White Bean Sausage soup is so hearty and comforting! It's loaded with bites of Italian sausage, kale, pasta, and white beans.
Busy weeknights call for easy dinners, and this healthy soup recipe is just what you need to get you through those busy nights. It can be made on top of the stove or in an Instant Pot in less than an hour.
One big bowl of this soup is all you need for a nutritious and filling dinner. If you want to add extra veggies, serve it with a zesty arugula salad.
Recipe Highlights
- It's Healthy! Full of nutritious vegetables.
- It's quick and easy, dinner that can be on the table in less than an hour.
- It's budget-friendly.
Here is What You Will Need
This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil (1 tablespoon)
- Italian Sausage (½ pound)
- ¾ cup chopped onions
- Chicken broth (4 cups)
- Chopped Kale (4 cups)
- White Beans (1 ½ cups)
- Garlic (4 cloves)
- Carrots (1 cup chopped, about 3)
- Small pasta shells (½ cup)
Equipment
- Vegetable Knife
- Soup Pot or Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
Here is How To Make White Bean Sausage Soup with Kale
Brown the sausage, onions, garlic and carrots in a soup pot over medium to high heat.
TIP! If you are using sausage links remove the casing before browning the sausage by gently slicing it into the casing lengthwise and peeling the casing off.
Once the vegetables begin to soften, add the broth and the pasta.
Once the pasta is cooked, add the white beans and kale.
Cook for a few minutes longer until the kale wilts.
How to Make it in a Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
The steps to make white bean sausage soup in an instant pot are very similar to making it on top of the stove. The only difference is that the pressure cooker method takes about 10 minutes less time.
Set your pressure cooker to saute and cook the sausage, onions and garlic.
Add the broth and pasta; set the pressure cooker to medium pressure for 8 minutes.
After 8 minutes, carefully quick-release the pressure cooker and add the kale and white beans. Cover to allow for the kale to wilt and the beans to heat through (about 5 minutes).
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Italian Sausage. The sausage adds a ton of flavor to this soup. You can use spicy or mild pork, turkey or chicken sausage in this recipe.
Chicken Broth. Can be substituted with an equal amount of vegetable broth.
Fresh Kale. Any variety of kale will work in this recipe. My preference is Lacinato or Russian Kale.
Kale substitutes. Fresh spinach, arugula, or escarole may be used in place of the kale in this soup recipe.
White Beans. Canned or dried beans that have been cooked will work in this recipe.
White Bean Substitutes. Kidney beans, baby lima beans, chickpeas or fava beans are good substitutes for white beans in this recipe. If you don't care for beans, they can be left out.
Pasta. Any shape of small pasta such as small pasta shells, elbow, ditalini, or rotini tastes great in this soup.
Make a gluten-free white bean kale soup. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta or leave the pasta out and add one medium diced potato with the vegetables.
Make-Ahead Instructions
White bean and sausage soup can be made ahead of time by following the entire recipe but leave the pasta out. Just before serving, heat the soup on top of the stove over medium heat and prepare the pasta according to the package directions.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and add the cooked pasta.
Storing and Using Leftovers
Refrigerate it. Leftover sausage kale soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freeze it. Leftover soup can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Here's how: once the soup has cooled off, place it into a freezer-safe container.
Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat it on top of the stove over medium heat or in the microwave.
Have you Tried These Soup Recipes?
Click on serving size to scale this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ pound hot Italian sausage
- 4 cups [chicken broth]
- 4 cups chopped kale
- 1 ½ cups [white beans]
- 4 cloves of garlic chopped
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- ½ cup or your favorite soup pasta
Instructions
- Sausage and Kale Soup Stove-Top Method
- Use a vegetable knife to roughly chop the kale, onions and garlic.
- Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the oil.
- Once the oil in the pan is hot, add the sausage and brown it. Once the sausage begins to turn brown, add the onions, garlic and carrots; cook until they begin to soften (3 to 5 minutes).
- Add the broth and pasta and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the kale and beans. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes longer.
- Sausage and Kale Soup In the Pressure Cooker
- Use a vegetable knife to chop the kale, onions and garlic.
- Set the pressure cooker to saute, and add the oil.
- Once the oil is hot add the sausage and cook it until it begins to turn brown and add the carrots, garlic and onions
- Press the cancel button and add the broth and pasta.
- Cover the pressure cooker and set to pressure to medium and cook time to 8 minutes.
- Once the soup has cooked, carefully quick-release the pressure and add the kale and beans,
- Cover and allow the soup to sit on warm until kale wilts and beans are heated through.
Notes
- Vegetable broth can be used in place of chicken broth
- Kale can be substituted with an equal amount of baby spinach or escarole
- Sprinkle sausage and kale soup with fresh grated Parmesan cheese just before serving
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
Jean says
Such a hearty and comforting looking soup! Can't wait to try this.
Kelly says
What a wonderful winter soup. It's a good one pot meal!
anne says
Thank you Kelly! It really is a meal in a pot!
Tessa Simpson says
Simple perfection, tis soup is so right up my alley! I might add a parm rind while i simmer it!
Irena Macri says
Yum! This stunning and simple combo is truly one of my favorite comfort foods. Looks so lovely, perfect way to get in some winter greens when the produce lull is kicking in.
anne says
Thank you Irena! It's a good way to enjoy kale!
Raia Todd says
Love the kale and bean combo! So delicious and comforting.
Joni Gomes says
Love a good sausage, kale and bean soup! The addition of pasta makes it so filling!
paleoglutenfreeguy says
Love how hearty and comforting this looks! Perfect for this time of year.
Hope says
This looks very hearty and nourishing Anne! Love it!
ChihYu says
What a lovely comfort meal for cold windy days!
Annemarie says
I love one pot meals like this! I bet it tastes so good with spicy sausage.
Sara says
Looks delicious! I love soups this time of year!!
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! says
This is such perfect comfort food, and I just love how simple it is too!
Laura Duffy says
Great combo of flavors in this hearty soup. Yum!
Zuzana says
Love the mix of beans and kale together. Need to make this next time.
Leslie says
Perfect winter soup! Hearty and nutritious! I think my family would love this!