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Creamy Sicilian Sausage & Ditalini Soup

Melissa Jo
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A bowl of creamy pasta soup topped with shaved cheese and leafy greens, served with a slice of bread. A hand is holding a spoonful of the soup above the bowl.

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This Creamy Sicilian Sausage & Ditalini Soup is absolute perfection. Itโ€™s rich, cozy, comforting, and layered with bold Italian flavor. From the slow-simmered vegetables and savory sausage to the tomatoes, cream, Parmesan, and pasta, this soup is truly all the flavors of Sicily in one pot.

My Sicilian Pastina Soup became an internet sensation, so I knew I had to create another Sicilian signature soup that truly represents the flavors I grew up withโ€”and this one might be even better.

Iโ€™m 100% Italian, and about 70% of my family comes from Sicily, so many of the flavors I cook with are rooted in that region. Simple ingredients, cooked slowly, seasoned thoughtfully, and brought together in a way that feels like home. This soup is exactly how I cook for my family.

I made this entire recipe in my favorite 6-quart matte Dutch oven, which I use for about 70% of my recipes. It goes from stovetop to oven, itโ€™s incredibly versatile, and itโ€™s surprisingly affordableโ€”which is honestly wild for how much I use it. Iโ€™ll link it below so you can cook this soup exactly the way I do.

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A hand holds a bowl filled with chopped celery, carrots, and red onion over a white pot on a stove, ready to add the vegetables to the heated oil inside the pot.
A kitchen countertop displays Italian sausage, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, chopped greens, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, and sundried tomatoes. A vase of colorful flowers sits in the background.
A hand squeezes tomato paste from a yellow tube into a pot with sautรฉed diced onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and oil on a stovetop. A wooden spoon rests on the edge of the pot.
A person holding a block of raw ground meat over a white pot filled with cooked vegetables and sauce on a stovetop. The persons nails are painted dark red, and they are wearing a white shirt with black polka dots.
A hand with red nails holds a blue can of Corbara tomatoes above a pot of ground meat and vegetables cooking on a stove, with a wooden spoon stirring the mixture.
A hand holds a metal measuring cup filled with chopped sun-dried tomatoes over a white pot of simmering tomato and ground meat sauce on a stovetop. A wooden spoon rests on the pot.
A hand pours cream from a glass container into a pot of red tomato-based soup on a stovetop, with white subway tile in the background.
A hand with red nail polish holds a piece of Parmesan cheese above a pot of tomato soup, sprinkling dried herbs into the simmering mixture.
A pot of pasta being poured into a pot.
A large white Dutch oven sits on a stovetop, filled with a bubbling orange-red stew or soup with visible greens and herbs. The white lid rests nearby, and the background shows a white tiled backsplash.
A ladle lifts a serving of hearty pasta soup with ground meat, small pasta, spinach, and tomatoes from a white pot in a bright kitchen. A vase of colorful flowers sits in the background.
A woman in a white polka dot top serves soup from a large white pot in a bright kitchen. A bowl of soup and a colorful bouquet of flowers are on the wooden counter beside her.
A woman in a polka dot top and jeans smiles while serving soup from a white pot in a bright kitchen. A bouquet of colorful flowers sits nearby on the counter.

My top in the video!

A bowl of creamy tomato pasta soup topped with shaved parmesan and herbs sits on a wooden table. In the background, a ladle of soup is being served from a large white pot.
A bowl of hearty soup with pasta, ground meat, greens, and tomato broth, topped with shaved parmesan. A hand holds a spoonful above the bowl, and a slice of bread rests on the bowls rim.

๐Ÿ‘ How to Store Leftovers

Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

๐Ÿค” Common Questions

Can I use a different pasta?

Yes! Ditalini is ideal, but small pasta shapes like tubetti, small shells, or orzo also work. Cooking time may vary slightly.

Can I make this soup less spicy?

Absolutely. Swap the hot Italian sausage for sweet Italian sausage for a milder version.

A bowl of creamy pasta soup topped with shaved cheese and leafy greens, served with a slice of bread. A hand is holding a spoonful of the soup above the bowl.
Melissa Jo

Creamy Sicilian Sausage & Ditalini Soup

4.94 from 15 votes
This Creamy Sicilian Sausage & Ditalini soup is rich & cozy, with bold Italian flavor. Vegetables and Italian sausage simmered with tomatoes, cream, Parmesan, and pasta. This soup is truly all the flavors of Sicily in one pot.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ยฝ cup diced carrots from whole carrots, not baby carrots
  • ยฝ cup diced celery
  • ยฝ cup diced red onion
  • Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste (layered throughout)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh garlic chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 pound hot pork Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 14-ounce can cherry tomatoes
  • You can also use diced or grape tomatoes โ€” the 14-ounce size is key
  • ยฝ cup sun-dried tomatoes squeezed dry and chopped
  • ยฝ tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 Parmesan rind
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 32-ounce carton low-sodium chicken stock
  • Water use the empty tomato can to measure
  • 2 cups dry ditalini pasta
  • 2 cups baby spinach chopped
  • Shaved Parmesan for serving
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

Method
 

Build the flavor base
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the carrots, celery, and red onion. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Cook slowlyโ€”this is not a stir-fry. Let the vegetables soften gently, stirring occasionally, for 10โ€“15 minutes, until soft and translucent. This slow cooking is key to developing flavor.
Add aromatics
  1. Add the garlic and tomato paste. Stir and cook for 3โ€“5 minutes over medium to medium-low heat, until fragrant and lightly golden. Season again lightly with salt and pepper.
Brown the sausage
  1. Add the hot Italian sausage to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to break it up and cook until fully browned and cooked through, mixing it well with the vegetables.
Tomatoes & simmer
  1. Add the canned tomatoes to the pot. Use a handheld potato masher to gently mash the tomatoes until no large chunks remain.
  2. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, seasoning again lightly with salt and pepper.
Build the soup
  1. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan rind.
  2. Fill the empty tomato can with water and add it to the pot. Then add the chicken stock and heavy cream. Stir well and bring everything to a rolling boil.
Cook the pasta in the soup
  1. Once boiling, season the soup generously with saltโ€”just like you would pasta water.
  2. Add the dry ditalini pasta directly to the boiling soup. Use the cooking time on the package (about 10 minutes) as a guide only; do not cook the pasta separately or add the water called for on the box. Stir occasionally and scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent sticking.
Finish with spinach
  1. Reduce the heat to a low simmer. Stir in the chopped baby spinach until wilted and fully incorporated. As the pasta cooks, it releases starch, creating the most beautifully creamy texture.
Taste & serve
  1. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  2. Serve hot topped with shaved Parmesan and fresh parsley.

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Recipe Creator & Cookbook Author

I'm Melissa Jo โ€” the recipe creator, Amazon Live host, and everyday food lover behind Melissa Jo Real Recipes. I learned to cook the old-fashioned way, watching my Italian grandmother and my mama work their magic in the kitchen, and now I share easy, saucy, no-fuss meals for real life alongside the authentic Italian family recipes I grew up on. Grab a stick of butter and let's make something delicious together.

4.94 from 15 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




28 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    This soup is amazing! I made your pastina soup last week and everyone devoured it so I had to try this one too. I asked my son which one he liked better and he couldnโ€™t decide and said they were both delish.

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    Oh my goodness! This was one of the most delicious meals I have ever cooked. And I love to cook. I am worried tho that the pasta will soak up all the delicious soup. Hopefully I will eat it all before that happens. I am not one to comment on any recipe but this one I had to. In my best Melissa Jo voice, MAKE IT!

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    My Italian husband loved this soup, and so did I. Rich and creamy and the hot sausage gave it a nice spicy flavor .

    Reply

    1. Great question! I’m working on adding nutrition info to my recipes โ€” stay tuned! ๐Ÿ˜Š xoxo, Melissa

      Reply

  12. 5 stars
    This was delicious! A great dish a cold fall day. I have a picky eater and he went for extra. We had garlic bread as a side and I forgot about it. I did take pause in the preparation of the noodles, as it said prepare as it says on box, I wasnโ€™t sure if I was to put more water in (as box says) the existing soup mix. I decided not to, it is still delicious, however, more like a light stew not as soupy. Iโ€™m happy with the choice but clarity needs for those that use more water. It could possibly tame down the flavors.

    Reply

    1. So glad you loved it, Vickie! And thank you for the feedback on the noodle directions โ€” I’m going to clear that up on the recipe card. You were right to skip the extra water! ๐Ÿ’› xoxo, Melissa

      Reply

  13. I wanna make this so bad but canโ€™t use dairy. Do you think I can use a little dairy free cream cheese or a dairy free milk of choice?

    Reply

  14. Seared off and broke up sausage first so I can drain off some fat then added vegetable and completed steps as normal. This soup is fantastic.

    Reply

  15. 5 stars
    First time making this recipe; my 9 year old helped me and it was easy to make and everyone in the family loved itโ€ฆ. It will go into our winter rotation of soups this Fall/winter on our farm โ€ฆ. Thanks

    Reply

    1. That’s the sweetest! Tell your 9-year-old chef they did an amazing job โ€” soups are even better the second day ๐Ÿ’› xoxo, Melissa

      Reply

    1. Absolutely! Sweet Italian chicken or turkey sausage works great โ€” same seasoning, same cook time. xoxo, Melissa

      Reply