This sausage and sweet potato soup recipe is hearty, warming, and simple to make! Flavorful sausage and melt-in-your-mouth sweet potatoes will be a hit with the whole family.
This soup is really easy to throw together - the perfect thing to make as the busy holiday season approaches. It makes yummy leftovers, and it's the kind of soup that works great as the type of thing you'd take to work for lunch. It's very satisfying.
It's straightforward to make, and really the only somewhat time-consuming part is peeling and chopping those sweet potatoes. Once that's done, though, you just simmer the soup for 15-20 minutes, and then dinner's ready. 🙂
You may also like my classic Creamy Sweet Potato Soup.
Recipe notes & tips:
- The quantity of sausage or sweet potatoes listed doesn't have to be exactly adhered to - anything in the general ballpark works.
- I made this an Italian sausage and sweet potato soup, but you could sub for another kind of sausage. Even something like turkey sausage or kielbasa (Polish smoked sausage) would work.
- Want to add some spice to this soup? Use hot Italian sausage and/or add some red pepper flakes to spice it up.
- This soup is very forgiving - you can definitely add more veggies or swap out ones you don't like. I love the combo of sausage and bell peppers, though, so I'd definitely keep those in. Adding a bit of spinach or kale towards the end would be delicious too.
- This soup eats like a meal, but you could definitely kick it up a notch by serving it with some garlic bread or a nice crusty sourdough!
More soup recipes you may like:
- Zuppa Toscana (Sausage, Bacon, Potato, and Kale Soup)
- Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato Soup
- Sausage and Vegetable Soup
- Spicy Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup
- Crockpot Italian Sausage Soup
- Sausage, Kale, and Gnocchi Soup
- Simple Bratwurst Soup
Hope you enjoy this sweet potato sausage soup!
Questions? Leave me a comment below.

Sausage and Sweet Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 2 sticks celery chopped
- 1.5 pounds sweet potatoes peeled & diced
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a soup pot, cook the sausage meat over medium-high heat, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along, for 5-6 minutes.
- Add the onion and garlic to the pot and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Stir in the broth, water, red bell pepper, celery, and sweet potatoes. Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil.
- Once it's boiling, reduce the heat so it's simmering, and cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes have softened.
- Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.
Notes
- Anything in the 16 oz/1 pound ballpark will work for the sausage. Here in Canada, I buy a 5-pack of Johnsonville's mild Italian sausages that's 500g/17.6 oz and take the meat out of the casings.
- I used 3 smallish sweet potatoes. Since sweet potato sizes vary so much and are so subjective, it's easiest to just use the scales at the grocery store and weigh them.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Shelley says
This looks great.
Would beef broth work ok?
Thanks!
Natasha says
For sure!! It'll just be a little darker than the pics show. Enjoy!
Nancy says
Can I use red peppers in a jar?
Natasha says
If you like! 🙂
Micaela Kelso says
Hello,
I have some garden squash from fall to use up. Think I could sub squash for the sweet potatoes?
Thanks!
Natasha says
Absolutely!
Marcie says
I noticed this recipe says to use a soup pot. Would a 5 quart Dutch oven be ok instead?
Natasha says
Absolutely. I usually use my 5.5 qt Le Creuset. Enjoy!
Sylvie says
Correction, my comment was supposed to say the soup is NOW a favorite!!!🤷🏻♀️😊😊
Sylvie says
I’ve made this soup twice, once with turkey sausage, and once with johnsonville sausage, both sweet Italian. The turkey sausage was my favorite. Less grease.
The soup is not a favorite, and in my regular rotation of soups!
Just Delicious!!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Katie says
My husband and I just made this recipe and it was excellent! We swapped the broth for stock since that’s all we had and we used spicy venison sausage. We also did one less half cup of water and swapped that for stock. This was bursting with flavor. We will be pocketing this one!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you liked it!!
JAR says
Delicious ! Added paprika and carrots. Hearty and stew like.
Natasha says
Awesome!! Glad it was a hit!
Susan Halperin says
Thank you for doing what you do! I've made a dozen or so of your recipes and been please with them all, this one included. We have wild New Zealand Spinach where I live so I added some so I didn't have to make a salad 😋.
Natasha says
Aww I love that! Thank you Susan! 🙂
Shirley Morton says
Will try the potatoes soup it look delicious!!
Natasha says
Enjoy!!
Erin says
We make this all the time when camping and it is delicious! Any idea how to make it in an instant pot?
Natasha says
Hi! I'm so glad you like it! So, I'd just do the sauté steps using the sauté function in your IP, and then I'd probably cook it on high pressure for 8-10 minutes.
Pam says
I made this & we loved it. My husband does not like sweet potatoes or kale but he like this. I used spicy smoked sausage in lieu of the Italian sausage. & added some kale about 10 minutes before serving.
Natasha says
Well that's great to hear, Pam! Thanks for letting me know.
Erin says
Love this recipe - it’s a staple at home and especially while camping! Any idea how to cook it in a crockpot?
Natasha says
Hi! I'm so glad it's a hit in your home! 🙂 So I'd transfer it to a Crockpot after you do the searing steps in a skillet. Then 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 on low.
kat says
We love this soup, its light and so flavorfull. I make it once a week and anyone who is lucky enough to get some wants the recipe. I cook sausage with carrots, celery and onion and then I add zuchini when it comes to a boil.
Natasha says
That's so great to hear, Kat!! 🙂 Thanks for your review!
kris K Jacobsen says
I'm not going to lie, when I saw the ingredients and lack of any spices I thought for sure this was going to be bland!!! I was pleasantly surprised. I used a mild ground sausage. The flavors were all great together and even the broth was flavorful, Will definitely make this soup again!!
Natasha says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it! 🙂
Karen says
Such a breath of fresh air. Different, easy, great for a chilly autumn evening. Hubs was impressed. Me too. So glad I tried it.it's a new go to! Thank you.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! 🙂 Thanks for your review, Karen!
Caroline says
Hi! Just wanted to say this soup was delicious! I used Beyond Beef Hot Italian sausage in place of regular sausage. Super good and lots of flavor! Thanks for another amazing recipe!
Natasha says
Excellent!! You're very welcome. Appreciate your review! 😀
Layne says
Love this recipe!! So yummy. thanks for sharing
Natasha says
You're very welcome! 🙂
Jean says
Should frozen sweet potatoes work in this recipe?
Natasha says
I'd say so!
Carla says
We loved this soup! It will become a new family favorite!
Natasha says
Fantastic!! I'm thrilled to hear that, Carla! Thanks for letting me know.
Naomi H says
Can’t wait to try this! I’m wondering about adding tomatoes. Would a can of tomatoes work well in this?
Natasha says
I think that should be fine.
Erin says
The first soup my entire family loved! It now has been added to “The List” (the few recipes my family will willingly all eat). Added 2 cups of chopped kale once boiling. Thank you!
Natasha says
Aww that's so good to hear! That is rare that everyone likes the same thing hahha.
Kathy says
I added 3/4 cup of barley to the leftover soup the next day. Much better! It seemed to need the thickening. I will make this again! Easy and very tasty!
Natasha says
I'm glad you liked it!
Freda Wood says
Just made this and it’s Awesome!!!
Thank you
Natasha says
Excellent! So happy you liked it, Freda!
Daniel K says
Making this for dinner tonight. Excited!
Natasha says
I hope you enjoy it, Daniel! Let me know how it went 🙂
Kathryn says
Hi...Do you think substituting venison sausage for the Italian sausage would work? I was given some homemade venison sausage and have been looking for ways to use it. Thanks!
Natasha says
I think that would work just fine!
Rhonda Litton says
So happy to have found this recipe! I had ground sausage and sweet potatoes to use up and went to Pinterest to search for recipes and came across this soup. Used beef stock since that’s what we had on hand and also added some spinach towards the end like others mentioned. So good that hubby had TWO bowls! Definitely making this again.
Natasha says
I'm so happy it was a hit in your home! Thanks for commenting, Rhonda 😀
Sarah says
How would you proceed cooking this in the crockpot?
Natasha says
I'd do steps 1-2 in a skillet and then transfer it to a Crockpot along with the remaining ingredients. 6-8 hours low or 3-4 on high.
Ellen says
Fantastic, flavorful and satisfying soup. I used hot turkey sausage and added in some spinach at the end.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Ellen! 🙂
Steph says
What would be a good alternative to Italian Sausage? I’m not a fan of fennel.
Natasha says
Hmmm brats maybe?
Paula Reagan says
This looks so good, do you think it would freeze well?
Natasha says
Thank you! I haven't tested it, but I think it should freeze just fine.
Julia says
This has become one of my favorite soups. It's savory and spicy thanks to the sausage and has a freshness and slight sweetness from the sweet potato. Very little added spices and yet it's got tons of flavor. Great recipe!
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear that, Julia! Thanks for writing to me! 🙂
Jonelle Richards says
Excellent soup!! We had country sausage on hand, so that's what we used. I added chopped lacinato kale (toward the end of cooking) as well as some thyme and a bit of ground fennel seed. Turned out great!
Natasha says
Awesome!! Thanks for letting me know that you liked it 🙂
Diana says
Thanks so much for this recipe! I made and enjoyed a big batch of this soup this week, which I found very comforting in the midst of these current troubling times.
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! XOXO
betsy says
Really good if you add a can of coconut milk to it.
Natasha says
Good idea!
Jess says
I made this soup to use up some sweet potatoes and it's one of my favorite soups ever!!! I would keep this recipe and make it again and again. I used half regular and half spicy sausage and I added kale to mine. This is an amazing recipe that I would highly recommend. It was a break from the ordinary everyday things I had been eating for dinner. Thank you!!!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Jess! 🙂
Mel says
Have you tried making any of your soups in crock pots? Wondering if this recipe would turn out just as good in a crock pot if I browned the sausages first and then dumped everything in the pot?
Natasha says
I think it should work fine! You can find all my Crockpot soups in the "Crockpot" category (just hit the "Recipes" button in the menu at the top of my site) 🙂
Amanda says
I have made this soup four times already adding spicy Italian sausage and spinach or kale each time and it is so delicious! Thank you for the easy recipe 🙂
Natasha says
Aww you're very welcome!! So happy it's a hit.
Deborah says
Added a little couscous...was delish; making it again today! Had it with TJ's pull apart cheddar bread. We could not stop.
Natasha says
Wonderful!! I am so glad it was good!
CLJ says
OK, I have to comment which I rarely do anywhere. I haven't had a lot of luck with internet recipes. I usually get inspiration if I need it and come up with my own creations. I follow you on IG and saw your "Creamy garlic shrimp" recipe float by and decided to try it. It was excellent, I couldn't believe how simple and good it was. So tonight I tried this Sweet potato sausage soup recipe. It too was excellent. I had 2 big bowls!! It is rare that I don't tweak a recipe or have it come out so well that I put it in my permanent recipe box. I'm so thrilled to have found you and your great recipes. (a rare find) Thanks for sharing your talents with the world...
Natasha says
Awww I am so happy to hear that!! I'm glad you found me. 🙂
Ceecee says
I have all the ingredients except i only breakfast sausages for the sausage requirement. Could I use those? Or better to wait for italian/kielbasa?
Natasha says
I think that they would be fine. If they're a super sweet maple flavor (for example), then it might be quite a sweet soup since the sweet potatoes are sweet as well... so up to you! Let me know if you make it.
Annie Clabby says
This was so delicious and easy to make! It didn’t take long to prep and make and the outcome was amazing. A great addition if you’re looking for a flavorful soup for winter that’s a little more interesting than chicken noodle! Followed every instruction and added lots of red pepper flakes for an extra kick. Thank you Salt and Lavender!
Natasha says
I am so happy you enjoyed it, Annie! Thanks for letting me know! 😀
Sandra says
Did it your way except for adding spinach and 2 tsps of balsamic vinegar. Yum....
Natasha says
Good ideas! Glad you enjoyed the soup, Sandra! 🙂
AC says
Looks delicious. Want to try it soon.
Natasha says
Thank you! Let me know if you make it! 🙂
Jen @ feedingglutenfree.com says
This looks so good! I make something similar but am going to try your way next time because it looks so scrumptious and simple! Thank you! 🙂
Natasha says
Thanks so much!!