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This Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup is a delicious way to use up all of those fresh garden vegetables!
Our backyard garden is on the brink of starting to produce massive amounts of fresh zucchini and tomatoes, and I can’t wait! Especially because I know that Jack will be cooking up a batch of this fantastic Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup!
Now, I know that some of you may be thinking that a hot soup is the last thing you’d think about cooking in the middle of the summer – and I totally get that. But we make and eat soups all year long – especially when they are as delicious as this Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup.
In fact, we love the convenience of cooking up a big pot of this soup, then reheating leftovers in the microwave for a light, quick meal.
How do you make Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup?
Most of the prep in this Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup is chopping and dicing and grating – garden zucchini, tomatoes, onions, celery, red bell peppers, garlic, and carrots, plus fresh basil and oregano, and Parmesan cheese.
After browning some sweet Italian sausage and sautéing the onions, celery and bell pepper in a pot, you’ll add all of the other ingredients including vegetable stock to the pot. Then, a ten to fifteen minute simmer on the stove finishes off this flavorful Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup – just long enough so that the zucchini and other vegetables are tender and the flavors meld.
Can I add other vegetables in this soup?
Absolutely! We created this Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup to use up fresh zucchini, tomatoes and some of the fresh herbs from our garden – but you can also add other fresh vegetables and herbs if that is what you have growing in your garden.
You can also add pre-cooked pasta to this soup if you’d like. And, if you like things extra zesty, feel free to swap in hot Italian sausage instead of the sweet.
Can I make this Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup in the slow cooker?
From the questions we often get, I know that a lot of our readers like to use their slow cooker during the summer to avoid heating up the kitchen! (So, I’m anticipating being asked this question!) 🙂
We haven’t tried making this recipe in the slow cooker ourselves – mostly because it only takes about thirty minutes (or less) to cook this soup on the stove. While a slow cooker will sort of technically work, you’ll still want to brown the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker, which is half of the cooking time listed in this recipe. Additionally, the zucchini may end up over-cooked before the rest of the vegetables are tender. So, while it’s possible, we’d still recommend cooking this Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup recipe as written because it will take less time and the results will be better.
If you want to save some time when you are rushing to get dinner on the table, feel free to chop all of the vegetables ahead of time.
You may enjoy these other garden zucchini and tomato recipes:
- Scarpaccia (Zucchini Tart)
- Stewed Tomatoes
- Best Zucchini Bread Ever
- Zucchini Lasagna
- Italian Tomato Sauce
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Zucchini Tomato Italian Sausage Soup
Once the zucchini is added to the pot, try to avoid overcooking. The squash should be just tender.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound Italian sweet sausage, removed from casings
2 cups onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
2 cups red bell pepper, diced (about one large pepper)
2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/4 cup tomato paste
5 fresh plum tomatoes, diced
2 pounds zucchini cut into bite-sized pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 quarts good quality vegetable broth
1 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
A few Parmesan cheese rinds (optional but recommended)
2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano chopped
Instructions
In a large soup pot or large Dutch oven, place olive oil over medium high heat and once hot, add sausage meat. Break up meat while it cooks.
Once the meat has browned, add onion, celery, carrots and bell pepper and sauté for four minutes.
Move the vegetables to the sides and lower heat to medium. Add garlic, pepper flakes and tomato paste to center and cook for two minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, zucchini, salt, pepper, broth, Parmesan cheese and Parmesan rinds along with fresh basil and fresh oregano and stir to combine.
Bring to a medium simmer and cook just long enough until the vegetables are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Remove from heat and remove and discard the Parmesan rinds.
Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese on the side.
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This was a hit with my entire family. I added shell pasta to the soup. Delicious!
Great idea Jackie! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Could you substitute ground beef and dried basil and oregano?
Hi Dottie – Sure – the ground beef has a different flavor profile than the sausage but it would still work in this soup. (In addition to the dried basil and oregano – if you want to mirror the seasonings in the sausage – you could also add some fennel seed, red pepper flakes, and maybe some rosemary too.) Hope you enjoy the soup!
Does this soup freeze well?
Hi Jen – We haven’t tried freezing it ourselves – I suspect the zucchini would get a little mushy. But if that doesn’t bother you, I think you could definitely freeze it. (If you try, please let us know how it comes out!)
yes…my family makes a lot of this when zucchini is in season for the Winter months…really tastes good on a cold, Winter night
Thanks Linda!
Did you end up freezing it?
Loved this soup tweaked it a lil added 2 small potatoes and added only 1 large zucchini the last 1/2 hour …cooked slow and low for about 1 and 1/2 hours delicious!!Will definitely make again thanks!
Thanks Diane! So glad you enjoyed the soup!
Very very Good. I added the zucchini at the end to avoid over cooking. Also, added two small diced potatoes. Definitely a recipe to make again.
Thanks Susan!
This was AMAZING! Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you Anastazia!
Anyone try this in a crockpot? Would it work?
Hi Angela – After the prep, this soup only takes 30 minutes to cook. It’s not really appropriate for a crockpot – the vegetables will get mushy.
Just made this!! Soooooo good!!!!!
Thanks Rachel! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Hi, my name is Tammy K. I just made the Zucchini tomato Italian sausage soup, & I just want to let you know, I think it’s terrific!!!!
My boyfriend likes it too.
Thank you so much Tammy! We’re so glad you both enjoyed the recipe!
Yum! I also eat soup year-round. I have a bunch of turkey stock from our Thanksgiving turkey, so I’ll use that in place of the veggie stock.
That will definitely work Tera! Hope you enjoy the soup!
Hi Martha,
Like you and Jack, we eat soup all year. It’s my favorite comfort food ever, especially when it is based on fresh vegetables.
My husband is at the Amish farm near us and picking up fresh green beans,onions and Peaches and Cream corn. Makes me happy!!! Soup will be made this afternoon, and we will share with our condo neighbors.
Happy summer to you both.
Linda
Happy Summer to you too Linda! We’re planning a trip to our local farmer’s market tomorrow! (It makes me happy too!) 🙂