Ingredients
1 pound spicy Italian ground sausage (or use mild for a kid-friendly version)
4 tablespoons butter
½ white onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
4–5 yellow potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups heavy cream
4 cups chopped kale
chopped bacon or bacon bits for optional toppings
grated parmesan cheese for optional toppings
Instructions
1-First, prepare all ingredients by dicing the 4-5 yellow potatoes into 1-inch pieces, chopping the 4 cups of kale, and mincing the 1 tablespoon of garlic and dicing the ½ white onion.
2-In a large pot over medium heat, brown the 1 pound of Italian sausage until it’s cooked through, breaking it into small pieces for about 5-6 minutes, then transfer to a plate and set aside. For vegan or low-calorie options, use plant-based sausage or turkey sausage instead.
3-In the same pot, add the 4 tablespoons of butter and sauté the ½ diced white onion over medium heat until it’s translucent, about 3-4 minutes, then add the 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.
4-Add the 6 cups of chicken broth, 2 cups of water, the diced 4-5 yellow potatoes, 3 teaspoons of salt (or to taste), and 1 teaspoon of black pepper, then bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, which takes about 15-20 minutes.
5-Stir in the 4 cups of chopped kale and 2 cups of heavy cream, then add the reserved sausage back into the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the kale wilts.
6-Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, then serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped bacon or bacon bits and grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
🌶️ If using regular ground sausage, add 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to mimic spicy Italian sausage.
🧂 Use unsalted butter and adjust salt at the end to control sodium levels.
🥬 Substitute baby spinach for kale or use lean chicken/turkey sausage and plant-based cream for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 833 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 3849 mg
- Fat: 76 g
- Saturated Fat: 38 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 246 mg
