This Spicy Sausage Lentil soup is loaded with hot Italian sausage, lentils, ham, veggies and is totally delicious!
We love soup, especially if it involves lentil, like Tuscan lentil soup, Instant Pot smoked sausage and lentil soup or easy vegetable lentil soup! They’re so hearty and delicious, just like today’s recipe for sausage lentil soup.
Carrabba’s Sausage Lentil Soup
Today’s soup happens to be a family favorite. It’s a copycat version of the spicy sausage lentil soup that we get at Carrabba’s. It is loaded with flavor from the hot Italian sausage, lentils, ham, and veggies. And loaded with healthy benefits because lentils are low in calories, rich in iron and folate and an excellent source of protein.
I’ll be honest with you, the first time I made this for our family I was pretty darn nervous. Since then, I’ve changed a few things here and there and this is the “husband approved” version of the copycat recipe. He loves it, I love it and our 2-year-old gobbles it up like there’s no tomorrow. It’s definitely a family favorite!
Plus – it’s easier than you think!
How to Make Sausage Lentil Soup
The best thing about this soup is how easy it is to prep/make and how quickly it comes together. Sure you need a handful of ingredients, but they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to find.
I like to pick up the lentils in the bulk section of our grocery store and I buy a thick slice of ham at the deli counter (that is if we don’t have leftover ham in the freezer from the holidays). The rest are items we have stocked in our pantry with the exception of the sausage.
Some recipe notes:
- To make the soup you’ll need a large pot or Dutch oven.
- When you’ve got your ingredients prepped, add the olive oil and get it nice and hot.
- Sauté the veggies until tender and then brown the sausage.
- Add the ham & tomato, then pour in the liquid ingredients. Bring to a boil, add the lentils & seasonings, simmer for 40-45 minutes.
That’s it!
And feel free to change the recipe up to your liking! You can always use regular sausage and add a pinch of Italian seasoning or herbes de Provence to it. If you want to keep things extra lean add some turkey sausage instead of pork!
Sausage Lentil Soup Storing Tips
When stored in a air-tight container in the refrigerator, this soup should be good for 3-4 days. If you want to save it longer then you will need to freeze it! Put it in a freezer-safe container. I prefer Ziploc bags that can lie flat because it saves space and defrosts easier. Keep in the freezer for up to 4-6 months.
To defrost your soup, just run the bottom of the freezer bag under hot water until it becomes loose. Then place the frozen chunks into a saucepan and continue to defrost over the lowest heat!
I guarantee everyone will love this soup! Serve it up with some crusty Italian bread and a side salad and dinner is served!
Find perfect side dishes here:
- Best Ever Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Easy Focaccia
- Cucumber Dill Salad
- Orzo Arugula Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
- Almond Bacon Brussels Sprout Salad
Print RecipeCarrabba's Sausage Lentil Soup Recipe
This soup is a copycat version of Carrabba's Spicy Sausage Lentil soup! It's loaded with hot Italian sausage, lentils, ham, veggies and is totally delicious!Pin RateServings: 6 servingsCalories: 334kcalIngredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion - diced
- 1 large carrot - finely grated
- 1 stalk celery - minced
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- 1/2 lb hot Italian sausage - uncooked
- 1/3 cup ham - cubed
- 1 small tomato - diced
- 2 cup water
- 4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup dry lentils
- 1 tbsp fresh basil - minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley - minced
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven set over medium-low heat, saute the onion in the olive oil until tender. Add the carrot, celery and garlic, cook for 1-2 more minutes. Add the sausage and brown, braking it into bits as it cooks.
- Add the chopped ham, tomatoes, water, chicken broth, vinegar and bring the soup to a boil.
- Pour in the lentils along with the remaining seasonings/spices and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the lentils are tender and the liquid reduces, about 40-45 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and serve immediately.
NOTES
-You can use thick cut slices of ham and cube them in about ¼" cubes, I prefer getting one thick slice from the deli counter or using up leftover ham from holidays.RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Nutrition FactsCarrabba's Sausage Lentil Soup RecipeServing Size1 servingAmount per ServingCalories334% Daily Value*Fat18g28%Saturated Fat6g38%Polyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat9gCholesterol34mg11%Sodium436mg19%Potassium683mg20%Carbohydrates25g8%Fiber11g46%Sugar2g2%Protein19g38%Vitamin A1987IU40%Vitamin C8mg10%Calcium49mg5%Iron3mg17%* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.Did you make this recipe?Take a picture and tag @lmadesimple on Instagram or tag #LMSBakes! We can't wait to see your version!
Wonderful soup!
Will make it again!
Soup was good but not substantial enough to stand alone for a meal.
We had cheesy garlic bread with it. Perfect!
Made this tonight and it was wonderful. Doubled the recipe and used more veggies per my liking. Thank you!