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Enjoy an extra cozy and extra delicious meal with this White Bean Kale Sausage Soup. Made with a selection of veggies and Italian sausage, it supplies incredible nutrients and a great dose of protein!
The ultimate cozy soup recipe
The leaves are changing color, the air is getting cooler, football has begun, and the pumpkin and apple scented candles and flavored treats are out in full force. All of this can only mean one thing: fall is here! And with the start of autumn comes the want — no, need — to cozy up with a bowl of hot soup!
The first soup on your season-of-soup menu should be none other than this white bean kale sausage soup. This dish is one of my favorites, thanks in part to the delicious mix of veggies, but also the Italian sausage. It adds an element to the soup that tastes delish alongside the white beans and herbs!
Ingredients in white bean kale sausage soup
This white bean sausage and kale soup is made with a number of ingredients, herbs, and spices. Soups are forgiving, so don’t feel like you have to use the specific veggies it calls for. For example, if you’re out of celery but have extra carrots, that’s fine!
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp of olive oil kicks off this recipe and will be used to prepare the Italian sausage.
- Italian sausage: As for the sausage, use 1 lb of a mild type. Although, if you like spicy foods, I suppose you could use a spicier variety!
- Yellow onion: Add the first veggie with 1 small diced yellow onion.
- Celery: Follow the onion with 2 stalks of diced celery.
- Carrots: Add more vegetable nutrients with 2 diced carrots.
- Garlic: Then, add some flavor with 3 cloves of minced garlic.
- White beans: Finally, the beans! You will need 3 cans, drained and rinsed. We’ll be using 2 cans early in the recipe, and the last can toward the end.
- Salt & pepper: Add more flavor with 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper.
- Chicken broth: Make the dish a soup by adding 6 cups of chicken broth.
- Lemon juice: The juice of one lemon will add a nice subtle tanginess to the soup.
- Rosemary: After the juice, add some fresh herb flavor with 2 tbsp of fresh chopped rosemary.
- Parsley: Do the same with 1/4 cup of fresh chopped parsley.
- Kale: Add some greens by including 3 cups of de-stemmed kale, chopped into small pieces.
- Parmesan: Last but not least, fresh parmesan completes the dish as the perfect topping.
Tools you’ll need to make sausage white bean soup
To make this soup, you will need a number of kitchen tools including a dutch oven or saucepot, a spatula, a slotted spoon, a large bowl, a strainer, and an immersion or high-powered blender. For measuring out ingredients, you’ll need 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, and 1 cup-sized measuring cups.
How to make kale bean sausage soup
Any soup that can be made in a single pot is a winner in my book! Here’s how to prepare this easy one-pot white bean kale sausage soup.
First, heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large dutch oven or saucepan. Add the sausage and cook it throughout, breaking it down into small pieces. Remove the sausage from the stove with a slotted spoon and set it aside in a bowl or dish.
Next, cook the onions, celery, and carrots in the leftover sausage oil for about 4-5 minutes, or until the veggies have begun to soften. Then, add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add two cans of the white beans to the pot, along with the salt and pepper. Mix everything together and then add the chicken broth and lemon juice.
Let the mix boil for 10 minutes over medium heat, and then turn off the heat.
Using an immersion or high-powered blender, blend the soup. You may need to do this in batches, but it’s also okay to leave some chunks. I like mine a little chunky.
Next, pour the soup back into the dutch oven and set the heat to medium-low.
Add the third can of beans followed by the rosemary, parsley, and kale. Stir and let cook for 10 more minutes.
Top with parmesan, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
Can I substitute turkey sausage?
Absolutely! Any sausage can be used. Prepare as directed for the best result.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
This recipe can be made vegetarian-friendly by omitting the sausage and substituting the chicken broth with vegetable broth. If you’re worried about the density from the lack of sausage, feel free to double up some of your veggies. Another option is to add a potato or two in place of the sausage!
Optional add-in idea
Want to bulk up your soup a bit more? Add a potato! A chopped russet potato adds density and thickness to the soup. If you want the potato but also want to maintain the density of the soup as it is, replace the last can of beans (the beans you add at the end) with the potato. Go for a potato that is medium-sized so it’s about the same density as the can’s worth of beans.
Freezing for later
Soup is known to be a great freeze-for-later meal, and this one follows suit! To store, allow the soup to reach room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Then, store in the freezer for up to 3 months, or place in the refrigerator for enjoying within a few days.
Reheat on the stove.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
The official soup season has begun! Here are some more soup ideas to try as the weather gets chillier and we try to make our homes extra cozy.
- Easy Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
- Butternut Squash Soup (Vegan, Dairy-Free)
- Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Healthy Stuffed Pepper Soup
All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn
White Bean Kale Sausage Soup
Enjoy an extra cozy and extra delicious meal with this White Bean Kale Sausage Soup. Made with a selection of veggies and Italian sausage, it supplies incredible nutrients and a great dose of protein!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cans white beans, divided, drained and rinsed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 6 cups chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 3 cups kale, de-stemmed and chopped small
- fresh parmesan for topping
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook throughout, breaking down into small pieces. Remove from stove with slotted spoon and set aside.
- Cook onions, celery, and carrots in the leftover sausage oil for about 4-5 minutes or until veggies have begun to soften. Then add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add two cans of white beans to the pot, along with salt and pepper. Mix up and then add chicken broth and lemon juice.
- Let boil for 10 minutes over medium heat. Turn off heat.
- Either using an immersion blender or high powered blender, blend soup. You may need to do this in batches but it is also okay to leave some chunks! I like mine a little chunky.
- Pour soup back into dutch oven, turn on medium-low heat.
- Add the sausage back in, and then add in the third can of beans, rosemary, parsley, and kale. Stir and let cook for 10 more minutes.
- Serve and top with parmesan.
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Emma says
Very easy and so yummy! I was initially unsure because I don’t have an immersion blender or full-size blender, but my little magic bullet worked just fine. Will definitely be making again.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emma, so happy you loved it!!
Alexa says
How would you recommend making this vegetarian?
Erin says
Hi Alexa, you can omit the Italian sausage and use a vegetable broth instead. Let me know how yours comes out! 🙂
Erin S says
This was delicious! The rosemary and the lemon took it to another level!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erin, so happy you loved it!!
Elizabeth says
So easy to make, and lots of leftovers to enjoy throughout the week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Elizabeth, so glad you loved it!
Jeanna says
Made this for dinner tonight! SO good!! Thanks Erin
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jeanna, so glad you loved the soup!!
Jeanna says
Made this for dinner tonight! SO good!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jeanna, so happy you loved it!!
Annie says
Delicious! The combination of rosemary, beans, and sausage is wonderful. I added a splash of heavy cream at the end because I had some on hand, which made it a bit more decadent. Thank you!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Annie, so happy you enjoyed it and made it your own! 🙂
Heather says
So yummy! I used beyond sausage and it was just as delicious! xo
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Heather, so happy you loved it and made it your own!!
Danielle says
Thus soup was SO good! So easy to make too! Great for a rainy weekend when you’re looking for comfort food.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Danielle, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Meredith says
The Italian girl in me loves this soup. nothing better than beans and greens! This comes together quickly and is so comforting.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meredith, so glad you loved it!!
Jennifer Oliver says
This looks delicious. Should I add the sausage back at the end when I add the third can of beans?
Erin says
Hi Jennifer, thanks and oops! You are correct – I just fixed this! 🙂
Brittany says
SO good. So much flavor, and bonus is that it’s super easy to make
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Brittany, so glad you loved it!!
Jennifer B says
Yum! I made this for dinner Saturday night and OH EM GEE! So tasty! So delicious! I subbed spinach for the kale because that’s what I had on hand and added extra carrots (because I love them!) It made enough for meal prep lunches for work this week! Thanks for the amazing recipes!!
Erin says
Hi Jennifer, so glad you loved it and great idea! 🙂
Colleen says
So good! Adding to weekly soup rotation:)
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Colleen, so happy you loved it!
Erin S. says
Such a good hearty soup. We loved it!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erin, so happy you loved it!
Hannah says
This will definitely become a staple for me. Hearty and warms the soul. Easy to have most ingredients on hand either in the pantry or freezer so this makes a good last minute meal!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so happy you loved it!
Amy says
This soup is so fresh but tastes so indulgent at the same time! Whips up super easy and had plenty of leftovers for lunches. SO worth it.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Amy, so happy you loved it!
Katie says
This soup is one of my favorites! The crumbled sausage and bean go so well together and the hint of lemon just takes it to the next level. I also love making substitutes like the potato she suggested or throwing in tortellini for another hearty option. You really can’t go wrong. So delicious!
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you loved it!
Haley says
Loved this recipe! Made it in the instant pot and it was delicious! So yummy and perfect for a cold day. Love all your recipes!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Haley, so glad you loved it!!
Kelly S. says
Can this be made in a crockpot?
Erin says
Hi Kelly, yes of course! Brown your sausage first, then add everything to a crock pot and cook for 3-4 hour on high. Let me know how it comes out!