Zuppa Toscana

This Zuppa Toscana is a creamy sausage and potato soup with kale and bacon, just like the Olive Garden favorite, but easy to make at home. The broth is rich and flavorful, the potatoes make it hearty, and the kale keeps it from feeling too heavy. It all comes together in one pot with simple ingredients.

A Few Ingredient Notes

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Italian sausage: Spicy Italian sausage adds more flavor to the broth, but mild sausage works too.
• Potatoes: Russet potatoes are best here because they soften slightly and help give the soup some body. Cut them into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly. Red or gold potatoes can work, but the texture will be a little different.
• Kale: Kale balances the richness of the sausage, bacon, and cream. Add it near the end so it stays tender. Baby spinach can be used instead if preferred.
• Heavy cream: Heavy cream gives the broth the richest texture. Half and half works, but the soup will be a little lighter. For a dairy-free option, use full-fat coconut milk.
• Bacon: Cook the bacon first and keep the fat in the pot to cook the onion. Save some cooked bacon for serving if you want a crisp topping.
• Chicken stock: Use a stock or broth that you already like, since it makes up most of the soup base.

How to Make It

1. Cook the sausage and bacon.

2. Sauté the onion and garlic.

3. Pour in the chicken stock and add the potatoes. Simmer until fork-tender.

4. Add sausage, kale, and bacon. Cook until the kale is wilted.

5. Stir in the cream.

6. Finish and serve.

My Notes for This Soup

• You can use baby spinach instead of kale if you prefer. Add it at the end and cook just until wilted, since it softens much faster.
• This soup is creamy, but the broth should still be fairly loose. If you want it thicker, mash a few of the potatoes in the pot or let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
• For a slow cooker version, brown the sausage and bacon first, then add everything except the kale and cream. Stir those in at the end so the soup stays creamy and the greens do not overcook.

More Olive Garden Copycat Recipes

I love soup from Olive Garden! There’s something comforting about all their soups, breadsticks, and pasta dishes that I can’t say no.

A few years ago, I went on a mission to save money and make some of my favorite Olive Garden meals at home! My first mission had to be those delicious Olive Garden breadsticks because they go with everything. 

Where there’s breadsticks, there must be soup. If you love the soups of Olive Garden try this Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe. I switched it up and made this recipe in the Instant Pot!

If you’re sick of using jarred pasta sauces, try this easy alfredo sauce recipe. Just a few pantry staples between you and this luscious cheese sauce. 

When you want a classic Italian meal, there’s nothing better than chicken parmesan. I make mine in the pressure cooker for a quick and comforting dinner.

Olive Garden Copycat Recipes

Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup Olive Garden Copycat

Easy Chicken Scampi Recipe

Olive Garden Breadsticks

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Recipe

5 from 20 votes

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Zuppa Toscana

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Author: Diana

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Zuppa Toscana is a creamy soup your family will love! This Olive Garden copycat recipe is just as good with Italian sausage kale, potatoes, and bacon.

6 servings

Zuppa Toscana is a creamy soup your family will love! This Olive Garden copycat recipe is just as good with Italian sausage kale, potatoes, and bacon.

Equipment

• 6-quart Dutch Oven

Ingredients 

1/2x1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 pound (450 g) spicy Italian sausage or mild if you prefer
• ▢ 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ▢ 6 slices bacon cut into ½ inch pieces, divided
• ▢ 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 4 cups (32 oz) (960 ml) chicken stock
• ▢ 4 medium russet potatoes peeled and diced into ¼-inch pieces
• ▢ 6 cups chopped kale
• ▢ 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

• Cook the Italian sausage with red pepper flakes in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown it and crumble it as you go, then drain excess fat and remove onto a plate.
• Cook the bacon in the Dutch oven until crispy. Remove onto a plate with the sausage, drain the fat leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease in the Dutch oven.
• Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes (if you feel like you need more liquid, add a cup of water – I usually do!), and cook until they’re fork tender (about 12-15 minutes).
• Add chopped kale, the browned sausage and half of the bacon to the pot and bring to a gentle boil (5 minutes until the kale has wilted). Stir in the cream, season with salt and pepper.
• Remove from heat, and top with the remaining crispy bacon.

Notes:

• Kale can be substituted with baby spinach leaves.
• If you prefer a thicker soup, you can thicken it with cornstarch slurry (1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water). Stir it into the soup, and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens up.
• Storage: Store leftover Zuppa Toscana in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The broth will thicken as it sits, so add a splash of stock or water when reheating if needed.
• Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months after cooling completely. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat gently. Keep in mind that the texture may change slightly after freezing because of the cream.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 620kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 118mg, Sodium: 837mg, Potassium: 1347mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 7382IU, Vitamin C: 92mg, Calcium: 170mg, Iron: 4mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

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