20-Minute Spicy Sausage & Kale Soup
When the weather turns chilly, there is absolutely nothing better than a warm bowl of soup. But let’s be honest, we don’t always have hours to let a soup simmer on the stove. This 20-Minute Spicy Sausage & Kale Soup is the ultimate weeknight hero. It delivers deep, slow-cooked flavor in a fraction of the time, making it the perfect comforting dinner for busy evenings.
Love this? You should also try our Classic Soft Peanut Butter Cookies!
Building Flavor Fast
Because this soup comes together so quickly, we rely on high-impact ingredients. The spicy Italian sausage does heavy lifting here, infusing the broth with fennel, garlic, and red pepper flakes. If you aren’t a fan of spice, you can easily substitute mild or sweet Italian sausage, but I highly recommend keeping the spicy version for that beautiful warming heat!
Tips for the Perfect Soup
Make sure you thoroughly remove the tough stems from your kale before chopping. The leaves will wilt beautifully in the hot broth, but the stems will remain woody and unpleasant. For an even richer broth, you can deglaze the pot with a splash of dry white wine right after browning the sausage and onions, letting it reduce before adding the chicken broth.
Ingredients
Method
- In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, brown the spicy Italian sausage over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the Italian seasoning. Bring the soup to a rapid simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and chopped kale. Let it simmer for 5 minutes until the kale is tender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot with crusty bread.