Pizza Soup
This pizza soup is a fun, cozy dinner made with Italian sausage, vegetables, and a rich, pizza-inspired broth. It can be made on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot, making it an easy option for busy weeknight dinners when you're craving classic pizza flavors in a comforting bowl of soup.
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A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Pizza Soup
🕒 Ready In: ~30 minutes
👪 Serves: 4 servings
🍽 Calories: ~420 per serving
🥣 Main Ingredients: Italian sausage, pizza sauce, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, green bell pepper, pepperoni, mozzarella
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, low-carb, dairy-optional
👌 Difficulty: Easy - simple prep, one pot, stovetop or Instant Pot
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Instead of dough and crust, this soup brings together pizza sauce, roasted tomatoes, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, olives, and pepperoni, then finishes with melted mozzarella on top. It's hearty, flavorful, and simple to customize with your favorite pizza toppings.
If you enjoy cozy, family-friendly soups like this one, you may also like our Vegetable Soup, Gazpacho Soup, or Turkey Noodle Soup for simple, comforting dinner ideas.
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Why You'll Love this Pizza Soup:
Weeknight-friendly: Comes together quickly with simple prep and one pot.
Two easy methods: Can be made on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot.
Classic pizza flavors: Made with Italian sausage, pizza sauce, pepperoni, olives, and melted mozzarella.
Customizable: Easy to adjust with different toppings or vegetables based on what you have on hand.
Family-friendly: A fun way to enjoy pizza flavors in a comforting, spoonable dinner.
Key Ingredients:
- ground italian sausage. Adds bold, savory flavor to the soup. Use mild or spicy sausage depending on your preference.
- white mushrooms. Classic in a supreme pizza, they add umami richness. Feel free to use baby bella, white button, or even portobello mushrooms for a deeper, earthier taste.
- marinara sauce. A shortcut ingredient that gives the soup a true pizza-like flavor. Choose a high-quality brand or even homemade marinara sauce for a fresher taste.
- vegetable broth. The base of the soup, keeping it lighter than using beef broth. You can also use homemade chicken broth for extra richness.
- mozzarella cheese. Melts into the soup for that signature pizza flavor.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- Swap the sausage: Use mild or hot Italian sausage, ground turkey, or ground beef if preferred.
- Change the vegetables: Add or swap in zucchini, spinach, or sliced olives based on your favorite pizza toppings.
- Make it lighter: Reduce the pepperoni or skip it entirely and rely on the sausage for flavor.
- Use different cheese: Mozzarella works best, but provolone or a mozzarella-provolone blend also melts well.
- Control the thickness: Add extra broth for a thinner soup or let it simmer uncovered for a few minutes to thicken.
How to Make Pizza Soup:
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage and diced onion until the sausage is browned and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the mushrooms, green bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften.
- Stir in the oregano, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 15-20 minutes to blend flavors.
- Stir in the black olives and pepperoni. Let simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Ladle into bowls and top each serving with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Build Flavor in Layers: Browning the Italian sausage and onions first creates a deep, savory base for the soup.
- Don't Skip the Simmer: Letting the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes allows the flavors to fully meld together.
- Customize Your Toppings: Add crispy bacon for a meat lovers' version, jalapeños for spice, or fresh basil for an Italian twist.
- Cheese Tip: Add shredded mozzarella just before serving to keep it melty and fresh.
- Thicker Soup Option: If you prefer a thicker consistency, stir in a small amount of tomato paste or extra cheese.
- Perfect Pairings: Serve with garlic bread, a crisp salad, or parmesan crisps for extra crunch.
How to Store:
Refrigerate: Let the soup cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freeze: Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For best results, freeze without the cheese and add fresh mozzarella after reheating.
Thaw & Reheat: Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Warm on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Pizza Soup FAQs:
Yes. This recipe includes Instant Pot instructions and cooks quickly under pressure, making it a great option for busy weeknights.
Yes! Brown the sausage and onions first, then add all ingredients (except cheese) to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, then stir in the cheese before serving.
Pizza soup uses pizza sauce, Italian sausage, classic vegetables, pepperoni, olives, and melted mozzarella to recreate familiar pizza flavors in soup form.
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Pizza Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
- 1 large green bell pepper, diced
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup pepperoni, halved
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage and diced onion until the sausage is browned and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the mushrooms, green bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften.
- Stir in the oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 15-20 minutes to blend flavors.
- Stir in the black olives and pepperoni. Let simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Ladle into bowls and top each serving with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the ground Italian sausage and diced onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the sausage until browned.
- Stir in mushrooms, green bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté for another 2-3 minutes until slightly softened. Add oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Pour in a splash of the vegetable broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Stir in marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and the rest of the vegetable broth. Do not add the mozzarella, olives, or pepperoni yet.
- Seal the lid and set to Manual/Pressure Cook on High for 5 minutes. Once done, do a quick release of the pressure.
- Stir in mozzarella cheese, black olives, and halved pepperoni. Let sit for a few minutes to melt the cheese and warm the toppings.
Nutrition
Notes
- Build Flavor in Layers: Browning the Italian sausage and onions first creates a deep, savory base for the soup.
- Don't Skip the Simmer: Letting the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes allows the flavors to fully meld together.
- Customize Your Toppings: Add crispy bacon for a meat lovers' version, jalapeños for spice, or fresh basil for an Italian twist.
- Cheese Tip: Add shredded mozzarella just before serving to keep it melty and fresh.
- Thicker Soup Option: If you prefer a thicker consistency, stir in a small amount of tomato paste or extra cheese.
- Perfect Pairings: Serve with garlic bread, a crisp salad, or parmesan crisps for extra crunch.
We've been making this again and again since I found the recipe a few years ago. The ingredients sound funky, but in the end the taste is amazing and I love how easy it is 🙂 . Highly recommend giving it a try! I'm going to try it in the instant pot tonight.......we'll see how it goes 🙂
Hi Jennifer! Thank you for taking the time to comment and rate our recipe. I'm glad you like it! It is one of our personal favorites too. Hope it worked out okay in the instant pot 🙂
Do you have serving size and calories per serving?
Hi Debbie! Not for this one yet, but I'm currently working on adding nutrition labels to all my recipes.
What a lovely cheesy soup. Ummm... so delicious. Thanks for sharing it.
A little cheese makes everything better haha! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂