Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup with Spinach and Orzo is a cozy and comforting meal that will keep you warm on a cold Fall or Winter night. The recipe takes only 30 minutes and is made entirely in one pot. Perfect for busy weeknights when you're craving comforting yet nutritious food but don't have too much time to spend in the kitchen.
Butternut squash and Italian sausage soup
One of the best things I love about Autumn and Winter is the abundance of winter squash. Making butternut squash soup at least once during this season is a must! This soup is quite different from the traditional creamy butternut squash soup recipes. This recipe features Italian sausage, orzo, spinach, and only ½ cup of heavy cream (or use half-and-half for fewer calories). It's a cozy comfort food that will warm you up on a chilly Fall or Winter evening. And the best part? Everything is done in 30 minutes, and you only need one cooking pot! It became my new favorite soup this season along with this creamy Italian sausage tortellini soup.
Why make it
- Well-balanced meal. Creamy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup with Spinach and Orzo is packed with veggies and protein - a simple recipe to make on a busy weeknight when you crave something comforting yet nutritious. It has everything you need in a complete meal: protein (Italian sausage), veggies and fiber (butternut squash and spinach), and pasta (orzo).
- 30-Minute one-pot recipe. It's perfect for busy weekdays and also for special occasions when you want to feed your family and friends healthier comfort food made with lots of veggies.
- Meal-prep-friendly. You can easily make this soup up to 4 days in advance. For best results, add orzo and cream right before serving - everything else can be cooked beforehand.
- Fall and Winter comfort food. The best time to cook butternut squash is when it's in season. This soup is like Fall in a bowl.
Main ingredients
- Butternut squash is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6, C, and E, as well as several minerals, including magnesium, manganese, and potassium. Butternut squash is also rich in dietary fiber.
- Spinach is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It’s high in fiber and a good source of many vitamins and minerals. Spinach is a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as folic acid, iron, and calcium. I use fresh spinach - you can also use frozen spinach - thawed and drained of any liquid. Or, use arugula or kale instead.
- Sausage. I used spicy Italian ground sausage which adds lots of savory flavors and a bit of heat to the butternut squash soup. You can use sausage in casings - just remove the casing before cooking and crumbling the sausage.
- Orzo is an Italian pasta that is shaped and looks like long rice.
- Seasonings that I used to make this butternut squash and sausage soup are Italian seasonings, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme.
- Broth or water. Use water, chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth.
- Cream. I used only ½ cup of heavy cream for a whole soup to add a touch of creaminess.
- Shredded or grated Parmesan is added on top of the soup when serving.
Recipe Notes
- Reduce calories by using chopped cauliflower or cauliflower rice instead of orzo. Also, use half-and-half instead of cream.
- Save time by using pre-cut butternut squash sold in some grocery stores.
- Toppings. When serving creamy butternut squash and sausage soup, you can add grated Parmesan cheese (or Pecorino Romano or Asiago), red pepper flakes, fresh herbs, or cracked black pepper.
Substitutions
- Butternut squash can be replaced with diced sweet potatoes.
- Can't find orzo? Use any other small-cut pasta you like. This includes bow tie, orecchiette, fusilli, or even gnocchi.
- Cream. You can use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. Or, use dairy-free unsweetened coconut cream/milk.
- Greens. This a perfect recipe to use your favorite greens. Spinach, arugula, kale, Swiss chard, and Collard greens - all would be great!
How to make it gluten-free
Make this recipe gluten-free by using long rice, gluten-free orzo, or wild rice. If using wild rice - cook it separately, not in the broth.
How to make it vegan
Make it vegan by omitting the sausage and replacing heavy cream with unsweetened coconut milk, cashew milk, almond milk, or oat milk. Replace the chicken stock with vegetable broth. You can replace the sausage with plant-based veggie sausage or simply use chopped portobello mushrooms instead of sausage. Portobellos have a deep, rich, and "meaty" flavor and work great as meat substitution.
Storage and reheating tips
- Refrigerate. Store leftover butternut squash sausage orzo soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat. Reheat the soup gently on the stovetop in a large enough pan over medium heat, stirring halfway through. Add extra chicken stock or broth to thin it out.
What to serve with it
I like to serve this soup as a complete meal with a simple Fall salad. Here are some easy-to-make salads made with simple ingredients:
- Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, Pecans, and Balsamic Dressing
- Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese and Lemon-Honey Poppy Seed Dressing
- Autumn Salad with Arugula, roasted Butternut Squash, dried Figs, toasted sliced Almonds, and Pomegranate Seeds.
- Simple Spinach Salad with Pine Nuts, Parmesan Cheese
- Arugula Salad with Pears, Apples, and Cashews
Other soup recipes
- Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Sweet Potatoes
- Italian Sausage Orzo Soup with Mushrooms and Spinach
- Chicken, Spinach, and Bean Soup
- Creamy Shiitake Mushroom Soup
- Black Bean and Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup with Wild Rice
Creamy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup (30-Minute, One-Pot)
Ingredients
- 15 oz spicy Italian sausage crumbled
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or Herbs from Provence
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (no sprigs, just leaves)
- red pepper flakes to taste
- 1 cup orzo uncooked
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 10 oz butternut squash peeled and cubed
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese shaved, shredded, or grated (for garnish)
Instructions
- Add crumbled Italian sausage, Italian seasoning, a generous amount of fresh thyme (no sprigs, just leaves), and red pepper flakes to a large saucepan. Cook on medium heat, regularly stirring to break the sausage.
- Once the sausage released juices and is half cooked, add 1 cup of uncooked orzo and minced garlic, and cook, constantly stirring, for about 2 minutes on medium heat to brown the orzo.
- Add 5 cups of chicken stock and cubed butternut squash, stir everything well, cover with the lid, bring to a boil, reduce to visible simmer, and cook for about 5 or 10 minutes until the orzo and butternut squash is cooked.
- Add spinach to the soup, cover with the lid and let it wilt on low heat, occasionally stirring.
- Once the spinach has wilted, remove the soup from the heat and add heavy cream. Stir everything and season with salt and pepper. Add more chicken stock (or water) if the soup is too dense. Add more red pepper flakes, if you like. Top with Parmesan cheese (shaved, shredded, or grated) and fresh thyme.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This is the first soup I’ve made since the weather has cooled off and it did not disappoint. Prepared as written but I did cheat and used frozen butternut squash. This one is a keeper!
So glad this recipe turned out well, Sharon! Thank you for taking the time share your review. 🙂
What would be the best way to make this dairy free. Cashew cream instead of heavy cream and cheese?
Hi Kristen! Yes, you can use cashew cream or unsweetened coconut milk instead of heavy cream. Skip the cheese or use something like vegan mozzarella shreds.
Just fixed the Creamy Butternut Squash Soup for our family tonite, and got rave reviews from everyone. Every ingredient stands out…..thank you!
Thank you, Terry, for your review! ❤️❤️ It's one of my favorite soups this time of year.
Just tried this Creamy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup tonight, and it was a huge hit with the family……they all enjoyed it! And all the ingredients stand out…..the sausage, butternut squash, and spinach. We are definitely keeping this one…..thanks!
So glad you love this recipe as much as I do! 🙂
I have made this recipe twice now. A small change in my second time was I used collard greens instead of spinach as it holds up better to freezing (I will try turnip greens next time as I think they will add another layer of “spice”). Thanks so much for this recipe!
Patti, I love that you used collard greens - they are perfect in this soup! ❤️
This was delicious! I used gluten-free orzo and it cooked very nicely. Subbing GF and cooking it in a broth always makes me nervous!
Suzanne, I hear you! Cooking GF pasta in a broth can make it mushy or thicken the broth unnecessarily. Glad this worked with GF orzo! ❤️
Made this tonight and it was fab! I substituted Arborio rice as I had that and it worked great! Served it with cheddar chive scones ! Delicious! ❤️
Annette, thank you for sharing that it worked great with Arborio rice! 🙂
I tried this recipe last week and it is a WINNER! I only used 4 cups of chicken broth instead of 5. If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, it tastes better the next day.
Kimberly, thank you for your wonderful review - I really appreciate it! ❤️
This is always a hit whenever we make it. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe. The flavors are rich, hearty, and comforting. It is a fast, easy, and impressive starter or main course when paired with warm crusty bread and a big green salad with goat cheese, pears, dried cranberries and candied walnuts. Yum!
Wow, Krissy, thank you for your rave review! ❤️❤️ I love that you paired this soup with the slice of crusty bread + fresh salad!
Whole family loves this soup! Thank you for sharing such wonderful recipes with us.
Can this soup be frozen?
Nancy, I am so glad your family enjoyed this soup. You can freeze this soup! If possible freeze this without adding cream for best results, but the soup can be frozen with the cream in it, too! 🙂
How many servings is this per nutrition facts?
Rachel, this recipe makes 6 serving, and the nutritional info is per 1 serving.
So easy and so good I used turkey sausage, whole wheat orzo and half and half. I will definitely be making this soup again.
Eileen, I am so happy you loved this recipe - thank you for your review! ❤️ Glad it tasted great with the turkey sausage!
This soup is amazing! The 30-minute cooking time is a little unrealistic, but the taste is awesome.
Served it with Southern-style cornbread and it was perfect!
Randy, I am so happy you loved this recipe - thank you for your review! ❤️ Love that you served this with cornbread!
One of the best soups I have ever tasted. It is like a meal in a bowl. Served it with warm Italian bread. Absolutely delicious!
Wow, your comment really made my day! ❤️ Thank you for taking the time to share your review!
Followed recipe exactly. Will definitely make this again. Ate it with some toasted garlic herb French bread. Delicious!
Thank you for your review and the 5-star rating! 🙂 Toasted garlic herb bread is a must!