A comforting and flavorful Savory Orzo Stuffed Banana Peppers Soup featuring a rich blend of Italian sausage, aromatic herbs, creamy cheeses, and diced banana peppers simmered in a chicken broth base with orzo pasta.
Total Time:45 minutes
Yield:6 servings
Ingredients
For the soup base:
1 heaping tsp minced garlic
4 cups chicken broth
1 tsp dried oregano
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp dried basil
1 lb ground mild Italian sausage
3/4 tsp salt (Morton’s Coarse Kosher Salt)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 cups diced banana peppers
For the pasta:
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta (Barilla Orzo recommended)
Instructions
Prepare the sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the ground mild Italian sausage until browned, breaking it into smaller pieces with a spoon. Once cooked, set aside.
Sauté the vegetables: In the same pan, add butter along with chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped green pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent and the peppers are softened.
Add herbs and seasonings: Stir in dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil, salt, and ground black pepper to the sautéed vegetables, mixing well to release the aromatic flavors.
Combine soup base: Pour in chicken broth and evaporated milk then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on medium heat.
Cook the orzo pasta: Add the uncooked orzo pasta directly into the simmering soup base and cook until tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Add banana peppers and cheeses: Stir in the diced banana peppers, cream cheese, and shredded parmesan cheese, allowing the cheeses to melt completely into the soup, stirring frequently for a smooth texture.
Return sausage: Add the cooked Italian sausage back into the soup, mixing thoroughly to combine all ingredients and heat through for an additional 5 minutes.
Final seasoning and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy the savory, creamy soup.
Notes
Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure it melts smoothly into the soup.
Substitute ground turkey or chicken for Italian sausage for a leaner version.
Adjust the amount of banana peppers according to your heat preference.
To make it vegetarian, omit the sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
For a gluten-free version, substitute orzo with gluten-free pasta or rice.
