Sausage and Kale Soup

This hearty and comforting sausage and kale soup is packed with flavor and cooks up in about 30 minutes! It can be made on the stove top or in the slow cooker.
Contents
Why You’ll Love This Soup Ingredients Needed Recipe Substitutions How to Make Sausage & Kale Soup How to Serve How to Store Leftovers More Soup Recipes

Cooler weather is here and I’ve been craving warm and comforting meals like this sausage and kale soup!

This is an OG EBF recipe from way back in 2016. I recently made it again and forgot just how delicious it is, so I had to re-share it with you! It’s the perfect cold-weather meal for when you’re craving something hearty and comforting.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

Simple – You only need 9 main ingredients to make this sausage and kale soup. No fancy ingredients over here!
Easy to make – It cooks up in about 30 minutes on the stove top or you can toss everything in your slow cooker and let it work its magic until you’re ready to eat. Easy peasy!
Hearty – Packed with savory Italian sausage and a medley of veggies, this soup is both filling and nutritious.
Great for leftovers – Like most soups, the flavors only get better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep and quick lunches throughout the week.

Ingredients Needed

carrots, celery, yellow onion and garlic cloves – these veggies add a savory base along with nutrients and flavor!
italian sausage – the star of the show! I prefer sweet Italian sausage, but you can use your favorite variety of ground sausage.
chicken broth – the liquid base of your soup. I love using bone broth for added protein!
kale – the other star of this recipe! You’ll want to de-stem and chop your kale before adding it to the soup. I used curly green kale, but you can use lacinato kale (also known as dinosaur kale).

Recipe Substitutions

Sausage: If you’re looking for a leaner option you can use chicken or turkey sausage. Just note, that you might need to add 1/2-1 Tablespoon of oil to your pot to cook the meat and veggies since it’s leaner it probably won’t release as much fat, which we’re using to cook the veggies in.
Need to make this soup vegetarian? You can sub the sausage with veggie sausage or your favorite beans. I bet white beans would work great! You could also try making my white bean soup instead. It’s equally as delicious!

How to Make Sausage & Kale Soup

Step 1: In a large pot, cook sausage over medium heat while breaking into pieces. Once cooked, remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Leave 1 Tablespoon of fat in the pot.

Step 2: Add garlic, onion, carrots, celery and salt to the pot with reserved fat. Sauté for about 7-10 minutes or until onions are translucent and fragrant.

Step 3: Add broth, pepper and the cooked sausage to the pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 20-30 minutes, or until the veggies are tender.

Step 4: Add the chopped kale to the soup about 10 minutes before serving.

Step 5: Once kale has wilted and veggies are tender, taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Step 6: Portion soup into bowls and top with parmesan, if using.

How to Serve

I love topping this soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese. For a dairy-free option, try my vegan parmesan cheese instead. This soup is a filling meal on its own thanks to the sausage and veggies, but if you want to serve it with some sides here are some ideas:

How to Store Leftovers

In the fridge: After cooling, transfer the soup to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors actually develop more over time, making it a great option for meal prep!
In the freezer: For longer storage, pour the cooled soup into freezer-safe bags or containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Remember to leave some space at the top as the soup will expand when frozen.
Reheating: When ready to enjoy, thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator (if frozen), then reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You can also reheat it in the microwave in a microwave-safe container, stirring every 2 minutes to ensure even warming.