Fresh garden vegetables and a spicy earthy Italian sausage in a light broth makes this Italian summer soup one in a million. Prepped in just minutes and you have the best summer crockpot recipe on the menu!
Why This Recipe For Italian Summer Soup Works
- Fast
- Easy
- Flavorful
- Uses summer veggies right from your garden or that you can easily find!
Here’s How It’s Done
For the Full Video on This Italian Summer Soup click on over to The Loaves and Dishes YouTube Channel
STEP 1.
Cut your veggies and brown the meat.
STEP 2.
Throw it all in the crockpot for 4-6 hours.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- Italian Sausage
- Celery stalks
- Zucchini
- Diced Tomatoes
- Bell Peppers
- Onion
- Chicken Broth
- Fish Sauce
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Italian Seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
The diced tomatoes, garlic powder and chicken broth are not shown in the photo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What Spices Do I Need for Zucchini Soup?
While I’m not calling this zucchini soup, many do! The spices you’ll need to make this Italian soup taste just right are:
- Salt
- Cayenne pepper
- Italian Seasoning
- And the secret ingredient?
Fish Sauce
Can I Make Some Substitutions or Additions?
Of course you can! That’s what this website is all about, make this Italian soup your own! I would recommend:
- Add some small pasta (just add it in a couple hours before serving).
- Try with some cooked rice for a yummy variation!
- Make it a creamy soup by adding milk or cream 30 minutes before serving.
- Add a few handfuls of spinach for color, vitamins and fiber
- Try a few other fresh garden vegetables too like carrots! (you may want to precook them first).
- You can always add more onion to this.
- Potato makes it heartier.
- Substitute squash for the zucchini
- Add a can of white beans for extra hearty soup
Do I Have To Make This In the Crockpot?
Nope! You can cook this up on the stove top as well in a good heavy duty pot, simply heat until the peppers and zucchini are cooked until soft enough to easily eat in a soup.
Is This a Minestrone Soup?
A minestrone soup is an Italian vegetable soup that is hearty and bulked up with beans, rice or pasta. This soup isn’t that different, but lacks the other carby ingredients.
Is This Just for Summer?
Heavens NO! This soup works in the summer because it uses fresh garden vegetables. That said, you’ll find all of these vegetables fresh in the grocery year round! Enjoy it anytime!
Can I Freeze This Soup?
Yes! It freezes very well, but just understand that the veggies will be somewhat more mushy upon thawing.
How Long Does This Keep?
This soup keeps well covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Don’t allow to sit out at room temp for more than 2 hours.
What Can I Serve with This Soup?
This soup is terrific on its own with some crusty bread or try as a first course with something light like my famous crab cakes!
We had it for dinner tonight and I made some cheese toast to have with ours! Lol. What do you expect from a food writer?
Tips and Tricks For a Perfect Italian Zucchini Soup
- If you are concerned about cutting up an onion, instead just use frozen chopped onions (they make life super easy!) or 1 Tbs of onion powder.
- Same goes with the bell peppers. You can usually find those frozen as well.
- The Italian sausage will squeeze right out of its casing, but can then be a pain to chop up, just follow the instructions for how to break up ground beef and you’ll have soup size sausage in no time.
- No broth? No problem! Use a few bouillon cubes instead (don’t add any salt until the soup is done if you go this route) or use a big tablespoon of Better than Bouillon.
- Have other veggies you want to try? Do it!
- Garden fresh tomatoes also work in this recipe, chop up 3 or so good sized fresh tomatoes (peel the skin off first).
- Can’t find Italian sausage? Try this with any fresh sausage in a casing or even breakfast sausage will work.
PRO TIP: Adding a dollop of sour cream or thick plain yogurt and a fresh garnish like chives or green onions really sets this dish off.
If You Enjoyed This Italian Soup, You Might Also Enjoy…
8 Can Taco Soup
The Best Chicken Soup
How to Make Canned Noodle Soup Better
Pinto Bean Soup
How to Make Italian Sausage in the Oven
Hey Would You Do Me A Favor?
Please leave a 5 STAR comment in the comments section below. That helps others to find the recipes at Loaves and Dishes.
Italian Summer Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbs vegetable oil any cooking oil will do
- 2 lbs Italian Sausage squeezed from casing
- 2 Celery Stalks small chop
- 2 lbs zucchini cut into bite size pieces
- 15.5 oz diced tomatoes one can
- 2 bell peppers any color, small chop
- 1 small onion white or yellow, chopped
- 3 Cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Fish Sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbs garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 Tbs Italian seasoning
- ½ Cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Squeeze the meat from inside of the sausage casings. Discard casings.
- Pour 2 Tbs oil into a frying pan. Over medium heat on the stovetop in a frying pan, cook the sausage until it is just past pink.
- Add the cooked sausage, celery, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onion, broth, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, Italian seasoning to the crockpot and stir.
- Set crockpot on low and put lid on. Cook for 4-6 hours until vegetables are soft but not falling apart.
- Add parmesan cheese just before serving and stir through. (Is awesome garnished with sour cream and green onions)
Notes
- If you are concerned about cutting up an onion, instead just use frozen chopped onions (they make life super easy!) or 1 Tbs of onion powder.
- Same goes with the bell peppers. You can usually find those frozen as well.
- The italian sausage will squeeze right out of its casing, but can then be a pain to chop up, just use a potato masher and mash the sausage as it cooks until it is the size you prefer and you’ll have soup size sausage in no time.
- No broth? No problem! Use a few bouillon cubes instead (don’t add any salt until the soup is done if you go this route) or use a big tablespoon of Better than Bouillon.
- Have other veggies you want to try? Do it!
- Garden fresh tomatoes also work in this recipe, chop up 3 or so good sized fresh tomatoes (peel the skin off first).
- Can’t find italian sausage? Try this with any fresh sausage in a casing or even breakfast sausage will work.
Nutrition
A VERSE TO SHARE
Are you needing peace right now? I am. I've found this passage by Paul to be so true lately. It is imperative to guard your heart and mind and to ask God for peace. He provides.
Philippians 4: 5-7
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Rachel Williams says
There’s no fish sauce in the recipe. How much do you use?
Sarah Blackwell says
Thanks for catching that! I used about a teaspoon!
E Peicw says
This is one of my all-time favorites and this recipe gets it right! I especially like the recommendations for substitutes, because with all of the fresh veggies available this time of year, it's a great idea to use what you have available.
Wendi Spraker says
So glad you love it! I do too!
Mechelle says
I have to ask.....how does the fish sauce make this better?
Wendi Spraker says
Fish sauce adds a flavor boost. You don't taste fish, at all (or I wouldn't even touch it with a ten foot pole). Fish sauce adds Umami to just about any soup or stew. I use it in stir fries as well. It's worth the purchase, but I recommend that brand you see in the photo. I had to buy mine on amazon. If you don't have and don't want to go get, this soup will still be good. You might want to add Worcestershire sauce instead for the flavor boost.
Wendi J Spraker says
recipe ratings test