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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.
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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
- bulk mild Italian sausage
- red pepper flakes
- bacon
- small onion
- garlic
- chicken broth
- potatoes
- kale
- heavy whipping cream
How to make Zuppa Toscana
Time needed: 45 minutes
How to make Zuppa Toscana
- Crumble and brown the sausage.
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 bacon.
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.
Add the onions and garlic to the pot; cook until the onions are soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth.
Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Add potatoes and kale.
Add the potatoes and kale; lower the heat to medium and cook about 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in the bacon and sausage.
Add the reserved bacon and sausage to the pot.
- Stir in cream.
Stir in the cream. Heat through.
- Serve.
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!
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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!
Other recipes you may enjoy
- Chicken Broccoli Wild Rice Soup
- Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Soup
Zuppa Toscana Soup
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ pound bacon, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 64 ounces 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 tablespoons 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on June 9, 2012. Updated on September 1, 2020.
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 🙂
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! 🙂
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 😉
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 🙂
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!
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 🙂
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 🙂
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!
That looks very good. I am going to try making it.
It's super yummy! 🙂 Let me know what you think.
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 🙂