This healthy and dairy-free Chicken Sausage and Kale Soup with Potatoes is an easy one-pot meal and a family favorite inspired by the Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana. You’re going to love this hearty and delicious soup!
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Chicken Sausage Soup with Kale and Potatoes
I love using ground chicken in soups, and I'm always making big batches of my Ground Chicken Soup and Chicken Meatball Soup. I also adore the classic Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden, but it’s made with pork sausage and a ton of cream - delicious, but quite heavy. Anyway, I was craving the Toscana soup one day when inspiration struck.
This Italian Chicken Sausage Soup made with kale and potatoes is a lightened up version of the OG classic. It’s made with lean chicken sausage in place of hot Italian sausage and with no dairy at all. The result is a delicious and hearty, healthy one pot meal. It’s an easy, nutritious, family-friendly recipe that’s great for a weeknight meal or weekly meal prep.
Ingredients & substitutions
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Chicken sausage links - fresh and with casings removed. You can use pork sausage if you prefer
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Canned diced tomatoes - diced or petite diced. You can also use diced fresh tomatoes instead of canned
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Baby red potatoes - in quarters or thick slices. Yukon gold or other waxy potato can be used. Avoid starchy potatoes like Russets.
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Onion - white or yellow
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Carrot - diced or sliced
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Fresh garlic - minced
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Low sodium chicken broth - use homemade chicken broth or good quality store bought broth
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Fresh kale - remove stems and tear leaves into pieces. Spinach can be subbed for kale
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Olive oil - extra virgin
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Black pepper - freshly ground
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Salt - to taste, see notes below
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Freshly grated parmesan cheese - for serving
How to Make the Best Chicken Sausage Soup
- Step 1: Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and carrots. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
- Step 2: Remove the sausage from casings and add to the pan. Sprinkle Italian seasoning and cook until sausage is brown, breaking the sausage with a wooden spoon and stirring often. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Step 3: Add the tomatoes, potatoes and chicken broth. Stir and partially cover with a lid. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
- Step 4: Add torn kale leaves and cook for 5 more minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Sausage Soup
Allow the soup to cool to room temp, transfer to an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Tips & Tricks
- Chicken sausage can usually be found next to pork sausage at the grocery store. Regular sweet Italian pork sausage will also work in this recipe.
- Red potatoes can be swapped for yukon golds or any waxy potato (avoid russets as they are too starchy for soups).
- The amount of salt will depend on the kind of broth you use, which is why I didn't provide an exact amount. Just give it a taste and add as much salt as it needs.
- I like to use my homemade Polish chicken broth in brothy soups but good quality low-sodium boxed broth, such as Imagine or Pacific Foods will give you good results, too.
- Add kale or fresh spinach near the end so it doesn't overcook
- Add some white beans or cannellini beans for extra protein.
How to Reheat
Reheat leftover sausage soup over medium or medium high heat for about 5-7 minutes or until heated through completely.
Recipe FAQs
Of course! If you like spicy soups, just add ½ teaspoon (or more, if you prefer) of red pepper flakes with Italian seasoning to the sausage. You can also add more at the end - just taste it first and adjust!
Yes. This recipe can be made with chicken, turkey or pork sausage, both sweet or hot will work.
Most grocery stores carry fresh chicken sausage these days. Look for it near regular pork sausage. Sometimes it’s sold loose (not packaged) at the butcher’s section. Whole Foods has a good selection of chicken sausage - any flavor will work!
I don’t recommend freezing soups with potatoes - it can be tricky because ice crystals break down their structure, making them grainy, mushy, or mealy. That being said, you CAN freeze it. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove.
Recipe
Chicken Sausage Kale Soup
Equipment
- 1 Dutch oven or a pot with a thick bottom
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb chicken sausage fresh
- 1 lb baby red potatoes cut into quarters or thick slices
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 1 medium carrot diced or sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 5 cups low sodium chicken broth homemade or good quality storebought
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cups kale torn into pieces, thick stems removed
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- salt to taste, see notes below
- freshly grated parmesan for serving
- 15 oz canned tomatoes diced or petite diced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add onions and carrots. Cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove chicken sausage from the casings and add to the carrots and onions. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and cook until brown, stirring and breaking the sausage with a wooden spoon often.
- Add minced garlic and cook 1 additional minute, stirring.
- Now add canned tomatoes, potatoes and chicken broth. Stir, partially cover with a lid, turn the heat down to low and cook for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
- Add kale and cook 5 more minutes.
- Taste the broth and season with salt and pepper, as needed.
- Serve immediately with freshly ground parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
More soup recipes
Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Lindsay says
I'm new to kale and always thought you had to cook it a long time, like greens. I didn't know what to expect putting it in soup but it works really well. I'm going to start adding it to more hearty soups.
Amy says
This was really delicious and my daughter is not even a kale fan but finished her whole bowl! That's always a good sign. Love the addition of sausage. What a great idea.
Andrea White says
so flavorful and delicious! yummy!
Freya says
This soup is so delicious and wholesome, almost a stew, and so filling!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
Big kale fan here and always looking for diversity and combinations. Thanks for this recipe!
julie says
THIS LOOKS INSANE! The photography is STUNNING! If I made this for friends they would think I was a top chef! Cannot wait!
Linda says
This soup is so creamy good, flavorful, and perfect for fall.