This Winter Kale Vegetable soup is loaded with vegetables like kale, carrots and celery and packed with super savory herbs like rosemary, thyme and garlic. Perfect for the cold winter days.
I’ve been home for 11 days from visiting the family over the holidays and I still feel like I’m not fully unpacked. Yes, my luggage has been emptied and my clothes have been put away. Yes, the Christmas tree and nutcrackers have been neatly stored in boxes in the basement. And yes, my full-time job has many tasks and future projects to keep me plenty busy. But for some reason, I don’t feel like I’m ready. And I think I know why.
My cooking game has NOT been on.
At least not like it was before the holidays.
It’s taken me a few days (more than I anticipated) to get re-acclimated to my non-holiday schedule. But after clearing a huge pile of dishes this morning and catching up on some DVR’d shows, I’m happy to finally say that I feel like I’m back and I’m ready.
And so I cooked.
This Winter Kale Vegetable Soup is just what I needed. It’s loaded with vegetables like kale, carrots and celery and packed with super savory herbs like rosemary, thyme and garlic. AND it’s a warm soup. Much needed after some really cold nights here in Pittsburgh.
I hope this funk I’ve been in is over. It’s funny how cooking always seems to help.

Ingredients
- 1 cups large or extra large onion chopped (about 2 )
- 1 lb carrots chopped
- 5 stalks celery chopped
- 5 cups kale chopped
- 2 tbsp butter or coconut oil
- 2 tbsp garlic minced
- 9 cups stock vegetable or chicken
- 1 tsp thyme dried
- 3 leaves bay
- 1/4 tsp rosemary dried
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper ground
Instructions
- Heat butter on medium heat in large pot.
- When butter is melted, add onions and garlic.
- Stir and cook until onions become translucent but before the garlic burns, about 2 minutes.
- Add carrots and stir in with the onion and garlic.
- Let cook for 5 minutes.
- Add celery, kale, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme.
- Stir and let cook for 5 minutes.
- Add chicken stock and bay leaves.
- Stir and let cook, covered, for 30 minutes.
Love it. Added some potatoes and substituted chicken stock for veggie unsalted stock. Great result. Thanks a lot!
Made this as is and OMG! Well two cartons of organic VB and one “can” of LSCB. Added the whole lot of kale. Delicious! Love the herbs…just the right amount!
We love it. Asked my bride about adding some shredded chicken “next time” and she said, “I love it just the way it is.”
So there ya go!
Thank you so much!
Cheers,
Denny G
Hello Isabel, I enjoy making soups on a regular basis,I use the parts of the veg that would normally end up in the compost heap,is broccoli stems cauliflower stems , and many other throw always,I have headed kale is full of good vitamins,and the recipe for kale stew/soup is one that I will definitely try , regards joe Townley Liverpool.
This is delish, can it be frozen?
Yes, it can be frozen!
I just made this and I included some tweaks – I added turmeric and it gave it a nice earthy taste. I think potatoes or mushrooms would be good next time around.
I LOVE soup. I can eat it everyday but was needed something different to change things up.
Just made this soup and OMG!!! Sooo YUMmmy!! I added a kick with a couple shakes of Cayenne to amp fat burning and so delicious and so quick & easy!! It will be one of my regular soups :D! Thx so much for sharing this recipe!
Sally K
Michigan City, IN
I’m so happy you love it, Sally. That makes me so happy!
Mmmmmm this soup is fantastic! I added some macaroni and some turmeric and lots of seasoning!
Healthy recipe to have it. It doesn’t even take more than 20 minutes to cook. Vegetable Soup is very easy and fast to cook with delicious taste.
This is great for vegetarians. To make it more of a complete meal I added 1 medium sized potatoe (chopped), 1 tin of cannellini beans, one leak, a bit of ginger, reduced the carrots by half and reduced the onions by half.
Thanks, Anu. I love those additions, too! Such a great idea and it makes it so comforting.
Hi Isabel
Can this be blended? Want to try to get my kids to eat it and not so sure they will eat it chuncky!
Hi Kim, I think that’s a great idea. You can definitely blend it and give it a try. I’d love to know how it turns out so let me know!
Going to give this one a try. Sounds great.
Thanks, Willi! I hope you like it 🙂
This is my new favorite recipe. I’m always wanting to find soup recipes that add kale and this one is awesome. My daughter made this for me when I had pneumonia and I didn’t have much of an appetite, but this soup tasted so good and made me feel better. Will make it again and again!!!
I’m so happy you loved it! I’ve also made it many time and it’s just so comforting and warm 🙂 Perfect for when you’re feeling under the weather.
I’d love to add leftover chicken to this. Sounds yummy!
Michelle, that’s a really great idea! Makes the soup a full meal with everything you need. 🙂 Thanks!
Omg I’m not a fan of kale but this looks really delicious! I’m going to have to try it!! Thank you for sharing this! 🙂
I totally understand what you mean!! My cooking game was on fire October – December. So far in January my focus has been clearing leftovers out of the freezer instead of cooking. I think it’s time to get back into the kitchen. This soup looks so comforting and is perfect for the kale I have growing in my garden.
Glad to hear I’m not alone. It sounds like you have a great plan! I finally feel like I’m back on my game so I hope you get there soon, too!