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!

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!

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