Turkey Sausage Kale Soup (Printable)

Savory turkey sausage and kale with vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth for a filling meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 14 oz turkey sausage, casings removed

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 5 oz fresh kale, stems removed and chopped
07 - 14 oz diced tomatoes, canned or fresh

→ Broth & Legumes

08 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 can (14 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Oils

14 - 1 tbsp olive oil

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add turkey sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
02 - Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté until vegetables soften, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
04 - Pour in diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
05 - Stir in cannellini beans and chopped kale. Continue simmering until kale is tender, about 10 minutes.
06 - Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can have a complete, protein-packed dinner on the table faster than you'd expect.
  • The broth is deeply savory without any cream or butter, so you feel genuinely good eating it.
  • It tastes even better the next day, making it the kind of recipe that works for both tonight and the rest of your week.
02 -
  • Don't skip browning the sausage properly—those caramelized bits are where most of the flavor lives, and rushing through it makes the whole soup taste flat.
  • Kale releases a lot of water as it cooks, so if your soup seems too thin at the end, you can simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to concentrate it.
03 -
  • If you prefer a spicier version, use hot turkey sausage or add extra red pepper flakes, and taste as you go so you don't accidentally make it too fiery.
  • A splash of red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice at the end brightens the whole thing up and makes people ask what your secret ingredient is.

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