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Cozy Crockpot Sausage Potato Soup with Kale – Easy & Hearty

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This cozy crockpot sausage potato soup with kale is the kind of meal that makes you close your eyes after the first bite. It’s honest food, the kind that sticks to your ribs and your memory.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or sweet, casings removed)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, diced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cups chopped kale (about one large bunch, stems removed)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Brown the sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until nicely browned and cooked through (about 10 minutes). Transfer the sausage to your slow cooker using a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet with the sausage fat, add the diced onion. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to soften and turn translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape all of this into the slow cooker with the sausage. Deglaze the pan with a splash of the chicken broth, scrape up the browned bits, and pour it all into the slow cooker.
  3. Layer everything in the slow cooker: Add the diced potatoes, dried thyme, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt to the slow cooker. Pour in the remaining chicken broth. Give everything a good stir to combine. The potatoes should be mostly submerged—if not, add a little more broth or water.
  4. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. The soup is ready when the potatoes are fork-tender—they should offer no resistance when pierced with a knife.
  5. Add the kale and cream: Once the potatoes are tender, stir in the chopped kale and heavy cream. Cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes on LOW, just until the kale is tender and bright green. If using Parmesan, stir it in now.
  6. Taste and adjust: Give the soup a taste and adjust the seasoning. It might need a little more salt, a pinch more pepper, or a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten it up.
  7. Serve and enjoy: Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with extra Parmesan, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for heat, or a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with crusty bread for dipping.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the sausage—it creates deep, caramelized flavors. Cut potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes for even cooking. Add kale at the end to keep it vibrant and tender. Let the soup rest for about 10 minutes before serving for best flavor. For a dairy-free version, swap heavy cream for full-fat canned coconut milk and skip the Parmesan.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot soup, sausage potato soup, kale soup, slow cooker soup, hearty soup, comfort food, winter soup

Find it online: https://islatable.com/cozy-crockpot-sausage-potato-soup-with-kale-easy-and-hearty/