Italian Sausage Kale Soup (Printable Version)

Savory sausage, crispy bacon, tender potatoes, and fresh kale simmered in a rich, creamy broth for ultimate comfort.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casings removed
02 - 4 slices bacon, chopped

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 4 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
06 - 4 cups fresh kale, stems removed and chopped

→ Liquids

07 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
02 - Add Italian sausage to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add diced onion and cook until softened, approximately 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add sliced potatoes, chicken broth, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
05 - Stir in chopped kale and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until wilted.
06 - Lower heat and pour in the heavy cream. Heat gently until warmed through, being careful not to boil.
07 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with reserved bacon.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • The combination of crispy bacon and savory sausage creates this incredible depth that store bought soups never quite capture.
  • Its honestly a complete meal in one pot, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy dinner with your family.
02 -
  • The soup thickens considerably as it sits, so if youre making it ahead, you may need to add more broth when reheating.
  • I discovered that slicing rather than dicing the potatoes makes a huge difference in both cooking time and how the soup feels when youre eating it.
03 -
  • Reserve about a tablespoon of the bacon drippings before adding the sausage, then drizzle it over the finished soup just before serving for an incredible flavor boost.
  • The soup tastes even better if you let it rest for about 10 minutes after turning off the heat, allowing all those flavors to fully integrate.
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