Italian Sausage Soup (Printable Version)

Creamy, hearty soup with Italian sausage, bacon, potatoes, and kale ready in under an hour.

# Components:

→ 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

# Method Steps:

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, approximately 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 15–20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
05 - Stir in chopped kale and simmer for 3–4 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 but tastes like you've been cooking all afternoon.
  • The crispy bacon and sausage create layers of flavor that make this feel restaurant-worthy without pretension.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and forgiving—perfect for feeding a crowd or just yourself on a rough day.
02 -
  • Don't skip the bacon step—those drippings carry flavor that vegetable oil simply can't match, and the crispy bacon on top is the textural surprise that makes people ask for seconds.
  • Thin-sliced potatoes make all the difference; they cook through quickly and soak up the broth instead of staying dense and starchy in the center.
03 -
  • Make this soup a day ahead if you can—the flavors deepen overnight, and you only have to reheat it gently before serving.
  • A Dutch oven holds heat better than a regular pot and gives you more even cooking, but any large soup pot works perfectly fine.
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