This Sausage and Lentil Soup has roasted red pepper, and I love how spicy Italian Sausage adds flavor to this easy soup! And this recipe uses a generous amount of sausage and roasted peppers and not many lentils, so it’s surprisingly low in carbs!

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This delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup is something I love to pull out of the freezer for an easy dinner, and it’s starting to feel like soup season in the northern hemisphere! And even though lentils have some carbs, this is definitely a carb-conscious soup with lots of sausage and peppers and not that many lentils. When I updated the recipe a few years ago I ended up using a whole package (19.5 oz.) of Italian sausage so there would be more sausage than lentils.

And lentils are high in fiber too, so with only one cup of dried lentils in six servings this soup would be a good choice for low-carb eaters. I love sausage, lentils, peppers, and all the other flavors in this soup, hope you enjoy trying it!

(This recipe was adapted to be a lower-carb version of Sausage, Lentil, and Tomato Soup. If anyone was a fan of that older recipe you can find the printer-friendly version back in the archives by using that link.)

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)

How low in carbs is this Sausage and Lentil Soup?

This easy soup recipe with lots of sausage and peppers and only a small amount of lentils has only 10 net carbs per serving, with 8 grams of protein!

What red pepper did I use for Sausage and Lentil Soup?

I used roasted red pepper from a jar for this soup recipe, which made it quick and easy to get on the table! You can also use diced fresh red bell peppers; just add them a bit earlier in the cooking time.

Can you use red lentils for this soup?

I love red lentils (affiliate link) in soup and if you wanted to use them in this sausage lentil soup recipe they would cook a bit more quickly than the brown ones.

Can you freeze the Sausage and Lentil Soup?

I love stockpiling soup in the freezer during the winter, and this soup is great to freeze in individual containers and pull out later for a quick meal.

How to make Sausage and Lentil Soup:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. Brown the sausage well and put it in the soup pot. (I used to use turkey Italian sausage for this soup, but now I can’t find that very often and pork sausage will also be delicious. Use either sweet or hot Italian sausage, whichever you prefer.)
2. Brown the onions and add to the soup pot with the chicken stock or broth, lentils, ground fennel, dried thyme, and dried sage.
3. Drain the roasted red peppers into a colander.
4. Let the soup simmer until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.
5. When the lentils are tender, chop the red peppers and add to the soup.
6. Then let soup simmer about 45 minutes more, or until lentils are as soft as you prefer and flavors are well blended.
7. Season the Sausage and Lentil Soup with salt and fresh-ground black pepper and serve hot.

Make it a Carb-Conscious Meal:

Easy Sausage and Lentil Soup would taste great served with one of these tasty low-carb breads:

Weekend Food Prep:

This recipe for soup with sausage, peppers, and lentils has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This Sausage and Lentil Soup has a lot of sausage and red peppers and a small amount of lentils, so it’s not much of a splurge for low-carb diets, but not low enough in carbs for strict Keto. With turkey Italian Sausage, this would be acceptable for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Soup Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for This Recipe:
This delicious lentil soup with sausage was first posted in 2007 and I’ve enjoyed it so many times since then.  The recipe was last updated with more information and a adapted to be a slightly lower-carb version in 2025.

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This Sausage and White Beans with Sage is flavored with tomatoes and ground fennel and it can be made in the Slow Cooker or the Instant Pot. This tasty combination of sausage and beans is surprisingly not that high in carbs, but for even lower carbs just double the sausage and use fewer beans.

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Sausage and White Beans with Sage is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes that I’ve discovered can be made more quickly in the Instant Pot! And it’s fun to have recipes that can work for people who prefer different cooking options. And sausage and white beans are a classic combination that worked out perfectly in both methods.

This recipe was inspired by a lovely woman named Ilva, who lives in Tuscany. I met her online in the early days of blogging and we chatted frequently for a while. Then Ilva stopped focusing on recipes and started to focus on her beautiful food photography, and for the last few years I haven’t talked to her so much.

But I appreciate Ilva introducing me to rustic Italian dishes like this one, where the emphasis is entirely on the flavors and not on the looks of the dish. And there are a lot of ways to adapt this recipe and still get good results, but no matter how you cook it or what kind of beans you use, please do not skip the dried fennel that makes this dish so amazingly flavorful!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

• dried white beans
• celery
• whole cloves garlic
• fresh sage leaves, divided
• salt
• dried Italian Herb Seasoning (affiliate link), divided
• Olive Oil (affiliate link), divided
• uncooked turkey, chicken, or pork Italian sausage
• ground fennel (affiliate link)
• canned petite dice tomatoes with juice

What sausage did I use for Sausage and White Beans with Sage?

I used uncooked Italian Sausage for this tasty combination of sausage and beans! You can use turkey, chicken, or pork Italian Sausage and choose mild or spicy Italian Sausage, whichever you prefer.

What gives this sausage and white beans recipe the Italian flavors?

Of course the Italian Sausage used here is partly what makes this a recipe with Italian flavors! But the other ingredients that add Italian flavor notes include garlic, sage, Italian Herb Seasoning, and ground fennel. And I think fennel is one of the best flavors in Italian cooking. If you haven’t cooked with fennel much, I hope this recipe will help you see why I love it.

Can you use canned beans for this sausage and white beans recipe?

Whether you use the Instant Pot or the slow cooker for this recipe featuring sausage and beans, you’ll definitely get the best flavor if you start with dried beans and cook them yourself. But if that just isn’t happening at your house, I’ll also give tips for making this with canned beans.

How high in carbs is this sausage and white beans?

If you check the nutritional information you may be surprised this has only 14 net carbs per serving, with 18 grams of protein.

How can you make this recipe lower in carbs?

If you’re strictly watching carbs,  you can double the amount of sausage and use half as many beans in this recipe for a lower-carb dish with sausage and beans.

How to make Italian Sausage and White Beans with Sage:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. If you’re cooking your own beans, start with 2 cups of fresh dried white beans. If you want to cook the beans on the stovetop, I would soak them in cold water overnight; for cooking dried beans in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot, you can skip the soaking.
2. Put dried beans, celery, garlic, sage, salt, Italian Herb Seasoning (affiliate link), and a little olive oil in the slow cooker or Instant Pot with enough water to just cover the beans.
3. Cook beans 5-6 hours in the slow cooker. (more here about How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker.)
4. In the Instant Pot, lock the lid and cook 30 minutes at HIGH PRESSURE; then let beans NATURAL RELEASE for 15 minutes followed by quick release as needed.
5. For either cooking method, drain the beans, saving the large cloves of garlic and 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
6. While beans cook (or when they’re nearly cooked for slow cooker method) heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan and brown the sausage. Then slice into diagonal pieces and brown the sides of those pieces. (This adds flavor; please don’t skip the browning!)
7. Put the drained beans, sausage pieces, garlic, sage leaves, canned tomatoes, and ground fennel into the slow cooker or Instant Pot with 1/2 cup reserved liquid.
8. For Instant Pot cook 10 minutes at HIGH PRESSURE, then NATURAL RELEASE for five minutes, and then quick release.
9. For slow cooker, put same ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours.
10. Serve Sausage and White Bean with Sage hot, with a little freshly-grated Parmesan if desired, although the cheese is definitely optional.

Love Your Instant Pot or Slow Cooker?

Check out all my Instant Pot Recipes or Slow Cooker Recipes if you’re a fan of one or both of these handy cooking gadgets!

Weekend Food Prep:

This recipe for sausage and white beans has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!

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This minestrone soup recipe with sausage is always a happy sight at our dinner table. It’s packed with loads of veggies and made with a light, cozy tomato-Parmesan broth. It’s so good.

This minestrone is my love language. Made hearty with lots of vegetables, golden-brown sausage crumbles, and the simplest Parmesan-tomato broth (thanks to a Parmesan rind). It’s pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on my face.

This recipe makes a big pot of soup, which is perfect because minestrone gets better the next day. Make it today and enjoy it all week! If you’re looking for more soup ideas, check out our chicken and vegetable soup, Italian wedding soup, and classic minestrone.

Key Ingredients

• Vegetables: The heart of any minestrone is lots of veggies. You can play around with what you have on hand or what’s in season, but we love using fennel, onion, carrots, celery, potato, and zucchini (or yellow squash).
• Sausage: Some minestrone recipes use pancetta, but we love swapping in Italian sausage. It makes the soup extra hearty and adds so much flavor. I usually go for mild, but spicy sausage is great if you like a little heat. You can use bulk sausage or just remove the casings from fresh links.
• Canned Tomatoes: I’m all about fire-roasted canned tomatoes for this soup. They add a little extra flavor compared to regular tomatoes.
• White Beans: Use whatever white beans you love best. Canned or cooked both work. We usually go for cannellini, navy, or Great Northern beans.
• Stock: I used chicken stock in the photos, but vegetable broth is just as good. If you want to make your own, check out our chicken stock and vegetable broth recipes.
• Garlic, Italian Seasoning, and Parmesan: These are what make the broth so good. Use fresh garlic if you can. If you have a Parmesan rind, drop it right into the pot and let it work its magic as the soup simmers. If you don’t have a rind, just stir in some grated Parmesan at the end.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Minestrone Soup with Sausage

Tip 1: Brown the sausage. The first step for this soup is to cook the sausage in a bit of olive oil until it browns and renders its fat. We’ll remove the sausage once it’s browned and stir it into the soup later, but we will keep the rendered fat in the pot for cooking the vegetables.

See all the tiny browned bits? This step makes the sausage more enjoyable in the soup and adds lots of flavor to the vegetables and broth.

Tip 2: Sweat the vegetables. To remove the raw flavors of the onion and fennel, briefly cook them in the rendered sausage fat. After a few minutes, that raw flavor will disappear, and they will smell sweet.

Tip 3: Toast the garlic. Just before pouring in your canned tomatoes, add the garlic, Italian seasoning, potatoes, and zucchini to the pot. A minute or so of stirring them around the pot toasts the garlic and brings out the flavor of the seasoning. We add the potatoes and zucchini at this point because they will have plenty of time to cook once you add the broth.

Tip 4: Simmer until the veggies are tender. This soup does not have a long cooking time. Once you add the broth, simmer for about 20 minutes, which should be enough time for the potatoes and zucchini to become tender.

After pouring in the stock, add a Parmesan rind. As it simmers, it perfumes the broth with a light Parmesan flavor. It’s lovely and one of the best secrets for incredible minestrone soup!

Serving Suggestions

I am perfectly happy to sit with a bowl of this soup and call it a day, but if you are looking for more, I’ve got a few suggestions for you. First off, a slice of sourdough with butter or some garlic bread would be lovely. Then, for something light, try a salad on the side. Fresh Caprese salad is perfect, as is a Caesar salad. And, if you have extra fennel in the fridge, we also love this shaved fennel salad with parmesan!

More of My Favorite Soup Recipes

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This creamy sausage tortellini soup is rich, cozy, and packed with flavor. It’s a meal I like to make on busy nights when I want something hearty but easy.

Jump to: Overview | Ingredients | How To Make | Recipe Tips |  Serving Suggestions | Full Recipe Card | More Comfort Soup Recipes For Dinner

At A Glance

• Ready In: 35 minutes
• Serves: 4–6
• Nutrition Highlights: High in protein, good source of fiber from veggies and spinach
• Main Ingredients: Italian chicken or pork sausage, cheese tortellini, spinach, tomato paste, broth, light cream
• Flavor Profile: Creamy, savory, slightly tangy, gently spiced
• Meal-Prep Friendly: Keeps 3 days in the fridge (see notes)
• Best Served With: Crusty bread or a simple green side salad

If you need a comforting dinner fast, this creamy sausage tortellini soup delivers big flavor with minimal effort and one pot.

The base starts with sausage (you could also use shredded chicken) and a classic veggie trio (carrot, celery, onion), which gives it that slow-cooked flavor without the wait. Cooking the tomato paste properly adds depth and a slight richness that balances beautifully with the cream.

The tortellini cooks right in the broth, soaking up all that flavor, while the spinach adds a fresh finish. It’s hearty, satisfying, and has just the right balance of creamy and savory, basically the kind of soup that disappears fast at the table.

You might also like these recipes: my creamy Italian sausage pasta, this Marry Me chicken orzo recipe, this lightened up ground beef Stroganoff recipe, or this garlic Parmesan chicken pasta.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need for this sausage tortellini soup recipe. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

• Cheese tortellini – hearty, comforting, and quick-cooking; I used refrigerated fresh tortellini but if using pantry stuff, allow for longer cooking time
• Italian chicken sausage – adds protein and tons of flavor (can swap for pork, turkey, or plant-based), you can use ground meat sausage or sausage links (scoop the meat out of the casings)
• Onion, carrot, celery – classic soup base that builds sweetness and depth
• Garlic – essential for that savory backbone
• Italian seasoning + red pepper flakes – warmth and a little kick
• Tomato paste – deepens flavor and adds umami (cook it properly for best results!)
• Flour – helps create that slightly thick, creamy texture
• Chicken broth – the base that ties everything together; chicken stock is fine too
• Half and half (or light cream) – makes it silky and rich
• Spinach – adds freshness and a bit of fiber; baby spinach or chopped English spinach
• Parmesan cheese – salty, nutty boost of flavor
• Fresh parsley – bright, fresh contrast

How To Make Sausage Tortellini Soup

Find the full recipe and nutritional information below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos for how to make this creamy sausage tortellini soup.

• Heat olive oil in a large pot and cook sausage until browned, breaking it up as it cooks
• Add celery, carrot, and onion; cook until softened (about 5–7 minutes)
• Stir in garlic, seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook until fragrant
• Add tomato paste and cook for 2–3 minutes to deepen flavor
• Sprinkle in flour and cook briefly
• Gradually add chicken broth while stirring to keep it smooth
• Bring to a gentle simmer and add tortellini; cook until tender
• Stir in half and half and spinach; simmer until wilted and creamy
• Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve with Parmesan and parsley

Recipe Tips

• Cook the tomato paste properly: Let it darken slightly, this makes a big difference in flavor
• Don’t overcook the tortellini: Start checking at 3 minutes so it stays tender, not mushy. If using pantry dry tortellini, allow for longer cooking time. Fresh tortellini is best in this soup.
• Add broth gradually: This keeps the soup smooth and lump-free
• Season as you go: Layering salt builds better flavor than adding it all at the end
• Variations: Use spicy sausage for a little heat. Swap spinach for kale or Swiss chard. Add mushrooms for extra depth and texture
• Storage: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. The soup will thicken as it sits (totally normal!)
• Reheating: Add a splash of broth or water to loosen it up. Heat gently on the stove for best texture
• Make-Ahead Tip: Make the soup base without tortellini. Add tortellini, cream, and spinach fresh when reheating

Serving Suggestions

You can serve this with a big chunk of warm, crusty bread to soak up that creamy broth. If you want to keep things a little lighter, a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette balances it out nicely. It’s also great with garlic bread if you’re leaning fully into comfort mode (no judgment here).

If you’ve tried this creamy sausage tortellini soup or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and or sign up to my Newsletter to see more of my delicious food.

More Comfort Soup Recipes For Dinner

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