Cozy Italian Sausage Butternut Squash Soup Recipe for Fall

Chilly autumn evenings call for a comforting bowl of Italian sausage butternut squash soup that warms the soul and delights the senses.

Hearty sausage mingles with sweet, roasted butternut squash, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Rich, creamy textures blend seamlessly with aromatic herbs and spices.

Each spoonful brings a gentle warmth that chases away the evening’s chill.

Seasonal ingredients transform this simple soup into a nourishing meal that celebrates the best of fall’s harvest.

The combination of savory sausage and velvety squash promises a culinary experience that will leave you craving more.

Prepare to savor every delectable moment of this rustic, satisfying soup.

Why Sausage Butternut Soup Is a Fall Must

Savor Hearty Comfort: Elevate Your Soup Game

• Nutrient-Packed Powerhouse: Packed with protein from sausage, vitamins from butternut squash, and fiber from beans, this soup delivers a wholesome, satisfying meal in one delicious bowl.
• Customize Your Culinary Creation: Easily swap ingredients like using different sausage types, adding extra vegetables, or making it vegetarian, offering incredible flexibility for personal taste preferences.
• One-Pot Dish: Minimize cleanup with a single pot recipe that transforms simple ingredients into a rich, complex-tasting soup, saving precious kitchen time and energy.

What You Need for This Cozy Soup

• Italian Sausage: Flavorful meat that adds a spicy kick to the soup.

• Butternut Squash: Creamy and sweet vegetable that forms the soup base.
• Onions, Bell Peppers: Aromatic vegetables that provide depth of flavor.
• Garlic: Potent ingredient that enhances overall taste.

• Chicken Broth: Savory liquid that helps create the soup's consistency.
• Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Smoky canned tomatoes with rich flavor.
• Cannellini Beans: Creamy white beans that add protein and texture.

• Bay Leaf: Subtle herb that adds complexity to the soup.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for balanced taste.

• Butter: Rich ingredient for sautéing and adding flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Optional luxurious topping for extra richness.
• Fresh Parsley: Bright green herb for garnishing.

How to Make Sausage Squash Soup

Step 1: Brown Sausage and Veggies

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.

Add onions and bell peppers, cooking for a couple of minutes.

Toss in Italian sausage, breaking it into small pieces while cooking.

Sauté until the sausage turns golden brown and fully cooked, which takes about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Enhance with Aromatics

Sprinkle minced garlic into the pot and season with salt and black pepper.

Cook briefly until the garlic releases its fragrant aroma.

Transfer the sausage mixture to a separate dish using a slotted spoon.

Step 3: Simmer Butternut Squash

Melt remaining butter in the same pot.

Add chopped butternut squash and cook for a short time.

Pour chicken broth and drop in a bay leaf.

Crank up the heat to bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.

Cover and cook until squash becomes tender, about 12-15 minutes.

Step 4: Create Creamy Texture

Remove bay leaf from the pot.

Set aside some squash chunks for texture.

Use an immersion blender to transform the soup into a smooth consistency.

If you prefer, transfer to a standard blender in batches and return to the pot.

Step 5: Build Layers of Flavor

Return reserved squash chunks to the pot.

• Drained beans
• Fire-roasted tomatoes
• Cooked sausage mixture

Warm everything together over medium heat for a few minutes.

Step 6: Finish and Serve

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Optional: Drizzle with heavy cream and sprinkle fresh parsley on top.

Serve piping hot and savor every spoonful.

Tips for Rich and Creamy Butternut Soup

• Replace Italian sausage with plant-based sausage or crumbled tofu for a meat-free version that maintains the soup's hearty texture and flavor profile.
• Roast butternut squash before adding to the soup to enhance its natural sweetness and develop deeper caramelized notes that will elevate the overall taste.
• Adjust chicken broth quantity to achieve desired thickness – add more for a thinner soup or reduce for a more concentrated, creamy result that suits personal preference.
• Incorporate additional vegetables like kale, spinach, or diced carrots to increase nutritional value and add more color and texture to the soup.
• If lacking an immersion blender, carefully transfer hot soup to a standard blender in small batches, ensuring lid is partially open to prevent pressure buildup and potential accidents.

Storing and Reheating Butternut Sausage Soup

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Pour soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch headspace. Freeze up to 3 months. Avoid freezing dairy-based garnishes like heavy cream.
• Transfer frozen or refrigerated soup to a pot. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth if soup seems too thick.
• Pour soup into microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until thoroughly warmed. Check temperature before serving.

Perfect Pairings for This Fall Soup

• Pair with Crisp Chardonnay: Select a lightly oaked Chardonnay that complements the creamy soup's richness and balances the savory Italian sausage's spiciness.
• Serve with Crusty Sourdough Bread: Break apart a warm, rustic sourdough loaf to soak up the soup's hearty broth, adding delightful texture and extra flavor to each spoonful.
• Match with Mixed Green Salad: Create a light salad with arugula, toasted pine nuts, and a tangy vinaigrette to cut through the soup's richness and provide a fresh contrast.
• Enhance with Aged Parmesan Sprinkle: Grate high-quality aged Parmesan cheese over the soup, adding a salty, nutty dimension that elevates the overall taste profile and brings depth to each bite.

Creative Takes on Butternut Sausage Soup

• Veggie Lover's Swap: Replace Italian sausage with plant-based sausage crumbles or seasoned mushrooms for a vegetarian version that maintains rich, hearty flavors.
• Keto-Friendly Adaptation: Substitute butternut squash with lower-carb cauliflower, use sugar-free tomatoes, and increase protein content by adding extra sausage or cream cheese.
• Gluten-Free Comfort: Ensure all ingredients like broth and tomatoes are certified gluten-free, and double-check sausage packaging for potential wheat-based fillers or additives.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Skip heavy cream garnish, use olive oil instead of butter, and replace dairy with coconut cream or almond milk for a creamy, allergen-friendly soup.

FAQs

• Is this soup spicy?

The soup has a mild warmth from the Italian sausage, but it’s not overly spicy. If you prefer more heat, you can add red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausage.

• Can I use a different type of squash?

Butternut squash works best for this recipe, but you can substitute with acorn squash or sugar pumpkin for similar results. Avoid watery squash varieties that might change the soup’s consistency.

• Do I need special equipment to make this soup?

An immersion blender is helpful but not mandatory. You can use a standard blender to purée the soup, just be careful when transferring hot liquid and blend in small batches.

• Is this soup nutritionally balanced?

Yes, this soup offers a good balance of protein from sausage and beans, complex carbohydrates from squash, and vegetables, making it a hearty and nutritious meal option.

Italian Sausage Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Hearty Italian sausage butternut squash soup combines rustic Italian flavors with creamy autumn comfort. Savory sausage and sweet roasted squash meld perfectly, delivering a soul-warming bowl that connects seasonal ingredients with rich, satisfying depth.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 pound (1 lb) ground Italian sausage (hot sausage in casings recommended)

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 2.5 pounds (2.5 lbs) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped into 1-inch cubes
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced

Liquids and Pantry Ingredients:

• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 can (15.5 ounces) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, divided
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Optional Garnishes:

• Heavy cream
• Chopped fresh parsley

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Render Italian sausage in a Dutch oven, breaking it into delicate crumbles while sautéing until golden brown and thoroughly cooked.
2. Transfer sausage to a separate plate, leaving behind rich, flavorful drippings in the pot.
3. Sauté onions and bell peppers in remaining fat, creating a fragrant aromatic base for the soup.
4. Introduce minced garlic and season with salt and pepper, allowing the spices to bloom and release their essence.
5. Incorporate butternut squash into the pot, coating the cubes with residual oils and seasonings.
6. Pour chicken broth over the squash, adding a bay leaf for depth of flavor, and simmer until the squash becomes fork-tender.
7. Remove bay leaf and transform the soup into a silky purée using an immersion blender, creating a luxurious texture.
8. Reintroduce reserved sausage crumbles, alongside fire-roasted tomatoes and white beans, infusing the soup with additional layers of complexity.
9. Gently reheat the mixture, ensuring all ingredients meld together harmoniously.
10. Finish the soup with a delicate drizzle of heavy cream and sprinkle of fresh parsley, elevating the presentation and adding a final touch of richness.

Notes

• Swap Italian sausage with plant-based alternatives for a vegetarian version that maintains robust flavor profile.
• Roast butternut squash beforehand to intensify natural sweetness and develop deeper caramelized notes before adding to soup.
• Use immersion blender carefully to prevent splattering and ensure smooth, consistent texture without lumps.
• Adjust liquid consistency by adding extra broth if soup becomes too thick during cooking process.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 15 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg