Bean and Chicken Sausage Stew

Very simple recipe was a big hit with my fiancé. I didn't use the whole bunch of kale because it was almost the size of my head! So, I used half. This recipe could easily be made with shredded chicken or other meats. Maybe even tofu. It's in my book for future experimentation.

Such a basic concept to be built upon. My tweaks: I used 3 cut up boneless/skinless chicken thighs and browned them, added 3 stalks of celery and a half of a med onion, sliced. After sauteing the garlic, onion, and celery, I removed the veggies, then browned the chicken. I deglazed the pot with 2/3 c white wine then added the low sodium organic chicken broth and fresh diced and peeled tomatoes with their juices. Added Basil, Thyme and some red pepper flakes for additional flavor; I used pepper, but no added salt. I added the veggies back and then the kale and simmered before adding the drained and rinsed cannellini beans back in. Yum.......

Great recipe and came out great. Only modification was to use chicken jalapeno sausage brand Al Fresco. :) Thank you.

This was a really tasty meal. I did make a few alterations though. I used a seasoned smoked chicken sausage for starters, 4 cloves of fresh minced garlic and cornstarch to thicken. The brand of chicken sausage I used is called Al Fresco it's all natural and they have other seasoned flavors if you wanted to mix it up. This is a recipe you can really have fun with and mix it up!

This is a very quick to make make and tasty dinner. It's full of flavors. My family love it!

I agree with MCW2009 it is very salty. The sausage, canned beans, canned tomato, and chicken broth all already have salt in them. BUT I still really enjoyed this recipe I used fresh tomato to give it a fresher taste and also added a like spice. My husband and kids all ate it too!

Writing a review on a recipe that you used for inspiration instead of really using any of the recipe seems silly to me.

Absolutely, in chunks or ground. Add what ever spices appeal to you, this is so basic you can season it to agree with your tastes.

Not trustworthy comments when one considers the character of the source. I suggest we freeze out this detractor.

This recipie has way too much sodium, over 1,000 mg (!!) per serving. I made the recipie with a few changes to keep the sodium level down. I used low sodium chicken broth, plain skinless/boneless chicken thighs and tenderloin instead of chicken sausage (which has a ton of sodium), omitted the canned tomatoes (don't like tomatoes), and added rehydrated shitaki mushrooms plus the water they were soaked in. It came out a bit more soup-like than stew-like but it still tasted great. Cooking time was a bit longer since I had to fully cook the chicken before adding in the rest of the ingredients. I used an online calculator to get a general idea of the nutrient content for my tweaked recipie and the sodium amount was well less than 1,000 mg.

I enjoyed this recipe alot. It is very filling and flavorful for very little money. I used spinach instead of kale and added some leftover chicken breast in addition to the sausage.

Making this oh so easy dish for the second time... Yum !

Made this last night - WONDERFUL on a cold night! I changed this up a bit to incorporate more Italian flavors - basil/garlic/oregano diced tomatoes, leftover potatoes and tomatoes I had roasted with pesto and chicken thighs, some grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, and ground red pepper for heat. While the sausage is okay in a pinch (but kinda of a weird texture), next time I'll make a few extra thighs for this stew and substitute.

?-could you use Deer meat in this-could you use extra spices to cover the slightly wild taste-has any one tried this?

Made this last night and we really enjoyed it! I love that it was quick, easy and plenty filling. I toasted a few slices of french bread to serve on the side. I did add some dried basil and oregano and a little cayenne pepper for some kick. Other than that, it's a good basic recipe that you can tailor to your own liking.

Wow - it's a recipe people - not an invitation to become "snarky" with one another. No one said anything about "midwest" being "unsophisticated". Aquaria was only replying to another "snarky" post. Anyhow, to me this recipe looks worth trying. Cannellini beans are one of my faves, and sausage added makes me think gumbo. I may try to incorporate a few different spices, depending on which type of sausage I use. Either which way, this seems like a great meal for a busy weekday. Unless you are snarky and sophisticated...wink wink....

This recipe sounds great for an evening when you get home from work & don't really feel like preparing a huge meal. Can't wait to try it. Have sausage in freezer waiting for a recipe. Thanks for this recipe. And why do some people have to be so catty like Aquaria...shame on you.

I use Aidells Italian sausage for this recipe and also sautee onion with garlic before I had the sausage. I use extra tomatoes as well. Wonderful super easy and very flavorful recipe. I have tried it with different sausages and adjust the seasoning to fit the meat. Very good. Also, if you don't have Kale, spinach works just fine.

seriously aquaria???? Midwest doesn't mean unsophisticated. Your comment was rude and uncalled for, would have been better left unsaid.

Moonridr: Just because that little spice is sophisticated in whatever Midwest village you're from doesn't mean it cuts it for people from regions with better cuisines. it is on the bland side, and could use some bay, definitely, probably some thyme, and more, depending on the kind of sausage used, and the personal preference of the person. It could become Mexican with their chorizo, and then I'd add some cumin and paprika--at a minimum. If I used Italian sausage, I'd use oregano and basil.. If I used bratwurst, I would replace some of that water with beer, most definitely. And so on. People with sophisticated tastes know how to use more than salt and pepper. I know that you aren't aware of that up in Indiana or wherever you're from, but there you have it.

You, sir, sound awfully pretentious. No need for personal attacks over a recipe. Follow your "sophisticated palate's" lead, and show some class.

Just made this for the first time and it was AWESOME! I did use a really flavorful sausage so it was super tasty. Also, I sauteed an onion with the garlic. I used a big can of tomatoes b/c I like it a bit more like soup - it was a huge hit and I just had it for lunch - even better the second time around! Oh, don't forget to grate some parm on top before eating - SUPER YUMMS!

Recently I've added a few twists that make this recipe super colorful and even more delicious. When I'm browning the sausage, I've taken to adding chopped baby carrots (use a lid so they can soften a bit before adding the other ingredients). I've also added a can of corn and a can of black beans to the mix. (I've found if you drain all of the legumes before adding them to the pot, gassy side effects can be avoided.) A dash of oregano and/or spicy sausage makes it rich and flavorful. So glad to have this in my repertoire!

To snowflake20: This is a dish for what they call a "sophisticated palate." If you're a fan of corn dogs and Twinkies, then it's not for you. Maybe if you tried a different brand of sausage? Sorry, it's not the recipe; it's definitely you.

Love this recipe. Used a spicy chicken sausage from Trader Joe's and spinach instead of kale.

This was just horrible. Not sure why all of these reviews are positive, but it's absolutely tasteless. I should have known better, look at the ingredients, there aren't any spices besides "salt and pepper".

Love this recipe! Trader Joe's has diced tomatoes with green chiles that gives it a nice bite.

Shawnty, can you tell me where you got the jalapeno olive oil?

I made this last night and I really liked it. Super simple to make and very flavorful. I added a can chick peas and had to use fully cooked pork sausages instead since the store didn't have fully cooked chicken ones. However, I think either way it would work just fine, but I will use chicken ones next time and allow the kale to wilt just a little bit longer.

Made this as the others, doubled the broth and the beans and DELICIOUS! My kids eat kale and really don't even know it. YUMMY!

My family loves this recipe. I, too, double the beans and broth. I have also substituted the kale with other hearty greens like collards and mustard greens. I like to use Italian sausage (hot).

I have made this recipe multiple times and loved it! I always "tweak" every recipe that I make, based on what I have in my refrigerator or what I like. For this recipe, I used more chicken broth to make it more like a soup, and two cans of beans instead of one. Instead of slicing the sausage, I just take it out of the casings, brown it and then toss it in. I have also used a "variety pack" of greens, which included mustard and collard greens and spinach. (I got this veggie pack at Trader Joe's. It worked great!). I also serve this is pieces of French bread, toasted with a special jalapeno olive oil brushed on top. This soup/stew is a staple in our house! Delicious and SUPER easy.