This time of year is so busy for me and my family, so convenience items like Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash are a life-saver. Sure, the blend of chopped sweet potatoes, butternut squash, red onion, and fresh herbs is perfect for sautéing up as-is as an easy side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. But, I thought it would also be the perfect ingredient for making a cozy soup recipe.
Simply by adding some chicken-apple sausages, kale, fresh garlic, and some broth, I've created a hearty soup that's ready in about 20-25 minutes. I like to serve it with crusty bread or whole wheat biscuits, and voilà, a one-pot easy recipe to add to your weeknight repertoire.
As you might guess, Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash is a seasonal item, available starting in the Fall. If you'd like to make this recipe at other times of the year (and not just during the holiday season), you can make your own by combining chopped butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red onion, parsley, sage, and rosemary.
Looking for other soup ideas? Be sure to check out my One Pot Brunswick Stew and this delicious minestrone soup. Pumpkin Soup is another fall flavor forward option. You'll also love my hearty Mushroom and Noodle Soup.
Or are you in search of another great recipe featuring one of my favorite Trader Joe's items? Be sure to check out my Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter Sauce recipe, my Chicken Piccata Meatballs, and my Mediterranean Bowls recipes.
Also, when I'm on a Trader Joe's grocery shopping trip, these are my favorite things to pick up to make a complete meal when I don't have time to create a recipe from scratch: Spatchcocked Lemon Rosemary Chicken, a box of rice-orzo pilaf mix, and some fresh green beans. It's one of my go-to easy meals my whole family loves.
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Ingredients
Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:
- olive oil
- Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash
- chicken-apple sausages
- garlic
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Tuscan kale
- chicken broth
- curry powder
- brown sugar
- apple cider vinegar
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get cooking!
First, brown the sliced sausage in olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot.
Next, remove the sausage from the Dutch oven to a bowl.
Then, add the holiday vegetable hash to the Dutch oven and cook until golden brown.
Finally, add the brown sugar, vinegar, curry powder, kale, and broth to the Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Add the sausage and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
Hint: If you are a meal prepper, this is a great recipe to make ahead since the flavors are even better the next day.
Substitutions
Here are some easy ingredient alternatives if you'd like to change things up:
- Protein - instead of chicken-apple sausages, you can substitute kielbasa or other smoked sausage. Or, add turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs.
- Greens - chopped curly kale, collard greens, and mustard greens are great alternatives to Tuscan kale. Shaved Brussels sprouts are also a nice option.
- Vegetarian - substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth and plant-based sausage for the chicken-apple sausages to make this a vegetarian meal.
Variations
Looking for other ways to adjust this recipe? I've got you covered.
- Spicy - add crushed red pepper flakes to this sausage and vegetable hash soup to give it a little kick.
- Cheese - I've opted to make this recipe dairy-free, but it would be great topped with your favorite cheese. Grated Parmesan cheese, feta cheese, or crumbled goat cheese would all pair nicely.
- Rice - in addition to a hunk of crusty bread, this soup is great served over brown rice or white rice.
Equipment
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:
- measuring spoons
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- Dutch oven
- small bowl
- ladle
Storage
To store any leftovers, let the stew come to room temperature and then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days.
Freeze any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Tasty tip
To save even more time, I like to use pre-chopped kale. Just be sure to remove any large stems from the package. They're not so pleasant to eat.
Frequently asked questions
This veggie mix includes finely chopped butternut squash, sweet potatoes, red onion, fresh sage, rosemary, and parsley.
Yes, you can freeze cooked holiday hash. I don't recommend freezing uncooked.
This veggie mix is great sautéed in a little olive oil in a cast-iron skillet. Add a fried egg on top to make it a breakfast hash recipe. Or, add some ground turkey to the mix for an easy skillet dinner.
Sadly, no. The pre-chopped vegetable mix is a seasonal item and usually begins to appear in Trader Joe's grocery stores in early Fall.
I have seen pre-chopped vegetable mixes at other grocery stores so keep an eye out on your next shopping trip. I know there are single-ingredient packages of pre-chopped butternut squash, pre-chopped sweet potatoes, and diced red onion so you could always create your own.
Related
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Even more
These are more of my favorite recipes:
🍽Get the recipe
Trader Joe's Holiday Vegetable Hash and Sausage Stew
Equipment
- measuring spoons
- dry measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- Dutch oven
- small bowl
- ladle
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1 (12-ounce) package chicken-apple sausages, sliced
- 1 (18-ounce) package Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 4 cups coarsely chopped Tuscan kale
- 6 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned.
- Remove the sausage from the Dutch oven to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the remaining oil to the pan and heat until hot. Add the vegetable hash and the garlic and cook until they begin to get golden brown, about 5 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper as the fresh veggies cook.
- Add the vinegar, brown sugar, curry powder, kale, and chicken broth. Bring the stew to a boil and add the sausage. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the kale wilts and the vegetables are tender, about 6 to 8 more minutes.
- To serve, spoon the stew into bowls.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Mia says
Loved this use of the holiday hash, we really enjoyed it!
Betsy says
This was such a great shortcut for a weeknight dinner, plus it was delicious!!! My family loved it.
Amy says
This soup was hearty and delicious. Perfect for a winter day.
Susan says
Unique flavor with the curry. Pretty and filling
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks so much Susan! Glad you enjoyed it!
Lisa says
I was wondering what to make with the TJ's holiday mash and this was an excellent choice. I added white northern beans for a little more texture. YUM! Thank you
AshleyFreeman says
Oh, I love that idea! Thanks so much for sharing!
Swathi says
I loved this holiday vegetable and sausage stew, the perfect filling one, I served with my sourdough bread.
AshleyFreeman says
Yum! I bet that was delicious!
Jeri says
Oh my gosh, this hash and sausage stew was SO GOOD! I loved how quick and easy it was to make using a package of Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash. I'll be adding this to my monthly dinner rotation!
AshleyFreeman says
Hooray! Thanks so much for sharing!
Krystle says
One of my all time favorite Trader Joe's items. I love the hint of curry in this.
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks so much Krystle!
Nicole says
I love that I can make this any time of the year that I want! So delicious!
AshleyFreeman says
Yeah! It's an easy throw-together meal (which I love).
Bernice says
YUM TJ's has all the good stuff. I sure wish we had this store up here in Canada. Still, I was able to give this recipe a try with my own hash and we loved it.
AshleyFreeman says
Man, I'm sorry you guys don't have a TJ's but you're right--any root vegetable blend will work great.