Easy Italian Sausage and Bean Soup

Try making this Italian Sausage and Bean Soup this season! It's a quick and easy one-pot soup that cooks up in less than 30 minutes. It's hearty and comforting enough for the whole family to enjoy, the perfect soup that is sure to be one of your new favorite soups.

If you're craving more easy soup recipes, then be sure to try making a batch of Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup and Sweet Potato Miso Soup or some Homemade Tomato Soup.

It's that time of the year when the weather is cooler and you begin to crave a piping-hot bowl of soup.

The best thing about soup is that it's a great time saver because you basically add all of the ingredients into a single pot and allow the ingredients to come together to make a delicious meal.

Soup can be full of meat and hearty vegetables or a simple broth. When it comes to soup, the possibilities and flavor combinations are truly endless.

I prefer a hearty soup that's easy to make but full of flavor. I also love a good soup that has minimal ingredients, so today I will share with you a great recipe that does just that.

Let's get started!

Jump to:

• Ingredients You'll Need
• Step By Step Instructions
• Recipe Tips & Tricks
• Storage
• More Recipes You'll Love
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients You'll Need

1. Italian Sausage - Use ground Italian sausage in mild or hot (spicy Italian sausage), try to stay away from sweet for this particular soup recipe. Adds great flavor and forms the base of the soup.
2. Pasta Sauce - I prefer to use a jar of pasta sauce that is roasted garlic and herb-flavored. However, you may choose to use any grocery store version or homemade sauce that you prefer.
3. Great Northern Beans - This recipe requires two cans of beans that should be drained and rinsed. The beans are mild in flavor and provide a nice heartiness to the soup. If you prefer to use different canned beans, you may substitute with cannellini beans or any can of creamy white beans (navy beans). 
4. Water - To keep this recipe simple, just use water. But for a rich and more flavorful broth, use chicken broth, vegetable broth, chicken stock, or vegetable stock in the same unit of measure.
5. Coleslaw Mix - Gives this soup texture and adds in more veggies.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredients and quantities.

Step By Step Instructions

Begin the sausage soup recipe by grabbing a large soup pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and break it into smaller pieces. Cook until it is no longer pink, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain off any excess fat if necessary before moving on to the next step.

In the same pot still over medium heat, add the whole jar of pasta sauce, both cans of great northern beans, and water. Stir to combine.

Once the soup comes to a boil, add the coleslaw mix and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and allow the soup to cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve the flavorful soup warm topped with some shredded parmesan cheese and a side of crusty bread for a hearty and easy dinner. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Drain off any excess oil from the cooked Italian sausage, but just know that it may still end up in the soup. It's perfectly okay and adds a little additional flavor to the broth.
• Substitute chicken or beef broth or stock instead of using water for additional flavor.
• For this recipe, I prefer to use mild Italian sausage. However, you may swap it for spicy sausage for a little heat. To make the process easy, I like to use the package of loose ground sausage, but you may also use the links as well by removing the casings before cooking.
• This recipe makes enough soup to enjoy about 4 to 6 dinner portions. You may break it down into small or larger portions to fit your needs. It can also be cut in half for 2 to 3 servings.
• Before serving the soup, try topping it with some finely grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy the soup on its own or pair it with a sandwich or side salad.

Storage

If you have any soup leftovers, allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then be sure to store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. The soup is even better the next day. When ready to serve again, reheat it in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave in a microwave-safe container for 1-2 minutes. This soup tastes better on the second day in my opinion.

This sausage and bean soup can also be stored in the freezer if a longer time is needed. Place in an airtight freezer-safe container for 3 to 4 months. When ready to serve the soup, thaw it in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat it again or you can reheat the soup from frozen as well.

More Recipes You'll Love

• Homemade Tomato Soup
• Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup (Similar to Zuppa Toscana) 
• One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup 
• Sweet Potato Miso Soup 
• Supreme Pizza Stuffed Shells
• Easy Pizza Bowls 

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to enjoy this hearty and comforting Italian Sausage Soup with Beans? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 9/16/2013. Updated 11/28/2022 & 8/23/2023.