Make this Zuppa Toscana Soup recipe at home! A copycat Olive Garden recipe full of spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale, and russet potatoes in a creamy broth.
Zuppa Toscana
My family really enjoys soup. So much so that we eat it year-round. For us, it’s an economical meal – and it’s easy to make two meals out of it.
This is my recreation of Olive Garden’s famous “Zuppa Toscana”. My family loves that we can enjoy it any time the craving hits!
If you prefer, you can use chopped spinach in place of the kale – just be sure to add it at the very end just before serving. It doesn’t take very long for it to cook through. My local grocery store doesn’t always carry the bulk Italian sausage … you can buy the links instead and just cut them open, crumble the sausage and discard the casing.
Recipe for Zuppa Toscana
** Ingredients are at a glance. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full amounts and printable recipe. **
- bulk mild Italian sausage
- red pepper flakes
- bacon
- small onion
- chicken broth
- potatoes
- kale
- heavy whipping cream
How to make Zuppa Toscana
Time needed: 45 minutes.
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, crumble and brown the Italian sausage with the red pepper flakes over medium-high heat, until the sausage is no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the bacon in the same pot, over medium-high heat, until crisp. Remove the bacon to paper towels. Drain all but 2 tbsp. of the bacon grease.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pot; cook until the onions are soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Add the potatoes and kale; lower the heat to medium and cook about 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Add the reserved bacon and sausage to the pot.
- Stir in the cream. Heat through.
- Serve hot.
Zuppa Toscana: FAQs
Feel free to substitute Italian sausage links for the bulk sausage. Cut the links open, crumbling the sausage, and discard the casing.
Use whatever kind of Italian sausage your family prefers – sweet, mild, or hot.
Yes! If you prefer, diced or cubed potatoes can be used in place of the sliced potatoes.
You can omit or reduce the amount of red pepper flakes if you are sensitive to spicy foods.
It literally means “Tuscan Soup.”
We usually serve this with some kind of side salad and bread. Here are a few of my favorites from the blog: Italian-Style Salad, Cheesy Breadsticks, Soft Italian Breadsticks, and Cheesy Garlic Bread “Cinnamon” Rolls.
How did you like this soup recipe?
What did you think of this soup? Doesn’t it just hit the spot? This recipe is a family and reader favorite for a reason!
Did you run into any problems or did you have any questions? If so, comment down below and let me help!
If your family loved this recipe, I would love for you to leave a comment letting me know that, too! Other readers always love to see what people who have made the recipe thought!
More soup recipes on Love Bakes Good Cakes
- Chicken Broccoli Wild Rice Soup – an easy family-pleasing recipe that is chock-full of delicious chicken, broccoli, and wild rice in a creamy broth!
- Stuffed Pepper Soup – ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and green bell peppers in an easy-to-make soup recipe that tastes just like stuffed peppers!
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup – This delicious and healthy Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup is a cinch to put together. Serve it with crusty bread for an easy, affordable meal.
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup – comforting and satisfying – and perfect for colder nights!
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Zuppa Toscana Soup
Make this Zuppa Toscana Soup recipe at home! A copycat Olive Garden recipe full of spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale, and russet potatoes in a creamy broth.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bulk mild Italian sausage
- 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 lb. bacon, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 64 oz. chicken broth
- 4-6 medium potatoes, scrubbed and sliced
- 1 small bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped (about 3-4 cups)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, crumble and brown the Italian sausage with the red pepper flakes over medium-high heat, until the sausage is no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the bacon in the same pot, over medium-high heat, until crisp. Remove the bacon to paper towels. Drain all but 2 tbsp. of the bacon grease.
- Add the onions and garlic to the pot; cook until the onions are soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Add the potatoes and kale; lower the heat to medium and cook about 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Add the reserved bacon and sausage to the pot.
- Stir in the cream. Heat through.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Feel free to substitute Italian sausage links. Cut the links open, crumbling the sausage, and discard the casing.
- Use whatever kind of Italian sausage your family prefers - sweet, mild, or hot.
- If you prefer, diced potatoes can be used in place of the sliced potatoes.
- You can omit or reduce the amount of red pepper flakes if you are sensitive to spicy foods.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8 servingsServing Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 573Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 1847mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 27g
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary greatly between brands. Always be sure to read labels.
Originally published on June 9, 2012. Updated on September 1, 2020.
Yum, Zuppa Toscana's my favorite, and I've never managed to make it right at home. Thanks for sharing!
This soup is definitely in my top 5 faves …. LOVE it. Hope you enjoy it – stop back by and let me know what you think 🙂
That looks very good. I am going to try making it.
It's super yummy! 🙂 Let me know what you think.
Wow! That soup is one of our favs! Can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing with us on "Strut Your Stuff Saturday!" We hope to see you next week! -The Sisters
Thanks for stopping by! I'm looking forward to Saturday 🙂
This has always been my favorite. I cannot wait to make it at home now!
Whenever we order from Olive Garden for lunch ( at the office ) they always laugh at me because this soup is what I always order!
I cannot wait to try this recipe!! 🙂
Truth be told … I always order the same thing as Olive Garden, too! Soup, salad and breadsticks – with Zuppa Toscana! LOVE that stuff 🙂
Thanks for posting this! I worked at Olive Garden in college, and their soups are awesome. Think I'll make this for dinner tonight…
Thanks for stopping by! This is definitely my favorite Olive Garden soup … actually, my favorite thing on their whole menu! I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does 🙂
Sausage, bacon, and cream… of course my family will love this soup. I make soup all year too… especially when I want a light meal. I hope you are sharing this today on foodie friday.
I shared it 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend, Diane!
Love this suop, one of my favs! thanks for linking with me opn Wow Us Wednesday.
I always order this at Olive Garden! I love making it at home too, I can control what goes in it 🙂
Jamie,
We will definitely be making this. My daughter LOVES this soup. Thanks so much for stopping by Creative Thursday this week. I couldn't do these parties without you. Can’t wait to see what you link up next week. Have a wonderful weekend.
Michelle
If I had to guess, this is probably Olive Garden's most popular soup … and for good reason 🙂 It's so easy to make at home when you need a Zuppa Toscana fix 😉
My hubby loves this soup but I have never tried to make it. I think I am surprising him with this. Thank you for sharing at Freedom Fridays!
I bet it would make his day! 🙂
This is one of my favorites at Olive Garden! This sounds great!!! Thank you for sharing on Trick or Treat Tuesday!
I always order this! It's my favorite thing on their menu 🙂
This looks so GOOD! Thank you for sharing on Thursday's Treasures Week 38. I hope to see you again very soon. <3 and hugs! http://www.recipesformyboys.com/2012/06/thursdays-treasures-week-38.html
Thanks for stopping by, Debi 🙂
I LOVE soups. I love eating them and I love making them. This soup is definitely going into my "list of soups to make" list. I've pinned for future reference. I just love your blog! 🙂
Julie
Thank you, Julie. Soup has to be one of my absolute favorite things …. Hope you like this one!
Gave this a try for dinner last night and it didn’t disappoint! Easily, a new favorite recipe in my home; the whole family loved it!
Such a warm, hearty and delicious soup! I can’t wait to try it!
My family would love this soup! It sounds incredibly delicious!!
My husband is going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to make this!
Now this is a soup I am adding to the top of my list when the weather cools off!
This is amazing, my whole family loves it! Thank you!