Pork Sausage Alternatives
If your family doesn’t eat pork or you want a leaner option, Italian turkey sausage is a great alternative. My family loves this option and uses it in many recipes. Using regular ground turkey or ground beef won’t provide the flavor that Italian sausage does. Italian turkey sausage is a great, slightly healthier option. This soup is very simple and easy to make but is fully of delicious flavors. It is perfect on a chilly day and is bound to make everyone feeling fully and loved.
Cook the sausage. Break it up in a large stock pot and brown it until no pink remains. Add the vegetables and seasonings. Add in onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pot with the sausage. Cook for three minutes. Then add the mushrooms and the kale, cooking it until the kale is bright green. Add the other ingredients. Add the chicken broth and bring the soup to a roaring boil. Then add the pasta and cook for one minute less than what the package says. Lastly, stir in the beans. Season to taste and enjoy! Taste the soup and add more salt and pepper as needed. Enjoy!
Making in the Slow Cooker
This kale and sausage soup comes together on the stovetop in under 30 minutes. It can also be made in the slow cooker. Brown your sausage in a skillet on the stovetop and add it along with all of the other ingredients, except for the pasta, to your crockpot. Cook on low for three and a half hours, then add the dry pasta and turn up to high for 30 minutes.
Use different greens: If you don’t have kale on hand, feel free to swap it out for baby spinach. Adjusting the spice: Instead of a quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes, opt for just a pinch or leave them out entirely if you are sensitive to spice. Besides, you can always add a sprinkle to your own soup bowl later on. Switch up the pasta: Penne pasta noodles are yummy in this soup, however, you can certainly add any shape of pasta you like. Macaroni, bowtie, tortellini, ziti, whole wheat pasta, or even gluten-free pasta will do. Just be sure to follow the directions on the package when cooking your pasta and set your timer for one minute less than what the package recommends. Using other beans: I love to use northern beans in this recipe, which are buttery, tender, and super flavorful. If you need to substitute a different type of beans, don’t use kidney beans. Add extra veggies: More mushrooms, celery, diced green peppers, diced carrots, or tomatoes can be chopped up and added to this kale soup recipe. For an even heartier soup, chop up some red or russet potatoes and add them for a kale soup with potatoes and sausage!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
This soup makes for the most delicious leftovers! It’ll stay nice and fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat just the portion to plan to eat in the microwave on half power or on the stovetop until heated through. Remember, leftovers should only be reheated once. When you are ready to eat it, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Then add the pasta while cooking and simmer until the pasta is al dente. Pasta noodles that are frozen and reheated tend to turn mushy so we skip cooking and freezing them.
Crock Pot Potato Soup Recipe Steak Fajita Soup Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup
