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Cozy Slow Cooker White Bean and Kale Soup

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A hearty and warm slow cooker soup featuring Italian sausage, white beans, and kale, perfect for chilly winter nights. Easy to prepare with simple ingredients and packed with comforting flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (spicy or sweet)
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini or great northern white beans, drained and rinsed (or 1 cup dried, soaked overnight)
  • 4 cups chopped kale (about 4 ounces), tough stems removed
  • 1 medium onion, diced (yellow or white)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer sausage to slow cooker, leaving some rendered fat in skillet.
  2. In the same skillet, add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5-6 minutes. Add minced garlic in the last minute to avoid burning. Transfer vegetables to slow cooker.
  3. Add drained white beans, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours to allow flavors to meld and beans to soften.
  5. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in chopped kale. It will wilt but remain vibrant and slightly chewy.
  6. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. If soup is too thick, add more broth or water to reach desired consistency.

Notes

Brown the sausage first to add caramelized flavor. Add kale in the last 30 minutes to keep texture. Season at the end as slow cooking mellows saltiness. For dried beans, soak overnight and increase cooking time to 8 hours or until tender. Stir halfway through cooking if possible. To thicken soup, mash some beans before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, white bean soup, kale soup, Italian sausage soup, winter soup, easy slow cooker recipe, hearty soup

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/cozy-slow-cooker-white-bean-and-kale-soup-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-winter/