Italian Sausage Bean Soup

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 1-1/2 hours

Makes

8 servings (3 quarts)

Updated: Dec. 27, 2023
In the cold months, I like to put on a big pot of this comforting soup. It cooks away while I do other things, such as baking bread, crafting or even cleaning the house. —Glenna Reimer, Gig Harbor, Washington

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 4 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cup medium pearl barley
  • 1 large carrot, sliced
  • 1 celery rib, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or 1/8 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 6 cups chopped fresh kale

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, cook and stir sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, 6-7 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain.
  2. Stir in the broth, beans, tomatoes, barley, carrot, celery, sage and rosemary. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
  3. Stir in kale; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 339 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 1100mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 11g fiber), 19g protein.