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This super simple Smoky Potato and Kale Soup is the perfect cold-weather dinner…great for nights when you’re craving something warming. Spanish sausage simmered in a garlicky smoked paprika broth with potatoes, kale, a touch of lemon, and Manchego cheese. Serve each steaming bowl of soup with crusty bread. It’s hearty, full of greens, and so delicious. Great for just about any night of the week. And the leftovers the next day make for the best lunch!
I am always on the lookout for new and exciting recipes this time of year. Ideally, they should be pretty simple to make and able to feed the family. Because when everyone is in town for the holidays I need dinners they’ll all enjoy. I’m sure many of you can relate. With our family getting bigger there are even more people to feed over the holidays, so new (and simple) dinners are a must.
I’ll make pasta bakes or quick all-in-one skillet dinners, those are easily my go-to kind of recipes. But every other dinner or so, I like to switch it up and throw everyone a curveball…with lots of delicious flavor. Which is kind of where this soup comes in.
It’s inspired a bit by last year’s Pesto Zuppa Toscana, a bit by my love of smoked paprika, and of course by my family. With two of my brothers especially in mind today!
I have seen a lot of sausage, kale, and potato soups over the last few months. Most are made with Italian ingredients like my Zuppa Toscana. But I’ve seen a handful made with Spanish ingredients, one of which was a smoked paprika and garlic soup I saw on Food and Wine. The deep red broth just looked so good that I started googling and doing some research on soups made with smoked paprika.
And that’s when I come across Caldo Verde Soup, the “official” soup of Portugal. It’s a very simple soup made of smoked sausage and potatoes. But it seems to be made in a variety of ways. Some use tomatoes or tomato paste. Some have greens, and no smoked paprika, and then some don’t have any tomatoes at all. Since the smoked paprika in the broth of the soup excited me the most, I decided to go that route. Including smoked sausage, plenty of potatoes, and kale too!
I tried a few variations, but the one I’m sharing today is my obvious favorite. It’s the simplest to put together, but the flavor is still incredible. For me, it’s all about that smoked paprika in the broth.
First off, you can make this one of three ways, on the stove, in the instant pot, or in the slow cooker. Either way is great, but I’m keeping it basic and walking you through the stove-top version.
The awesome thing about this recipe is that it takes no effort to make and requires just one pot.
You’ll want to start with the sausage. When I was testing this, I tried three varieties, but we all enjoyed the smoked Spanish chorizo the best. You can easily find Spanish chorizo at most grocery stores, Whole Foods (which is where I got mine), and I believe Trader Joe’s.
If you can’t get Spanish chorizo, a spicy chorizo or smoky andouille sausage will also be great!
And lastly, with all that said, if you’re a meat-free kind of person, you can omit the sausage all together. Just add more paprika and a touch more cayenne to keep the soup flavorful.
Alright, moving along.
Crisp the sausage up along with an onion. Add in smoked paprika and lots of fresh garlic (very key here, so don’t skimp on the garlic…unless you really don’t love garlic). You really need to use smoked paprika for this. It’s what makes this soup so delicious and gives it that beautiful red color. Cook everything together for a bit to help intensify those flavors. Then toss in the potatoes, add the broth, and simmer until those potatoes get nice and tender.
To thicken the soup, you can puree some of the potatoes or mash them down with a fork. It’s not needed, but if you want a creamy soup, give the potatoes a mash. Then stir in all the kale and just a splash of cream.
I finish each bowl with a sprinkling of sharp Manchego cheese and fresh oregano. Neither are traditional, but both are very delicious additions.
Pretty simple, but they add so much flavor and color to this warming bowl of soup.
I’ve already served this up to my brother Creighton and my dad, they loved every last spoonful. My dad said it’s the smoky broth with the crispy sausage…and the greens…that make this soup perfect.
Oh, and the cheese on top too. If you know my dad, you know he’s always down for some cheese…actually, a lot of cheese.
It’s safe to say, I’m already excited to make this for the rest of my family over the holidays. I know so many of us are celebrating with small groups this year. This is even more reason to try some new recipes like this soup!
My only request is that you serve this with some really good crusty bread. This broth deserves a good bread for dipping and dunking on the side.
Looking for other simple wintery soups? Here are my favorites:
Creamy French Onion and Mushroom Soup
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips
Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup
Lastly, if you make this Smoky Potato and Kale Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Very flavourful soup! Substituted turkey sausage with good success. Delicious.
Love to hear that!! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! xT
Good but too much smoked paprika. I’d cut that in half
Hi Taylor,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! Sorry about the paprika! xx
This is my favorite soup!! I’ve made it probably at least 6 or so times now over the last few months. Such a different and refreshing flavor profile 🙂
I’ve made this with both chorizo and spicy Italian sausage, and it’s great either way! A slice of fresh toasted sourdough with olive oil on the side with this is life changing. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Hey Rachael,
Fantastic!! So glad to hear that this recipe is always a hit, thanks for making it so often and sharing what works well for you:)
Making this tonight! Looks so delicious!
Do you peel the potatoes or leave the skin on?
Thanks so much Christine! I like to leave the skin on my potatoes:) I hope you love this recipe! xT
I made this soup while sick with a sinus infection, and it was perfect! Good spice which helped my dulled taste buds and helped my sinuses, too. Generally just delicious! Thank you.
Hey Kate,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Have a great Wednesday! xx
I am a 31 year old woman with high functioning autism who just got into cooking about 2 years ago after researching and finding your website online. I tried this recipe out tonight since I love any soup with kale in it and found it to be a huge hi with my family. Did not have any cayenne pepper so I used red pepper flakes instead. Thanks to your different recipes I am learning how to cook and be more independent which makes my parents proud.
Hey Natalie,
Happy Friday!!⛄️❄️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
So good!! I made this today and followed your recipe exactly as you had it. Hubby was a huge fan and told me to add it to the “make again” list. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hey Tori,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
any ideas for the best way to make this without meat and dairy??
Hey Deb,
I would skip the meat and add some other veggies that you enjoy and then just use canned coconut milk and a dairy free cheese. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
How much will it change if I substitute spinach for kale? And ground chorizo vs link form?
I am actually curious about this question myself. I much prefer both ground meats and spinach to kale.
That will work just fine for you!
Hey Kaylyn,
Those will be just fine for you to do! Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this turns out well for you! xx
Absolutely delicious! The combination of smoked paprika, cream, and cheese adds a flavorful richness to this hearty! Comfort food for a wild rainstorm.
Hey Kym,
Happy Monday!!☃️ Thanks a lot for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it was a winner! xx