Kielbasa Soup with Kale

#35 in my '30 Minute Meals' series is this one pot Kielbasa Soup with Kale. Made with smoked kielbasa sausage, tender veggies, kale, and rice in a warm pesto broth.

Why You'll Love this Kielbasa & Kale Soup:

• It comes together in just 30 minutes!
• And all in one pot. For less mess and less clean up.
• Comforting yet healthy. This soup is packed with protein and nutritious veggies.

Key Ingredients:

• Kielbasa Sausage: Smoked, pre-cooked sausage is browned before adding to the soup. You can use pork or beef sausage but I love the turkey version as well.
• Carrots, Onions, & Celery: The classic soup base that is sauteed in butter or oil.
• Kale: Adds color, texture, and a boat load of nutrients.
• Rice: To add texture and make this soup much more filling (and even more comforting).
• Pesto: The secret flavor ingredient that ties everything together.

Dietary Swaps:

• Gluten-Free: This soup is naturally gluten-free. Just ensure all store bought ingredients, especially sausage and broth (that's always a sneaky one) are labeled gluten free!
• Dairy-Free: Use a dairy free butter and pesto.
• Low Carb/ Keto: Swap rice for cauliflower rice.
• Vegetarian: Swap kielbasa for plant based sausage, beans, or sauteed mushrooms and use a veggie broth.

Recipe Variations:

• Make it a little Spicy. Use hot smoked sausage and add a few dashes of hot sauce before serving.
• Make it Creamy. Add a splash of heavy cream or whole milk before serving. If dairy-free, I love coconut milk in soups.
• Add extra Veggies. Diced potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, or white beans.

Tips & Recipe Notes:

• Brown the kielbasa before adding it to the soup. Most smoked sausages are labeled pre-cooked, but browning adds so much flavor and texture.
• If soup thickens too much as it simmers, add more broth.
• Store leftover soup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Rice will absorb some of the broth as it sits. Add more broth when reheating.

More 30 Minute Meals You Will Love:

• Stuffed Pepper Soup
• Turkey and Rice Soup
• Beef Cabbage Soup
• Easy Wonton Soup
• Cozy Beef & Rice Soup
• Sausage, Kale, and White Bean Soup

Recipe

Kielbasa Soup with Kale

Made with smoked kielbasa sausage, tender veggies, kale, and rice in a warm pesto broth.

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Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Soup

Servings 4

Calories 380 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon butter divided
• 12 oz kielbasa sausage sliced (I love turkey kielbasa!)
• 1½ cups carrots sliced
• 1 cup yellow onion diced
• 1 rib celery sliced
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup long grain white rice
• 4 cups kale destemmed and rinsed
• 1 -2 tablespoon pesto
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Shredded Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

 

• In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, melt ½ tablespoon butter over medium heat.
• Add kielbasa and cook 6-8 minutes until browned and crispy on the edges. Remove kielbasa from the pot and set aside.
• Melt remaining ½ tablespoon butter in the same pot. Add carrots, onion, and celery. Sauté 5-7 minutes until softened.
• Stir in garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a simmer and cook 5-10 minutes until carrots begin to soften.
• Stir in rice and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add kale and simmer another 5-10 minutes until kale and rice are tender.
• Return kielbasa to the pot. Stir in pesto, starting with 1 tbsp. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Ladle into bowls and top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Notes

• Brown the kielbasa before adding it to the soup. Most smoked sausages are labeled pre-cooked, but browning adds so much flavor and texture.
• If soup thickens too much as it simmers, add more broth.
• Store leftover soup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Rice will absorb some of the broth as it sits. Add more broth when reheating.
• Nutrition values are an approximate only. 

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 22gFat: 18gSodium: 890mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5g

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