuff, and I figured that’s just how it was supposed to be. When my husband made it from scratch one time, using chicken sausage instead of plain chicken, I realized what I’d been missing all those years.
It turns out making homemade chicken sausage noodle soup isn’t complicated at all – it just needs a bit of time and the right ingredients. The sausage adds so much more flavor than regular chicken, and it’s become our family’s go-to comfort food whenever someone’s feeling under the weather.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Sausage Soup
- Quick weeknight dinner – Ready in under an hour, this soup is perfect for busy evenings when you want something warm and filling without spending hours in the kitchen.
- One-pot meal – Everything cooks in a single pot, which means less cleanup and more time to enjoy your evening.
- Nutrient-packed ingredients – Loaded with vegetables like carrots, celery, and spinach, plus protein from the chicken sausage, this soup gives you a complete, balanced meal in every bowl.
- Customizable recipe – You can easily swap out the pasta type, change up the vegetables, or adjust the seasonings to match your family’s preferences.
- Great for meal prep – This soup keeps well in the fridge and actually tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for lunch leftovers.
What Kind of Chicken Sausage Should I Use?
The great thing about chicken sausage is that it comes in lots of tasty pre-cooked varieties, and any of them will work well in this soup. Italian-style chicken sausage adds a nice herb-filled flavor, while garlic and cheese varieties can bring extra depth to your broth. Since we’re dicing the sausage for this recipe, look for firm links rather than loose sausage meat. Most grocery stores stock their chicken sausage either in the regular meat section or near the specialty meats, and you can pick up whatever flavor matches your mood – though I’d suggest avoiding sweet varieties like apple chicken sausage for this savory soup.
Options for Substitutions
This cozy soup recipe is super adaptable and easy to customize with what you have on hand:
- Chicken sausage: You can swap the chicken sausage with turkey sausage, regular Italian sausage, or even leftover cooked chicken. If using raw sausage, make sure to cook it thoroughly before adding other ingredients.
- Cavatelli pasta: Any pasta shape works great here! Try egg noodles, small shells, orzo, or even broken spaghetti. Just adjust the cooking time based on the package instructions.
- Spinach: Not a fan of spinach? Try kale, Swiss chard, or even a bag of mixed greens. If using tougher greens like kale, add them a few minutes earlier to allow more cooking time.
- Vegetable/chicken broth: Both work well, but you can also use bouillon cubes dissolved in water (follow package directions for amounts). In a pinch, you can even use water with extra seasonings.
- Fresh garlic: If you’re out of fresh garlic, add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder. You can also use jarred minced garlic – about 1 teaspoon will do the trick.
- Mirepoix vegetables: The onion, carrots, and celery create a classic base, but you can skip one if needed or add other vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms that you have on hand.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making chicken sausage noodle soup is adding all ingredients at once, which can lead to mushy vegetables and overcooked pasta – instead, add your vegetables in stages based on their cooking times, with carrots and celery going in before spinach. Adding the pasta too early is another common error that results in soggy noodles; cook it separately or add it during the last 8-10 minutes of cooking to maintain the perfect al dente texture. To prevent your soup from becoming too salty, wait until the end to season it, as the broth will reduce and concentrate the flavors during cooking. For the best flavor development, don’t rush the base – take time to properly sauté the onions, garlic, and sausage until they’re golden brown, which creates a rich foundation for your soup.
What to Serve With Chicken Sausage Noodle Soup?
This hearty soup is practically a meal on its own, but a few simple sides can make it even better! A chunk of crusty French bread or some warm rolls are perfect for soaking up the flavorful broth – I always keep some on hand when making soup. If you’re looking to add a fresh element, try a simple side salad with mixed greens and a light vinaigrette dressing, which provides a nice contrast to the warm, cozy soup. For something extra special, serve some garlic knots or cheese toast on the side – they’re super easy to make while the soup simmers and always hit the spot.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: This cozy soup will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. A helpful tip: if you’re planning to have leftovers, consider storing the cooked pasta separately from the soup to prevent it from getting too soft. This way, you can add fresh noodles whenever you’re ready to eat!
Freeze: This soup is perfect for freezing! Let it cool completely, then pour it into freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving some space for expansion. It’ll keep well for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing it without the pasta and adding fresh noodles when you’re ready to serve.
Reheat: When you’re ready to enjoy your soup again, warm it up slowly on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If you’re using the microwave, heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each, until it’s hot throughout. If the soup seems too thick after storage, just add a splash of broth to thin it out.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 30-40 minutes |
| Total Time | 40-55 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 800-900
- Protein: 40-50 g
- Fat: 25-30 g
- Carbohydrates: 100-110 g
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- 1 package pre-cooked chicken sausage, diced
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, diced
- 2 sticks of celery, diced
- 2 cartons (32 oz each) of vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 bag of spinach leaves
- 1 box of cavatelli pasta (or any preferred noodle)
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step 1: Prepare the Base Vegetables
Begin by adding a splash of oil to a Dutch oven or soup pot placed over medium heat.
Once the oil is warm, add garlic and let it sauté briefly to release its flavor.
Then, add chopped onions, celery, and carrots to the pot.
Cook these vegetables for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.
Step 2: Incorporate Spinach and Sausage
Next, add fresh spinach and slices of chicken sausage to the pot.
Stir well to combine with the sautéed vegetables.
Allow these to cook together for another 5 minutes, giving time for the spinach to wilt and the sausage to start releasing its flavor.
Step 3: Add Broth and Simmer
Pour in your choice of broth and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Let the soup cook for about 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and flavors have melded together nicely.
Step 4: Cook the Pasta
Increase the heat slightly to bring the soup to a low boil.
Add your pasta of choice to the pot, stirring it into the soup.
Cook until the pasta reaches al dente texture, which typically takes about 5-7 minutes.
Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pot from heat.
Serve the soup hot, topped with a generous sprinkle of grated cheese.
Offer some crusty bread on the side to complement this hearty and comforting dish.
Enjoy!
