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This kielbasa soup recipe is loaded with plenty of sausage, vegetables, and potatoes. It’s a great option when you want something that is hearty and filling but a little bit healthier!
You may also enjoy my Cabbage Soup with Bacon and Potatoes next.
Here in Canada/USA, kielbasa is often sold in grocery stores labeled as “smoked Polish sausage” or just “kielbasa”. “Kielbasa” actually means “sausage” in Polish. Did you know that? If you want to try another Polish-inspired soup recipe, check out my dill pickle soup.
I just love soups with sausage and potatoes. This is a broth-based soup without any cream, and although everyone knows I love my creamy recipes, this soup (and soups like this) really hit the spot for me as the weather gets cooler. And as air-conditioned offices stay cold. It’s also a tasty way to pack in some veggies. I added some cabbage in here too – it goes wonderfully in soup (like my cabbage roll soup or Instant Pot cabbage soup). I have a sautéed cabbage and kielbasa recipe you may like if that flavor combo appeals to you (it is surprisingly good if you’re not much of a cabbage eater).
Pro tip: I like to mash some of the potatoes right in the pot to give this kielbasa cabbage soup a little more texture. I like to use this quick trick in all sorts of soups that have potatoes.
This kielbasa potato soup is one of those “tastes better the next day” kinda soups, so it makes great leftovers. I gave some to my mom, and she was texting me saying how much she liked this soup. And she’s an honest kinda lady. She would tell me if it wasn’t good. 😀
Recipe notes:
- Smoked Ukrainian or Hungarian sausage would work in this soup if you can’t find kielbasa.
- You could definitely make this soup without adding the spinach at the end if you’re not a fan.
- You can use a different variety of potatoes if you wish. I didn’t bother peeling the potatoes – it’s up to you if you want to.
Other cozy soup recipes you may like:
- Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
- Zuppa Toscana (Sausage, Bacon, Potato, and Kale Soup)
- Sausage and Vegetable Soup
- Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup Recipe
- Crockpot Cabbage Soup with Beans, Sausage, and Potatoes
- Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
- Sausage, Kale, and Gnocchi Soup
- Crockpot Italian Sausage Soup
Will you make this cabbage and kielbasa soup?
Questions? Ask away in the comments below. 🙂
Kielbasa Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 13 ounces kielbasa (smoked Polish sausage) see note
- 2 sticks celery chopped small
- 2 cups green cabbage chopped small
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 Russet potatoes scrubbed & diced (peel if you want to)
- 2 medium carrots peeled & sliced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter and oil in a soup pot/Dutch oven, then add in the onion, sausage, celery, and cabbage. Sauté over medium-high heat for 10 minutes or so.
- Stir in the garlic, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning, then add the potatoes and carrots to the pot.
- Add the chicken broth and water. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat so it's simmering. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots can easily be pierced with a knife.
- I like to take a potato masher and quickly mash some of the potatoes to give the soup a slightly thicker texture (I just do this right in the pot). This step is optional.
- Add in the spinach and season the soup with salt & pepper as needed.
Notes
- I bought a coil of kielbasa sausage that weighed 13 oz./375 g. Feel free to use anything similar weight-wise.
- Kielbasa sausage shouldn’t be too greasy, so you shouldn’t have to drain any fat. If you use a different kind of sausage, however, you may need to use your discretion and drain some of the fat if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I have the soup on the stove right now, and it smells wonderful. Question – why the 2 cups of water instead of 2 additional cups of broth?
Because it may be too salty for some if you use 4 cups broth, but you can if you like. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the soup!
Best soup ever….my family loves this soup. Thank you
You’re welcome!
Hi am a complete novice but would love to try this, Masurian Sausage available in my local (UK) supermarket, is this the same as ‘Kielbasa’.
Also not a great cabbage lover, is there anything else, could replace it with?
Can I just check what ‘IP’ is an abbreviation for?
Thanks
Hi Ron! I think Masurian sausage should be fine. I live in Canada and honestly have no idea if it’s the same as Kielbasa as I’ve never encountered it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. 🙂 I’ve only ever tested this recipe as written, but you could probably increase the other veggies or add in others that appeal to you and leave out the cabbage. Or perhaps add another potato. For the “IP” abbreviation are you asking about Mark’s comment below? He would be talking about the Instant Pot (a brand of electric pressure cookers). Hope you enjoy the soup!
Loved it….i added some fresh herbs from my garden… basil and Cuban oregano. and 1 small minced jalapeno (I’m a spicy gal)… flavors were complex and satisfying
That’s great to hear! I love the jalapeno idea! Thanks, Carol.
I did this with Masurian sausages. Fabulous taste, 18 mins in IP as I didn’t cook potatoes beforehand as previous commenter did. Probably butchered your recipe a bit, as thinking of poor Polish country folk and their likely diet I chucked in some Parsnips, Swede and Polish mustard, trying for authenticity! Bang on. Ps, if you wanted a thicker version throw some Pearl Barley in.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mark!! 😀
I made this in my instant pot, added entire small cabbage cut up, small can great northern beans, rinsed, 4 diced potatoes, cooked separate on stove, I always cook potatoes separate when making for soups with a pinch of oregano, have done this for decades
Sautéed cabbage carrots, onion, smoked sausage, then added the spices with garlic paste, sautéed another minute, added broth & water, pressed 15 minutes, NR,10 ,came out great, Mr really liked it, making again with Ham, PS, I sprinkled dill weed when serving, i use dill weed a lot. Next your dill pickle soup.
Thanks. Great recipe. I subscribed 🙂
Excellent! 😀 Thanks for the IP tips and for subscribing!
I did like the soup, added 2 medium sized Russet potatoes but even after mashing them a bit, felt it was too thin. I think next time will only add 1 cup or water and see how that goes. Has a very good flavor.
Hi! Yes, it’s definitely not a thick soup… more brothy for sure. You could absolutely try adding less liquid and mashing the potatoes as you suggest. Glad you enjoyed the flavor! 🙂
Wow! Five stars! Thank you so much for this delicious inspiration! I may have added more Kielbasa and spinach than your recipe called for…but wow! SOOOO good!
You’re very welcome!
This is SO good and flavorful! Perfect for a cold night. Made as is except I forgot to add the spinach at the end. Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad you liked it, Aly!! Thanks for taking the time to write me a review! 😀
Just thought you should know the recipe never calls out when to add the kielbasa:)
Hi! Step 1 (along with the onion, celery, and cabbage), and it never leaves the pot. 🙂