Crock Pot Italian Sausage and Butternut Squash Creamy Soup

Ingredients

- 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage
- 4 cups frozen cubed butternut squash
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Brown the Sausage: In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground sweet Italian sausage until fully cooked, breaking it into smaller pieces with a spatula. This should take about 8-10 minutes.

2. Transfer to Crock Pot: Once cooked, transfer the sausage to the Crock Pot using a slotted spoon, leaving behind any excess grease.

3. Add Ingredients: To the Crock Pot, add the frozen cubed butternut squash, chicken broth, salt, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh sage. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.

4. Cook on Low: Set the Crock Pot to low heat and cover. Cook for 6-7 hours, until the butternut squash is tender and easily pierced with a fork.

5. Blend: After cooking, use an immersion blender to carefully puree the soup until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can work in batches to blend the soup in a countertop blender (ensure to allow it to cool slightly and remove the center cap from the lid to allow steam to escape).

6. Add Cream and Spice: Pour in the heavy cream and add the crushed red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined.

7. Adjust Seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.

8. Garnish and Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top with pumpkin seeds, chopped parsley, and a sprinkle of extra crushed red pepper flakes for added heat and texture.

Total Time

P7DT6H
7 hours (on Crock Pot low setting)

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Italian sausage soup, butternut squash soup, creamy soup, Crock Pot recipe, slow cooker dinner, fall soup, hearty winter meal, dinner soup, easy Crock Pot meal, sausage stew

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 2,400 calories

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