Sausage Kale and White Bean Soup
Loaded with fresh vegetables, fiber rich beans, and slightly spicy sausage, this sausage kale and white bean soup is an easy way to nourish your body and soothe your soul in a way that only soup can.
Not to be a negative Nelly but I have to l be honest with you- there are not a whole lot of things that I love about the winter. It’s too cold. It gets dark early. The air is dry. The sun is visible only part of the time. Every winter, I find myself waiting for the longer days and warmer temperatures of the summer.
While the spring and summer months have my heart, a few things that I do love about the winter are 1) lighting my fireplace, 2) oversized sweaters and 3) all of the delicious soup recipes that I know I will be enjoying for dinners that warm the soul like this delicious sausage kale and white bean soup.
This soup comes together in under an hour, is loaded with fresh vegetables and fiber filled beans, and has just the right amount of spice from spicy Italian sausage to make every bite a flavor filled bite. While most soup pots come out in the winter, you may be enjoying this soup recipe all year long!
Let’s get to the recipe:
Why you’ll love this sausage kale and white bean soup:
I think you’re going to love this veggie loaded soup because it is:
Filled with family friendly flavors: I successfully got my toddler to bite into this soup and I feel like that’s a win for any veggie loaded meal! While you may want to sub the spicy Italian sausage for mild, the rest of this soup is very family friendly and full of soft veggies.
Easy to make: This soup comes together in one pot and will be ready to enjoy in less than 1 hour making it an easy recipe to keep on hand for busy weeknights!
Loaded with veggies: Kale, celery, onions, and carrots all simmered together with flavorful herbs for a veggie loaded bite make this soup as nutritious as it is delicious.
High in fiber: I skipped the noodles and added two cans of fiber filled cannellini beans instead to make this a high fiber soup recipe. Plus, the beans add a boost of plant based protein and a nice texture that is thicker than normal soup but thinner than potato soup!
Protein rich: With spicy Italian sauce and the plant based protein from the beans, this soup has a protein content that will actually keep you full. If you want more protein, you could always swap your chicken broth for bone broth as well.
My entire family loves this delicious soup recipe and I think you and your family will too!
Ingredients you’ll need:.
To make this kale and white bean soup with sausage you’ll need:
Spicy Italian Sausage: You could swap for mild if you want to avoid the spice but I highly recommend using the spicy option.
Kale: Use curly kale or lacinato kale for this recipe. You’ll want it finely chopped with stems removed to ensure that it softens up enough in the broth.
White beans: I used cannellini beans which have a firmer texture and stay together better in the simmering broth but you could also use great northern beans.
Onion: Finely diced.
Celery and carrots: Subtle flavor additions in most soups and they are delicious in this soup as well.
Chicken broth: You could use bone broth if you wanted a higher protein content.
Garlic: Can you make a delicious soup if you don’t add garlic? Personally, I think not.
Butter: Sub for oil of your choice or skip all together if preferred.
Seasonings: The seasonings are key to this soup so don’t skip them! You will need garlic powder, onion powder, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, dried thyme, and fresh thyme. If you want to add extra spice then you could also sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.
Optional toppings: Top this soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese and some fresh thyme!
That’s all you’ll need for this easy soup recipe!
Step by Step Instructions:
Beyond a soups versatility and opportunity to be loaded with nutritious vegetables, I love that most soups only dirty one dish and require minimal clean up. This soup is no different!
Here’s how you’ll make it:
1) Heat your soup pot over medium heat then brown your spicy Italian sausage until it is fully cooked through (about 10-12 minutes). Once it is fully cooked, remove the cooked sausage from the soup pot, place it on a plate, and set aside for now.
LTN Tip: I personally add a paper towel to the plate that I am going to put the sausage on to help absorb some of the grease which will cut down on fat and calories (but also some flavor and richness) in this recipe. Your choice!
2) Once your sausage has been set aside, place your used soup pot back (don’t wipe it out!) on the stove and add your butter, diced celery, diced carrots, minced garlic, and chopped onions. Sauté until your veggies are softened and fragrant (about 5 minutes).
3) After your veggies have sautéed for 5 minutes then add your chicken broth, water (or more broth), beans, cooked sausage, and seasonings to your pot. Bring the broth to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes (check in after 10 minutes to stir and add your chopped kale).
4) After your soup has been simmering for 10 minutes, give it a stir and add in your chopped kale. Place the lid back on the soup pot and simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until your kale has softened.
5) Scoop your soup into bowls and top with shredded parmesan cheese and fresh thyme. Enjoy!
Swaps, substitutions, and serving suggestions:
This kale and white bean soup with spicy sausage is super easy to make, super nutritious, and super delicious on it’s own but you could get creative with the recipe by:
Swapping your proteins: I think the spicy sausage is key to this soup but you could definitely swap it out for cooked chicken, ground beef, or thick cut sausage chunks as well. Remember that adding bone broth instead of chicken broth is another way to boost the protein.
Keep it plant based: If you want this to be a plant-based soup then I would swap the meat for and extra can of beans, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and sub the butter for an oil of choice. You can leave off the parmesan toppings and mix in nutritional yeast for a cheese flavor.
Use a different green: If you do not have kale on hand or are typically not a fan of kale then 1) I think you should still try this recipe because the kale softens really nicely and 2) you could definitely use chopped spinach instead of kale.
Add other vegetables: The soup world is your oyster when it comes to which ingredients you add, especially the vegetables! If you have veggies that are beyond snack potential in the back of your fridge, chop them up and add them to your soup for a boost in nutrition and less food waste.
Change your seasonings: The Italian seasonings in this recipe are delicious and really brighten up the flavor of the vegetables but you could add your own twist on this soup by swapping them out for seasoned salt, smokey paprika, pepper, and more savory seasoning options.
The options are endless and I recommend serving this with a side of buttered sourdough or even some delicious cornbread if you are looking for some side pairings.
No matter how you choose to fill your bowl, this sausage kale and white bean soup will quickly become a family favorite. If you try it, be sure to tag me on instagram @nutrition.at.its.roots so I can see!
Recipe FAQ:
Do I have to use water?
No, you do not! If you want your soup to be even thicker than this recipe, you can skip adding the extra liquid or you can keep the same amount of liquid and use additional chicken broth instead of water.
Is spicy Italian sausage a healthy protein option?
As a processed meat that is higher in fat content, spicy sausage is certainly not the protein that I would be reaching for every single day but that doesn’t mean it cannot fit into a healthy diet. It still has protein and nutrient dense calories to offer your body!
When consumed in moderation and especially when it’s included in plant-forward recipes like this sausage kale and white bean soup, I think that spicy sausage can certainly be included on a healthy plate.
How long can I store this soup?
These leftovers will stay good in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days which makes it perfect for meal prep!
Other easy dinner recipes to try:
If you love the convenience of one-pot soup recipe then you’ll probably love some of these other dinner recipes I have on the blog that come together quickly and are easy to make:
Creamy Potato and Bean Soup
Marry Me Chicken Orzo (Crockpot!)
BBQ Chicken Flatbread
.
One Pot Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
Crockpot Salsa Verde Shredded Pork
Tuscan Chicken and Orzo
Sausage Kale and White Bean Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
- Warm a large soup pot over medium heat and brown your sausage until fully cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove the sausage and set aside on a plate. (could put a paper towel on the plate to absorb some of the grease.)
- To the same soup pot add your butter, celery, onions, garlic, and carrots and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add your chicken broth, water, beans, seasonings, and sausage then bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, adding your finely chopped kale in the last 10 minutes of simmering before serving. Allow the kale to fully cook down.
- Ladle your soup into bowls and top with parmesan cheese and fresh thyme. Enjoy!
*All nutrition information has been approximated. Results may vary depending on brands used and serving size.
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Hey! I’m Lauren
I’m a Registered Dietitian and busy toddler mom committed to bringing you delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes!