Look no further for a soul-warming soup recipe to take the edge of breezy fall days and snowy winter nights. Slow Cooker Chorizo Kale Soup is naturally spicy and chock full of great flavors. Fix it and forget it; the slow cooker has your back on the cooking front!
I’m just back from a food blogger conference in Austin Texas. The day I left last week it was pouring and threatening to bring the first freeze of the year. I loaded on the plane in jeans, a long sleeve shirt, bulky sweater, boots and a scarf. I emerged into 90 degree humid temps making me feel I was headed for vacation, not a few days of work!
When I returned, as if on cue, the weather in Boulder had become cool, windy and very fall-like. Our maple tree was boasting bright red leaves and my craving for soup ignited with a passion. Soup is one of those foods once summer passes that I would happily eat daily and for any meal of the day. I love everything about it. Flavor-packed broth, chunky seasonal ingredients and the soul-warming quality of of sipping a cup of it.
I tend to veer toward spicy soups when I make them and this Slow Cooker Chorizo Kale Soup is no exception. It’s a simple recipe really, though does require pre-cooking the ground chorizo to break it into small pieces and to render the fat before adding it to the slow cooker.
One thing I love about using ground chorizo in soups is that it delivers such concentrated spicy flavor it’s not necessary to really add other seasonings. I prefer to let the signature flavors of the other soup ingredients interplay to create a wholesome tasting soup. Using the holy stock trinity of carrots, celery and onion (shallots in this case) are a sure win to build a great tasting stock.
For those who aren’t big on greens, I’ll share a secret. I love kale because it does not have a particularly strong or pronounced flavor. It packs a nutritional punch that can’t be beat but it won’t over take your soup (or for me, smoothies) with a distinct flavor you might not love as other super greens do.
In the context of the soup the kale softens but still holds an appealing texture. It works wonderfully with the petite diced tomatoes, hominy (or corn), carrots, celery, and shallots. Adding ham bones or ham hocks (available from most butchers or HoneyBaked Ham stores year round) gives a buttery flavor to the broth too!
Slow Cooker Chorizo Kale Soup
This hearty soup will spice up even the coldest of days. Effortlessly made in the slow cooker!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Chorizo
- 2 large Shallots , peeled and cut into slices
- 2 medium Carrots , peeled and chopped
- 1 large Celery Stalks , washed, trimmed and chopped
- 2 Ham Bones or Ham Hocks
- 1 15- ounce can Hominy
- 4 cups Curly Kale , chopped into large pieces
- 1 15- ounce can Petit Diced Tomatoes , undrained
- 6 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
Instructions
- In a large non-stick skillet, cook the chorizo over medium-high heat, breaking into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- In a large slow cooker (7 quart) add the shallots, carrots and celery to the bottom of the insert. Layer on the bones and chorizo, followed by the remaining ingredients. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, stirring occasionally to submerge the kale in the liquid. Any excess fat from the chorizo may be skimmed before serving.
Susan says
October 13, 2016 at 3:05 pmI’m not a big soup eater, but this one sounds well worth making and eating. Especially if it ever cools down here (I’m in El Paso, TX, where it’s still warm but not humid).
Heather Kinnaird says
October 13, 2016 at 12:51 pmyou have no idea how badly I wish this was my lunch today
Toni Dash says
October 13, 2016 at 2:19 pmOh no! I hate to tease Heather! It could be tomorrow’s lunch!
Brianne says
October 13, 2016 at 8:32 amI am all about the slow cooker now that fall has arrived! Definitely going to add this recipe to my list!
Janell Poulette says
October 12, 2016 at 9:50 pmI am always looking for new crock pot recipe and a perk if its healthy for you. This looks so wholesome and delicious! I love fall so much and all the yummy foods that bring out the season.
Ourfamilyworld says
October 12, 2016 at 9:40 pmHaven’t tried this soup, looks lovely. My family will going to love this.
Nicole says
October 12, 2016 at 9:22 pmGorgeous soup!
Liz says
October 12, 2016 at 1:23 pmThe depth of flavor must be incredible!!! What a terrific autumn dinner idea!!
Debra says
October 12, 2016 at 11:54 amThat looks so good. Nice and spicy soup for a cold winter’s day!
Anjanette @Mommayoung says
October 12, 2016 at 11:53 amI am a bit picky when it comes to Chorizo but I have never thought to pair it up with kale! I bet they compliment each other very well. I definitely am interested in trying this out to see how good it is! Thanks for sharing!
Joyce Brewer says
October 12, 2016 at 11:03 amOk I’m averse to kale salads, but this recipe may have convinced me otherwise.
That looks so warm and hearty,
Jeanine says
October 12, 2016 at 7:28 amThat looks so delicious. It looks fun off healthy and like i could really use right now. Been sick for over a week now, a hearty soup like this I could really use right now!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
October 12, 2016 at 12:58 amLooks great! I love kale!
Amanda Love says
October 12, 2016 at 12:34 amThat soup sounds so good and I’m sure my sons will enjoy this kind of soup once the winter comes in. It’s easy to make and I love cooking with kale because it has so many benefits!
Colleen Cayes says
October 11, 2016 at 8:29 pmYou have totally inspired me! I love the idea of a spicy ingredient plus the varied textures and colors together. I’ll definitely add the ham bone too. Thank you.
Brandy says
October 11, 2016 at 7:53 pmThat soup sounds delicious. This is the perfect time of year to curl up under a blanket with some soup!
Liz Mays says
October 11, 2016 at 7:20 pmWow, I’d really like this soup. If it freezes well I’d be happy to make some for my lunches in advance.
Ann Bacciaglia says
October 11, 2016 at 6:54 pmI am always looking for new slow cooker recipes to try. I will have to get the ingredients I need to try this recipe on the weekend. It looks so delicious and easy to make.
Pam says
October 11, 2016 at 4:26 pmThis sounds hearty and perfect for the cooler weather. I always crave soups when it starts to get cold.
Catherine Sargent says
October 11, 2016 at 11:58 amThis soup recipe looks so yummy. I am always looking for new slow cooker recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Colleen Lanin says
October 11, 2016 at 8:54 amChorizo is my favorite type of sausage. It’s so spicy and full of flavor. I’ve never tried it in a soup before.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
October 11, 2016 at 8:42 amThat looks so good! I love a hot, spicy soup when the weather turns, and kale is a super food – which I also happen to love. Yum!
Mandee says
October 11, 2016 at 6:58 amThat looks delicious! Now that it’s getting a little cooler I’m looking forward to making hot soups again!