Name: Stuffed Shells Soup with Sausage & Spinach
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1.25 lbs Italian sausage; 1/4 cup butter; 1 large onion, diced; 1 cup finely diced carrots; 3 large cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 8 cups chicken broth; 3 cups medium pasta shells (uncooked); 1 10-oz box frozen spinach (keep frozen); 1 cup heavy cream; 1 cup shredded mozzarella; 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Home » Soup, Stew & Chili » Stuffed Shells Soup

A 30-minute recipe that combines the ingredients of Stuffed Shells into a hearty, creamy soup with bite-sized pasta shells, Italian sausage, spinach and cheese.

Author: Mandy Rivers | Published: 11/11/26

When I first learned to make Lasagna Soup, my brain exploded with more ideas for soup recipes based on classic Italian pasta dishes. While I still have half a dozen others knocking around in my head, I knew this was the first one I wanted to make!

My Stuffed Shells with Sausage & Spinach is one of my all-time favorite pasta recipes. I reach for it over and over again because Italian sausage and spinach is such a great combo. Especially with any cheesy, white sauce!

I have had so many people ask me for that recipe who sheepishly admitted they didn't think they would like it because of the spinach! Honestly, I don't even think you can taste the spinach but I still think it makes a perfect mate to Italian sausage.

A 30-minute recipe that combines the ingredients of Stuffed Shells into a hearty, creamy soup with bite-sized pasta shells, Italian sausage, spinach and cheese.

A thousand years ago, when I was a kid, Lean Cuisine made a stuffed cannelloni recipe with Italian sausage (or seasoned ground pork), spinach and a white sauce and it was my favorite!

Why was a kid eating Lean Cuisines a thousand years ago? Because I've been a chunky monkey since the day I was born and my parents had me on a diet or monitored what I ate for as long as I can remember.

The flavor of that cannelloni stuck with me through decades and inspired me to recreate the flavors when I created my stuffed shells recipe (which has now inspired this recipe)! If that's not a testament to how much of an impact food had on me as a kid, I don't know what is!

All jokes aside, I have learned that I don't have to be EATING the food to enjoy it. I love thinking about it (testing recipes in my head), learning about the chemistry of cooking and talking to y'all about it.

My parents may not have made the best decision by keeping me on a diet (that didn't work) for 18 years but they were trying to help and it created a genuine curiosity in me for cooking and about food altogether.

Did I balloon out in college when I finally had the freedom to eat what I wanted? Yup. Freshman 15? More like Freshman 50. Did I come to a healthy place all on my own as an adult and learn to take care of, accept and love my body? Also yup.

ANYWAY... Italian sausage, spinach and any creamy white sauce together is one of my all-time favorite combinations!

If you think you won't like this because of the spinach, I assure you that it really doesn't taste like much. I think it's the texture I like, especially when it's paired with the chunky sausage.

My meat-and-potatoes loving, no-green-stuff-wanting husband eats this without batting an eye. I may have told him the spinach was just parsley and herbs once upon a time and he went with it (so try that if you have a picky eater too!).

FAQ ON STUFFED SHELLS SOUP

1. Why is it called "stuffed" shell soup if the shells aren't stuffed? It's just a fun concept for soup (just like lasagna soup) that takes the components of a classic recipe and turns it into something new!

2. Should I use hot, sweet or mild Italian sausage? I almost always use HOT but any will work!

3. Why does the spinach go in frozen? It cools the soup some and prevents the pasta from overcooking.

4. Can I use fresh spinach? Yes! Use about 4 cups BUT ALSO ADD 1 cup of ice (see line above).

5. Is it OK to use ground beef or pork instead of sausage? Sure! You'll need to season it liberally when browning (I'd use salt, pepper and garlic powder).

6. Can half-and-half be used instead of heavy cream? Yes, but use 2 cups and reduce the chicken broth by a cup.

MORE HEARTY ITALIAN SOUP RECIPES!

Tuscan Chicken Stew - A hearty, rustic chicken stew made with chicken, potatoes, white beans, fresh tomatoes and tons of country-Italian flavor.

Cheesy Italian Sausage Potato Soup - A cheesy potato soup made with Italian sausage, potatoes and creamy cheddar cheese that's simple and delicious!

The Best EASY Lasagna Soup - A 30-minute one-pot recipe for lasagna soup made with spaghetti sauce that's easy enough for weeknights and delicious enough for guests!

Italian Lentil Soup with Sausage - A simple, hearty lentil soup with spicy Italian sausage, garlic and herbs much like Carrabba’s Spicy Sausage and Lentil Soup.

Recipe for Stuffed Shells Soup