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Home ยป Recipes ยป Main Dishes

Modified: May 30, 2023 ยท Published: Oct 24, 2022 by LaKita ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup {Small Batch}

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finished soup in a saucepan on a marble surface
single bowl of soup beside a spoon

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.

single bowl of soup beside a spoon

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!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients You'll Need
  • Step By Step Instructions
  • Recipe Tips & Tricks
  • Storage
  • ๐Ÿ“– Recipe
  • More Recipes You'll Love

Ingredients You'll Need

overhead view of ingredients needed to make soup recipe
  1. 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.
  2. Heavy Cream - Give the soup broth a thick and creamy texture. Try not to substitute this ingredient with anything else.
  3. 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.
  4. Kale - Provides a big serving of freshness and greens to the soup. May substitute collard greens or a trio green mixture instead.
  5. Italian Sausage - Adds a smoky spicy flavor to the soup. Use ground Italian sausage in either mild or spicy whichever you prefer.
  6. Salt - Seasons the soup and balances the flavors and keeps them from tasting flat. Use any that you prefer.
  7. 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.

cooked Italian sausage in saucepan

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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.

kale, potato, broth, and cream added to a saucepan

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.

cooked sausage, salt, and pepper added to saucepan to make soup

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!

finished soup in saucepan after cooking

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.

๐Ÿ“– Recipe

finished soup in a saucepan on a marble surface

Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup

LaKita Anderson
Try making a cozy bowl or two of this Potato, Kale, and Sausage Soup that is similar to Zuppa Toscana Soup which is rich in flavor with a creamy broth and super delicious!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 621 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 medium size saucepan

Ingredients
  

  • ยฝ pound ground Italian sausage, mild or spicy
  • 2 ยพ cups chicken broth
  • ยผ cup heavy cream
  • 1 medium russet potato, with the skin on cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups kale, roughly chopped
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • ยผ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Instructions
 

  • Begin the sausage, potato, and kale soup recipe by cooking the ยฝ 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 ยพ cups chicken broth, ยผ 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, ยฝ teaspoon salt, and ยผ 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.
ย 
Calories: 621kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 23gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 2662mgPotassium: 1056mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 7212IUVitamin C: 71mgCalcium: 238mgIron: 4mg

The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

Keyword potato kale sausage soup, zuppa toscana
Tried This Recipe?Leave a comment below or tag @simplylakita on social!

Original post date 11/04/2013. Updated 10/18/2019 and 10/24/2022.

close up of a single bowl of soup

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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!

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Comments

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Roxy Sirghi says

    April 07, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Yum! Love me a good zuppa Toscana style soup ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 08, 2014 at 3:30 am

      Thank you Roxy...So do I!

      Reply
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Hi, I'm LaKita. I'm a Lifelong home cook and self-taught baker. I've been sharing modern comfort food through food blogging, recipe development, and photography since 2013.

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