Italian Sausage Soup (Printable Version)

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

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound 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 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

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove 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. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 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; do not boil.
07 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with reserved bacon.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, making weeknight dinners feel restaurant-quality without the stress.
  • The bacon and sausage do the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so even if you're not confident in the kitchen, this tastes impressive.
  • One pot means less cleanup, which honestly might be the best part of any recipe.
02 -
  • If you boil the cream or the soup boils after you add it, the cream can break and look curdled—keep that heat low in the final stages and you'll be fine.
  • Draining excess fat after the sausage is optional but changes the soup from rich to decadent, so taste a spoonful first and decide based on your preference.
03 -
  • Slice your potatoes thin and uniform so they cook at the same rate and the soup has that satisfying creamy consistency.
  • Reserve the bacon pieces separately rather than crumbling them into the pot—they stay crispier that way and give each bowl a better textural contrast.
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