Description
A quick, one-pot weeknight dinner that combines Italian sausage, white beans, and kale in a savory broth. It’s budget-friendly, meal-prep ready, and tastes like it simmered for hours despite taking only 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed if using links)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cans (15oz each) white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), rinsed and drained
- 2 cups kale, chopped (stems removed)
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 1 can (14oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice onion, carrots, and celery; mince garlic; chop kale.
- Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a splash of olive oil if using lean sausage.
- Add the crumbled Italian sausage and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until browned and crispy in spots. Remove sausage to a plate if using a skillet, or leave in pot.
- In the same pot, add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until onions are translucent.
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Add broth, dried oregano, and Parmesan rind (if using).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Add the drained white beans and stir. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped kale and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted and tender.
- Remove Parmesan rind. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot with crusty bread and optional toppings like Parmesan cheese or olive oil.
Notes
Brown the sausage well for deep flavor. Rinse canned beans to remove metallic taste. Simmer gently to keep beans intact. Add kale at the end to prevent mushiness. Soup tastes better the next day. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 22
Keywords: sausage soup, white bean soup, kale soup, weeknight dinner, one pot meal, comfort food, Italian soup, easy dinner, meal prep