Hearty Italian Sausage Soup (Printable)

Savory Italian sausage, bacon, potatoes, and kale in a creamy broth. A comforting classic made simple.

# 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

# How To Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes fancy and restaurant-quality, but the ingredient list won't intimidate you or empty your wallet.
  • The bacon-sausage combination creates this savory depth that makes people ask for seconds before they've finished their first bowl.
  • Potatoes get tender and almost creamy from the broth, while kale adds color and keeps things feeling a little bit virtuous.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the sausage fat—too much fat makes the soup feel greasy on your tongue, and you lose the creamy texture you're after.
  • Adding the cream off-heat or on low heat is non-negotiable; high heat breaks it and gives you a separated, curdled mess instead of that silky finish.
03 -
  • Slice your potatoes thin and uniform so they cook at the same rate—thick pieces will still be hard while thin ones are falling apart.
  • Make this soup on a day when you're not rushed; the aroma alone is worth the 50 minutes, and you'll actually enjoy the cooking process instead of stressing through it.
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