Italian Sausage Potato Soup (Print version)

Savory sausage, bacon, and potatoes simmered with kale in a rich, creamy broth.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casings removed
02 - 4 slices bacon, chopped

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 4 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed and sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
06 - 4 cups fresh kale, stems removed and chopped

→ Liquids

07 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 cup heavy cream

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make:

01 - In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
02 - Add Italian sausage to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add diced onion and cook until softened, approximately 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add sliced potatoes, chicken broth, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
05 - Stir in chopped kale and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until wilted.
06 - Lower heat and pour in the heavy cream. Heat gently until warmed through; do not boil.
07 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with reserved bacon.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, transforming pantry staples into something that tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The cream swirled into the broth at the end creates this luxurious, restaurant-quality depth that feels completely indulgent.
  • Bacon fat becomes your secret weapon here—it anchors every flavor and reminds you why the simple things matter most.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the excess fat after browning the sausage—a little is flavor, but too much makes the soup greasy and heavy.
  • The cream should never boil once it's added or it can separate and look curdled, so keep the heat low and gentle during those final minutes.
03 -
  • Make this soup the day before and refrigerate it—the flavors deepen overnight, and the potatoes stay creamy instead of getting mushy.
  • If your cream threatens to break or curdle, turn off the heat immediately and whisk in a tablespoon of cornstarch slurry to stabilize it, then warm gently again.
Go back