A cozy, savory soup with Italian sausage, pizza sauce, and melted mozzarella in a hearty broth that's ready in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Soup Base
05 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
06 - 1 2/3 cups pizza sauce
07 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
→ Cheeses
08 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
11 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
# Directions:
01 - In a large pot over medium heat, crumble and brown the Italian sausage until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the diced onion and red bell pepper to the pot. Sauté until softened, about 4 minutes.
03 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour in the broth, pizza sauce, and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine all ingredients.
05 - Add oregano, basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
07 - Just before serving, stir in half the mozzarella cheese until melted and incorporated.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls and top each serving with remaining mozzarella. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
