Spicy Crab and Sausage Soup

This Spicy Crab and Sausage Soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Loaded with sausage, crab meat and tons of veggies, it is soul warming and totally delicious.

overhead of crab and sausage soup with vegetables in a gray bowl


 

Winter Sausage Soup

There is nothing better than a piping hot bowl of vegetables, sausage and crab on a Sunday evening. Football on TV, the weather just perfect for the windows open and spending time with hubby and the kids.

I’m not sure why I associate sausages soups with milder weather. Maybe it is the subtle spice that comes with it or just the heartiness of sausage.

spicy crab and sausage soup in a large cast iron pot

This particular recipe is rather for giving. As long as you have three essential elements: crab, sausage and veggies, you’ll be just fine.

Seasonings make it a little on the spicy side, which I adore, but if you want it mild, omit paprika, cayenne and reduce seafood seasoning.

Around here Old Bay reigns king, but any will do and some are a little zestier than others. My advice would be to dip a finger in to taste before you decide how much to season your soup with.

gray bowl of vegetable and crab soup with a spoon

If you don’t like any heat, simple add 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt instead and call it a day.

Sausage

Picking your sausage will also pick the flavor of your soup. Some are smokier, others sweet and others will amp up the spice.

onions and sausage in a cast iron pot

Here are some of my favorites picks:

  • Chorizo
  • Mild Italian
  • Hot Italian
  • Chicken– plain or flavored
  • Andouille 
  • Ground pork

And then you have the choice on how to cut it. Hubby prefers his in larger pieces, so that is pictured here with a mild Italian sausage from our local butcher. It was heavy in fennel and other fresh herbs.

But you can also chop it up smaller or even use ground bulk sausage. If you do this, I recommend cooking the pork separately, draining excess fat and then adding it to the soup.

angle view of crab and sausage soup

Crab

This soup uses blue crab meat. It comes in several varieties, but I find in soups that a “special” blend or backfin works just fine and it much cheaper. Unless you plan to add jumbo lump while plating, ay stirring will break apart those velvety little lumps into smaller bits anyhow.

overhead of crab and sausage soup with scallions

What I do not recommends is canned or imitation crab. Snow crab meat could be a good substitute, but King crab has a distinctly different flavor not well suited for this recipe.

Vegetables

Yes, I use frozen vegetables instead of fresh and there are a lot of benefits in doing so.

  1. Frozen veggies actually have more nutritional value than fresh. They are frozen soon after harvesting and therefore retain more natural vitamins and minerals.
  2. Less prep because you don’t have to chop anything (other than the onion).
  3. Less waste because you won’t accidentally not get to the veggies you bought, let them go bad and have to throw them away. Not speaking from experience or anything….
  4. No need to worry about them not being cooked or when to add them due to size.
angle of vegetable soup in a bowl

As long as the total volume is 4 cups, feel free to use whatever blends of colors, flavors, shapes and sizes you like.

Toppings

I used a little fresh parsley and really don’t find that this soup needs anything, but if you really need toppings, here are my suggestions:

  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Croutons
  • Saltine Crackers
  • Freshly ground pepper and Maldon sea salt
  • Slice of crusty bread

Crab Soups

Being a Marylander, we eat Maryland Crab Soup all the time, but I came across the addition of sausage in my newest cookbook: Maryland’s Chesapeake: How the Bay and its Bounty Shaped a Cuisine.

I am a lover and collector of cookbooks, firmly believing that a good home chef goes far beyond being able to follow a recipe.

It is being educated about your food. Knowing its history, where it comes from and the chemistry behind its kitchen preparation.

My new favorite cookbook also happens to be authored by two of my local foodie friends, Kathy Wielech Patterson and Neal Patterson.

Maryland’s Chesapeake: How the Bay and its Bounty Shaped a Cuisine is one of the rare cookbooks that not only provides regionally authentic recipes from local chefs, but also background.

A great gift and also a great read if you enjoy learning about your food.

spicy crab and sausage soup for pinterest

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close up of crab and sausage soup for pinterest

This spicy crab soup has become one of our favorites. We make it as a quick weeknight meal, but also for parties.

overhead of vegetable, crab and sausage soup

Spicy Crab and Sausage Soup

4.43 from 7 votes
Spicy Crab and Sausage Soup is a quick, easy and flavorful appetizer or dinner recipes. Full of vegetables, sausage and crab, it is soul warming and super easy.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven or large enamel pot, heat extra virgin olive oil. Add chopped yellow onion and scallions, soften for 2-3 minutes.
    onions sauteed in a cast iron pot
  • Add cut sausage, cooking for 8-10 minutes or.
    sausage and onion sauteeing
  • Stir in canned diced tomatoes, liquid included, and chicken broth. Bring to a low simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add seafood seasoning, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and frozen vegetables. Cook until it comes back to a low simmer. Frozen veggies are like adding ice cubes. They will be hot when liquid resumes simmering, about 5 minutes.
    ingredients for crab and sausage soup
  • Right before serving, add blue crab meat. Top with garnishes as desired.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments and ratings.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Maryland’s Chesapeake: How the Bay and its Bounty Shaped a Cuisine, 2016,Kathy Wielech Patterson and Neal Patterson.
 
* I used corn, lima beans, green beans and carrots. Okra, edamame, pearl onions and any other frozen vegetable is also welcome. 

Nutrition

Calories: 464 kcal, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 35 g, Fat: 25 g, Saturated Fat: 9 g, Cholesterol: 93 mg, Sodium: 2259 mg, Potassium: 506 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 5 g, Vitamin A: 835 IU, Vitamin C: 27.1 mg, Calcium: 59 mg, Iron: 4.1 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 464
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crab soup, easy soup recipes, sausage soup
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Jessica Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

Read More About Jessica

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Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Just made my own pot… didn’t use peas…. just ???? and tomatoes in the can with shrimp and ???? paws

  2. Going to Maryland is on my bucket list… blueberries, lobsters… gorgeous coastline. Someday (hopefully soon!!)