Crockpot Italian Sausage Soup

By kayjayjohnson

Ingredients

• Sausage Meatballs
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• Soup
• 4 cups hot chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup mini pasta shells*
• bag (10 ounces) baby spinach leaves
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• salt to taste

Details

Adapted from family.go.com

Preparation

Step 1

Combine all meatball ingredients. Form into marble-size balls.
Combine broth, tomato paste, garlic and red pepper flakes in 4 1/2-quart CROCK-POT® slow cooker. Add meatballs. Cover; cook on LOW 5 to 6 hours.
Thirty minutes before serving, add pasta. When pasta is tender, stir in spinach leaves. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.