HEARTY SAUSAGE MINESTRONE

Hearty Sausage Minestrone image

As a teacher, I appreciate quick and easy recipes. If I make this for just my husband and me, we have leftovers for lunches. But when there are more people at the table, every bit is eaten. -Tami Stoudt, Evans, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 30m

Yield 8 servings (3-1/2 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and garlic, undrained
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup ditalini or other small pasta

Steps:

In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, onion, celery and carrots over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender, breaking sausage into crumbles; drain., Stir in tomatoes, beans, broth, garlic powder and pepper; bring to a boil. Add pasta; cook, covered, 6-8 minutes or until pasta is tender. Freeze option: Freeze cooled minestrone in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 372 calories, Fat 13g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 33mg cholesterol, Sodium 1481mg sodium, Carbohydrate 44g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 9g fiber), Protein 18g protein.