Spicy Italian sausage, hearty kale, and creamy butternut squash create a warm and satisfying soup that is perfect for freezing.
One of my favorite quick and healthy dinners in the middle of Winter is a warm bowl of soup. Spicy Italian sausage, hearty beans, creamy butternut squash, and bright green kale are a delicious match made in soup heaven.
The fact that this soup is loaded in vitamins and nutrients is an added bonus (especially during cold and flu season!) Of course, if health benefits are important to you, here are a few you’ll get from this soup:
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Kale contains omega-3 fatty acids which can help alleviate arthritis, fight asthma as well as autoimmune disorders.
Protein-Packed: Thanks to lean turkey sausage and creamy cannellini beans, each serving of this soup provides over 28 grams of protein. Protein and fiber are the key to stabilizing blood sugar levels and staying fuller, longer.
Weight Loss: Each cup of kale provides 5 grams of protein which helps lower cholesterol, aid digestion and improve liver health.
Bone and Eye Health: Vitamin A, calcium, vitamin D and K all help keep your eyes healthy and bones strong.
Soup is not only freezer friendly but tastes even better the next day for lunch. Whenever we make soup, I make a second batch to pop in the freezer or save for busy weekday lunches.
Here are a few of our favorite soups:
- Sweet and Smoky Turkey Chili
- Lemony Chicken Soup with Greens
- Slow Cooker Lentil Soup with Bacon
- Vegetable Beef and Barley Soup
When browning the sausage, don’t be afraid of a little color! The longer it browns, the more it caramelizes which means more flavor when you deglaze the pan with chicken broth. The amount of salt needed will vary depending on the brand of sausage, chicken broth, and beans that you use so season accordingly.
Can you use any type of squash in soup?
Yes!
Where can you get pre-chopped squash and kale?
If your local grocery store doesn’t stock them check Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.
Your spoon is waiting.
Sausage, Kale and Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 3 Italian turkey sausage links – uncooked (spicy or sweet)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 red pepper (seeded and diced)
- 8 cups chicken broth (low sodium or homemade)
- 3 cups butternut squash (peeled and cut in 1/2 in. cubes)
- 4 cups kale (roughly chopped)
- 14 oz cannelini beans (drained and rinsed)
- salt and pepper to taste
- Parmigiano reggiano (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil non-stick spray. Remove sausage from casings and add to pot.
- Brown sausage for 7-8 minutes using a potato masher or wooden spoon to break into bite-sized pieces.
- Add garlic, diced onion and red pepper to pan (as well as a pinch of salt and pepper) and cook until softened, about 5-6 minutes.
- When sausage is nicely browned add broth to pan using a wooden spoon to scrape up all of the delicious brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Raise heat to high then bring soup to a boil. Add butternut squash cubes and cook for 15-20 minutes or until softened.
- Five minutes before serving, add kale and beans. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with freshly grated Parmigiano reggiano if you wish.
Notes
Nutrition
Find more healthy soup recipes on my Pinterest boards!
I followed the recipe to a “T” except used German sausage instead of Italian and spiced with pepper, pepper flakes, dill, celery and caraway seed as well as 2 cups of diced tomatoes. It was phenomenal!!!
Was searching for a butternut squash soup and was so happy I found this recipe! Love it and will make again, it was great for the cold snowy evening. I didn’t have chicken or turkey sausage but had sweet Italian sausage and also added about a half teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes so it had a little heat. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!
Great! I topped it with a small bit of sour cream and nutmeg! Yeah, nutmeg sounds crazy,but it works on squash soup! So simple to make, put in a pot and let it cook the rest.
Thank you
Oh that sounds heavenly!!!!
This was super easy and yummy and I know it will be even better tomorrow once the flavors have more time to blend. Thank you
Oh yes it’s great the next day!
I want to make this for my husband, but he isn’t a fan of kale.. what else do you suggest i use?
Spinach is great!!
Wonderfully easy & delish! Green chiles added mild heat.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
2 lbs of sausage, one squash, two cans of beans. Didnt have any red peppers. This came out great. Finally a butternut Squash soup that isnt baby food! I added farfalle too
I’m so happy!
Can you use any type of squash in this? I have delicata and butter cup on hand would either of those work? Thanks!
Yes totally!! Enjoy!
I just made this recipe today and it was so easy and tasty!
I took the advice of others and made some minor changes:
1. I used spicey chicken italian sausages, so I did not add the red pepper.
2. I used half chicken stock and half vegetable broth because that’s what I had on hand.
3. Added some McCormick’s Tuscan seasoning (Blend of marjoram, rosemary, etc).
4. I used frozen cubed butternut squash because I’m lazy. ;)
This made enough for the next work week’s worth of lunches (and maybe a little extra). Add a slice of toasted sourdough and a small salad, and you’re eating like a king.
Thanks for sharing!
Love all the changes you made!!! It sound so good – especially the spicy sausage!!
Did not have Cannelloni beans so thew in some pearled barley. Excellent soup!
What an awesome idea!!! Love barley!
This soup was easy, delicious and satisfying. Just the thing after Thanksgiving indulgence.
I added Italian seasonings also and roasted the squash while I cooked the sausage, onion and pepper.
So glad you enjoyed it Jill!
I had kale, I had butternut squash and I wanted soup, so I did a Google search and this popped up. So freaking good and so easy! This will be one of my favorites.
Oh I’m so happy you enjoyed it Joan!!! Let me know if you try any other recipes of mine!!
This exceeded my expectations! I used very spicy Italian sausageskoi and added a bit of extra garlic – everyone I made it for thought it was delicious:-)
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!!
I realize I’m a late commenter, but I had to show my love for this soup! It’s fall and a cool 93 degrees in Alabama, but I’ve been craving a healthy squash soup. This was an awesome, easy recipe. I did add some herbs (bay leaf, rosemary, some red pepper flakes, and fresh sage), but this soup is a delicious combo that fills you up without weighing you down. My only complaint…the blister I got while hacking up the squash lol. Love it!!
I’m so glad you loved it!! Love how you spiced it up too!! Oh man sorry about the blister!! Let me know if you make anything else. :)
This soup is great! I like the additional herbs you added. I may try that the next go-around.
That makes me so happy!! Glad you enjoyed Carissa!
My 8 yr old & 10 yr old requested this for dinner tonight, as it is “the best soup ever”! I’ve made it for about 3 years now – especially good when made with squash from our garden & I love to use maple sausage – the soup has perfect blend of flavors. Thank you for this recipe!
Oh my gosh I am so happy to hear this!!!! My boys love it too – great reminder to make it again!!!
I made this last weekend and at first I really wasn’t sure. The soup just tasted kind of odd. However, I came back to it after two days in the fridge, and it is wonderful! I guess the flavors just need some time to meld.
I did use regular spicy pork Italian sausage, 5 links (whole package), and no beans. It made a good 8 servings too, not the 4 like the recipe said.
I’ll make it again for sure, but just plan on eating it a day or two later LOL. Thanks!
Ah interesting – I’ve never done it without the beans. Glad you found a way to like it!
Thank you for this recipe, getting ready to cook it now. It’s exacty the combination I was looking for today.
I hope you enjoy it!!
This is probably the grossest thing I have eaten in a long time. We just threw it all out, which I hate because I hate wasting food and money.
Oh no I’m so sorry you didn’t care for it! We make this and eat it all the time!
I’m curious how someone can look at a recipe and *not* figure out in advance whether or not they might enjoy it, based on the ingredients?
Hi Taza – I’m not sure what you’re referring to – but I’m with you! :)
WOW, this is incredible soup! I made a batch last night – added a little bit of coriander and a couple shakes of poultry seasoning for a touch of extra jazz. It was perfect, and I’m eating it for lunch right now. All ingredients were purchased at Trader Joe’s – the pre-chopped squash and kale were huge time savers. This is the easiest recipe for such an outstanding result – complex flavors, filling, healthy. I’ve got your Chicken Tikka Masala in my slow cooker now. Excited to try more of your recipes!
Oh I’m so glad you liked it!!!!