Try making a cozy bowl or two of this Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup that is extremely similar to Zuppa Toscana Soup which is rich in flavor with a creamy broth and super delicious!
If you're craving more delicious soup recipes, then be sure to try making a batch of Italian Sausage and Bean Soup or some Homemade Tomato Soup.
It's that time of year when you just want to snuggle up with a warm bowl of soup.
Am I right?
There is nothing like a cozy bowl of soup. I especially enjoy a comforting bowl of soup from Olive Garden. Especially the Zuppa Toscana Soup which is loaded with potatoes, kale, and sausage. This soup is so delicious, filling, and flavorful. But, when the craving hits, I don't always want to make a trip to the restaurant to pick it up. That's when I opt to make it my own at home version instead.
This recipe is a similar version of the Olive Garden soup and is easy to make with a few basic ingredients. Plus it makes a small amount and only requires a regular saucepan instead of a large stockpot.
Let's get started!
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Chicken Broth - Helps to create the base of the soup, as well as flavor and make the broth rich and smooth. You may also use bone broth or chicken stock if you prefer.
- Heavy Cream - Give the soup broth a thick and creamy texture. Try not to substitute this ingredient with anything else.
- Potato - Try to select a russet potato and leave the skin/peel on and cut into chunks for a rustic and hearty soup. May also use a Yukon gold potato or baby red potatoes as well.
- Kale - Provides a big serving of freshness and greens to the soup. May substitute collard greens or a trio green mixture instead.
- Italian Sausage - Adds a smoky spicy flavor to the soup. Use ground Italian sausage in either mild or spicy whichever you prefer.
- Salt - Seasons the soup and balances the flavors and keeps them from tasting flat. Use any that you prefer.
- Crushed Red Pepper - Give the soup a nice dose of spice without making the soup overly spicy. You may omit this ingredient if you prefer or if you use spicy Italian sausage.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredients and quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
Begin the sausage, potato, and kale soup recipe by cooking the Italian sausage in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until it has browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Once finished drain off as much of the fat residue as you can, there will be some left and that's fine. Remove the sausage from the pan, place it into a small bowl, and set aside.
To the same saucepan used to cook the sausage, still over medium-high heat, add the chicken broth, heavy cream, cut up potato, and fresh kale. Stir to combine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, just enough time for the kale to begin to break down.
Add in the cooked Italian sausage, salt, and crushed red pepper. Stir to combine. Allow it to come to a low boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with a lid.
Allow the soup to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The potato should be fork tender and the kale cooked down (reduced in volume). Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Drain off as much of the oil from the cooked Italian sausage as you can, but it may still end up in the soup. It's perfectly okay and adds little additional flavor to the broth.
- I prefer not to peel the potato, but if you would like to then you may.
- For this recipe, I used mild Italian sausage. However, you may swap it for spicy if you prefer.
- The addition of red pepper flakes is optional, feel free to omit if you prefer less heat.
- This recipe makes 4 cups, about two hefty dinner portions but it can also be divided into four smaller portions or saved for later.
- Before serving the soup, try topping it with some cooked and chopped bacon and grated Parmesan cheese.
Storage
If you have any soup leftovers, then be sure to store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, reheat in a small saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave. This soup is best enjoyed the same day that it's made or a few days after. I do not recommend freezing this particular soup recipe.
📖 Recipe
Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup
Equipment
- 1 medium size saucepan
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground Italian sausage, mild or spicy
- 2 ¾ cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 medium russet potato, with the skin on cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups kale, roughly chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Begin the sausage, potato, and kale soup recipe by cooking the ½ pound Italian sausage in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until it has browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Once finished drain off as much of the fat residue as you can, there will be some left and that's fine. Remove the sausage from the pan, place it into a small bowl, and set aside.
- To the same saucepan used to cook the sausage, still over medium-high heat, add the 2 ¾ cups chicken broth, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 cubed russet potato, and 2 cups fresh kale. Stir to combine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, just enough time for the kale to begin to break down.
- Add in the cooked Italian sausage, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper. Stir to combine. Allow it to come to a low boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with a lid.
- Allow the soup to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The potato should be fork tender and the kale cooked down (reduced in volume). Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Drain off as much of the oil from the cooked Italian sausage as you can, but it may still end up in the soup. It's perfectly okay and adds a little additional flavor to the broth.
- I prefer not to peel the potato, but if you would like to then you may.
- For this recipe, I used mild Italian sausage. However, you may swap it for spicy if you prefer.
- The addition of red pepper flakes is optional, feel free to omit it if you prefer less heat.
- This recipe makes 4 cups, about two hefty dinner portions but it can also be divided into four smaller portions or saved for later.
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
Original post date 11/04/2013. Updated 10/18/2019 and 10/24/2022.
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- Italian Sausage and Bean Soup
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- Hot and Sour Soup
Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to enjoy this Sausage, Kale, and Potato Soup? Please share them in the comments below!
Roxy Sirghi says
Yum! Love me a good zuppa Toscana style soup 🙂
admin says
Thank you Roxy...So do I!