Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat (VIDEO)
Zuppa Toscana is Olive Garden’s most popular soup. This one-pot, homemade Zuppa Toscana recipe is hearty and loaded with Italian sausage, kale, bacon and potatoes.
Some of our most popular recipes are restaurant copycat recipes like Creamy Shrimp Pasta and of course Chicken Madeira! You can make it better at home for a fraction of the price!
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Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe:
We love re-creating restaurant quality soups at home like our popular Clam Chowder Recipe. My sister Tanya taught me how to make this Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana and it has been a family and reader favorite since we first published it in 2010. We have since made it heartier and more flavorful. The classic just got better!
What is Zuppa Toscana?
Zuppa means soup and Toscana means Tuscan. Tuscan Soup! It is classically made with kale, potatoes, onion, and garlic then served topped with cheese.
Is Zuppa Toscana Spicy?
We use “Hot” Italian sauce which does give this soup a spicy kick but you can substitute with medium or mild Italian sausage and make a less spicy version then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Do I really need 1 HEAD of Garlic?
YES! We used a full head of garlic (about 10 large cloves). Do not skip the fresh garlic. Garlic gives the broth incredible and authentic Italian flavor. Since the garlic is sautéed, then simmered with the broth, it doesn’t overwhelm the soup. Garlic is also very good for you (a super food)!
Is Zuppa Toscana Healthy?
This soup is naturally gluten free and grain free. To make a Keto-friendly Zuppa Toscana, you can substitute potatoes with cauliflower.
For Whole 30 (dairy free), substitute the heavy whipping cream for 1 can of full fat unsweetened coconut milk (using the solid white cream portion only and adding it at the very end just to heat through).
More Copycat Recipes from Restaurants:
These recipes are inspired by some of our favorite restaurant dishes. In every case, we loved the homemade version even better because of higher quality ingredients, healthier fats (olive oil), less salt and of course a lower bill!
- Beet Salad with Arugula – Cheesecake Factory inspired
- Stuffed Chicken Parmesan – ridiculously easy dinner idea
- Filet Mignon – read the reviews and plan a date night in
- Chicken Mango Avocado Salad – you’ll love the dressing here
- Chicken Stir Fry – so saucy and healthier than takeout
Watch How to Make Zuppa Toscana:
Now wasn’t that easy? Serve topped with crispy bacon, extra cheese and generous slices of crusty French Bread. I hope this Zuppa Toscana becomes a favorite in your home as well.
Zuppa Toscana - Olive Garden Copycat
Homemade Zuppa Toscana is loaded with Italian sausage, bacon, kale and potatoes. Learn how to make Zuppa Toscana soup as made popular by Olive Garden!
Ingredients
- 6 oz bacon, chopped
- 1 lb Italian Sausage, The "Hot" variety
- 1 medium head garlic, 10 large cloves, peeled and minced or pressed
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 4 cups chicken broth/stock, (32 oz)
- 6 cups water, (48 oz)
- 5 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1/4" thick pieces
- 1 kale bundle, leaves stripped and chopped (6 cups)
- 1 cup whipping cream
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese to serve, optional
Instructions
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In a large pot or dutch oven (5.5 qt), over medium-high heat, add chopped bacon and sauté until browned (5-7 mins). Remove bacon to a paper-towel lined plate and spoon out excess oil, leaving about 1 Tbsp oil in the pot.
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Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with your spatula and sauté until cooked through (5 min). Remove to paper towel lined plate.
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Finely dice onion and add to the pot. Saute 5 min or until soft and golden then add minced garlic and saute 1 min.
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Add 4 cups broth and 6 cups water, and bring to boil. Add sliced potatoes and cook 13-14 min or until easily pierced with a fork.
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When potatoes nearly done, add chopped kale and cooked sausage and bring everything to a light boil.
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Stir in 1 cup cream and bring to boil. Season to taste with salt and black pepper then remove from heat. Garnish with bacon and grated parmesan.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I’m curious abt the potatoes used in Zuppa toscana. My thinking is that Yukon golds would make a better taste sensation bc they aren’t as “mealy” as russets. I’m guessing the russets might give off more starch which help to thicken the broth so maybe it’s a trade off. Any comments?
Hi Pauline, I’ve tried it with both, and we prefer this, but that’s a personal preference.
If you want to avoid potatoes or step up the protein use Garbanzo beans instead of potatoes. Very Yummy! They take on the flavor of the soup but maintain a firmness that is perfect.
Good suggestion, thanks for sharing that, Angela.
What a great recipe. I’ve made it several times with great comments from family and friends. About leaving the peel on the potatoes, I follow this rule: If the potatoes are new or in really good shape, I leave the peel on. When they are a bit older, I peel them. Work well.
Thanks again for sharing.
Blessings
Great tip, Kathleen! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
Do the potatoes have to be peeled? I tried the one from Olive Garden and it has the skin. I kind of like that about the soup.
Hi Lily, I used peeled in this recipe but I imagine it will also be good with the skin, I know others prefer that!
Given that the recipe calls for 10 cups of liquid one will use a larger pot or dutch oven. My query is; if we are using a large pot why not saute the sausage bacon and onion at the same time (assuming a reasonably powerful burner)?
Hi Gerry, the bacon is intended to be a topping. We cook it first & then remove it. Allowing the bacon flavor to then infuse into the other ingredients without getting the bacon soggy while the soup is cooking.
Hi Natasha, Well I finally made your Zuppa Toscana, or something similar. You should know that for some reason I can’t quite explain I love to experiment in the kitchen and this zuppa was no exception. Rather than add just finely diced onion, I added finely diced onion, celery, red pepper, and carrot. Then I added baby peas. along with small sliced mushrooms. I used minced garlic. May have to cut back a bit on that next time. I also used baby spinach rather than kale. Did mention I like to experiment? The whole thing turned out very well. In short, a good time was had by all. Maybe I’ll call it Zuppa Canadiana.
Hi Vic! I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you for the wonderful review and for sharing your experiment. I love to hear how my readers recreate my recipes. 🙂
Hello! Thank you for the recipe! We don’t like kale, can you substitute it with anything? What would you recommend? Thanks
Hi Daria, others used spinach and liked the result!
Love love love it !! You are a great cook.I’ve made your chicken and wild rice and learned a lot from you.
Thank you for that wonderful feedback, Janice!
Can I use minced garlic in a package, and if so, how much would equal a head of garlic?
Hi Vic, that will work. I would follow the package instructions; most of them list their ratios. We prefer to use fresh garlic in this recipe.
One of my favorite soups of all time! So good and spicy! Thanks Natasha for another winner!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Fawn!
Can this be frozen? Cooking for 1, and I would like to save portions for later.
Hi Kimmie! I have not tested it but some of my readers have commented that it freezes well.
Love the video. Where did you get your wooden soup ladle from? Love all your videos!
Hi Pattie, I love this ladle! You can find the kitchen tools that I use here on my Amazon affiliate shop.
First recipe I made when I first came across your site. It was fantastic, I love it. The second time I made it I threw in a can of chili beans I had left over from another meal. Wow ! I didn’t think it could be any better but it was. Will make again for sure !
Wow, chili beans? I would have never thought of that. Thank you for sharing your experiment, CJ. 🙂
I am going to add my name to the 900 plus 5 star ratings!!! A true indicator of your delicious soup. I’ve made this several times and each time I trek it here and there with ingredients I have on hand and each time my husband declares it’s the best soup ever! One thing I do consistently is use my homemade chicken broth. This adds so much depth of flavor. Many thanks Natasha for this wonderful recipe!
Thank you for your excellent and thoughtful review, Connie! I’m so happy our recipe was a hit!
Tastes even better than Olive Garden! I didn’t add any bacon since the sausage was already a bit too greasy. I also doubled the kale since it’s so good!! Thank you for this recipe!
You’re very welcome! Glad it was enjoyed, Samantha.
I love making this but I use chopped spinach and when I add the garlic, I toss in a cup of sliced, fresh mushrooms. I also use sweet sausage and a teaspoon of crushed red pepper. Wonderful, hearty meal. Thanks
Yum! Thanks for sharing, Dave. So glad you love this recipe.
Can’t wait to make this! Looks like a potato soup bade w/ meat & veggies thrown in. Looks delicious!
I hope you love it, Sallie!
My family Loved this soup! My store was out of Hot Italian sausage. So I just added a little red pepper flakes to spice it up! Great Easy recipe, wonderful Dish as always miss Natasha! Thank you!
Great to hear that the recipe was a huge hit!
Made this at least 10 times. Family rates it a 10/10.
Well done!
Wonderful to hear, Kris! So glad you enjoy this recipe. Thank you for the reivew.
My local Olive Garden leaves the peal on the Russet potatoes and slices them, not dices. So that’s what I did. It’s simmering now – can’t wait to taste it!
I hope you love it!
I’ve never had OG soup but have friends that love sausage soup so I gave this a try. I didn’t peel the potatoes and I did use minced garlic from a jar. I stuck to the recipe except used all low sodium chicken broth without the water. My husband loved it. I will make this again but with spinach. The kale didn’t really wilt and we agreed that I do better with spinach. I love making your recipes because we’re never disappointed! Thank you Natasha!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Wendy! I’m so happy you both enjoyed this recipe!
Hello, wondering what the serving size is for the bowl mentioned in the recipe?
Hi Roberto. I do not have this measured out that specific. You may want to weigh the soup and divide it by 8 servings.
My family LOVES this recipe. Sometimes it is hard to find a recipe that we all like and this one has become a go-to. I use fresh spinach instead of kale, but that is the only change I make!
Great to hear that, Amber and that sounds alright! Thanks a lot for the review.
this is one of my absolute favorite soups. Spot on! Thanks for posting this!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Matt!
I just made this tonight, and it’s a hit. Like others, I added a little extra Italian sausage and potatoes and ground red pepper (we like it hot:). Bread on the side….yum!
Thank you for this deliciousness!
That’s great, Jantell! Thank you for the excellent review.
Natasha, you’re the ultimate woman, smart, gorgeous and can cook! Your family is wonderful, I’m sure a very loving husband and you two make beautiful children! Love your love of God and community! May God bless you with good health and long helpful life! David DelToro Katy, Texas!
You’re so nice! Thank you for that wonderful compliment! Blessings to you David!
It was a cold rainy day yesterday and I made this for dinner…OMG!! I can’t wait for dinner tonight! This was so delicious, I can’t tell you how much my husband and I enjoyed it. I used 2 lbs of the Italian sausage and more potatoes (just to use up pototoes). I will be using this recipe for a long time to come!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for the awesome feedback! I’m so delighted to hear that you both loved it!
The best recipe ever. I have went only by this recipe and it would put Olive Garden soup to shame, lol. But I have to say nobody has ever not went on and on complimenting it every time I fix it
Hi Lisa! That is wonderful. I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe. It’s a family favorite.
I had never had this soup until a coworker made it for a potluck. I searched for the perfect recipe & found yours. I have made it twice now, it’s so delicious that I could make it at least once a month & not tire of it. I use more sausage and potatoes than it calls for to make it heartier. It’s an excellent recipe thank you for sharing it! 🙂
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Natalie! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review with me!
A little disappointed with this recipe. It lacks real flavor. If I make this again I will 1. omit water and use chicken broth only
2. Make more bacon
3. Add flour or cornstarch to thicken
4. Add salt and pepper and some fennel
Hi Bette, thank you for your review and feedback. Feel free to make some changes or add seasoning according to your preference.
I made this and have to say IT WAS DELICIOUS! I would make many more times in the future!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sandy!
This is what I go back to at Olive Garden. Will definitely try this recipe. Thanks for always sharing your recipes Natasha!!
You’re welcome and sounds good! Please update us on how it goes.
Can potatoes be substituted with Sweet potatoes? We like sweet potatoes. What is your suggestion concerning this substitution?
Thank you so much.
Hello Helen, I have not tried that yet to advise but I think it would be a good experiment. Please share with us how it goes if you try it!
Hi Natasha! I was just commenting to my husband that I have some Uckon (spelling) gold potatoes that need to be used up and here is yours recipe pinned to my soup board! Question though, if I was going to use coconut milk instead of cream, do I add the whole can, or just the thick cap at the top? Didn’t quite understand the directions.
Hi Melissa, You can substitute the heavy whipping cream for 1 can of full-fat unsweetened coconut milk (using the solid white cream portion only and adding it at the very end just to heat through).
I don’t want to use the bacon fat, it hurts, my stomach . I plan on using olive oil, or peanut oil, do you thing this would make a lot of difference,I do this with all recipes that start with bacon fat. Plus I don’t like the taste of bacon in everything, I cook.
Also would spinach work as well as kale? or maybe collards?
Hi Linda! That should be fine to use in place of bacon grease. Regarding a substitute for kale, some of my readers have reported using Escarole, spinach, and power greens.
Does this freeze? I’m thinking to put in ziplock baggies if possible and lay flat in the freezer for future. Thoughts?
Hello L, I haven’t tried freezing this soup myself, but one of our readers wrote: “I freeze this soup all the time! I usually make a triple recipe so I can freeze some for later… It’s as good, or better!” I hope this helps.
This is good to know. I will do the same after I try it, I think I will find it delicious !
Excellent recipe but chicken stock to water ratio is way off in my opinion. First time around was too watery. Next time I did 8 cups chicken stock, and 2 cups water, and that was much more flavorful.
Thanks for sharing, maybe the measurement on your first try was different? Anyway, I’m glad you liked it after the adjustments!
Everybody I have made this for raves about how great it is!
I would like to drill down a bit on the nutritional info: Are the numbers per serving or the whole pot? Is a bowl 2 cups?
Counting carbs in my Diabetes tracker & can adjust, if I get the numbers right.
Seems like a pretty nutritious meal!
Hi S! I’m so glad this was a hit with your group! This soup will make about 11-12 cups, at 8 servings about 1 1/2 cups per serving or so. Yes, nutritional info is per serving. I hope that helps!
I can’t wait to try this recipe out for my cooking club, it will be no doubt delicious! Thanks so much for making this because I’ve always wanted to remake olive gardens!
You’re welcome, Rose. I hope it becomes a huge hit!
Freaking amazing!! Thank you for sharing , we loved it so much!! We even have leftovers for a couple of days.. if it last that long 😋 thanks again!!
You’re welcome, Miranda. So glad you love the recipe a lot!
Made for dinner tonight. It was a winner. We will certainly make this again. Thank you for this recipe.
You’re very welcome! So glad to hear that.
I made the zuppa Toscana soup it turned out wonderful thank you for the recipe I don’t do social media much but I have to say it was a great recipe
Thank you
So glad to hear that you enjoyed this soup, Reuben!
My favorite soup. The only changes I make are subbing broth for water and half sweet half hot sausage. Thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Jake!
uh, that’s a bowl of soup. not bowel. no, not bowel . please fix my prior comment. thank you.
Oh, Mike. That was my laugh of the day….
I have also cut the liquids down, which works best for my variation, using chicken sausage
i have made this recipe many times and have done one minor adjustment. I use three cups of water and three cups of chicken stock. It is merely fabulous and I am presently enjoying a bowel.
Thanks.
Wonderful! Happy you enjoy this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
thats what im using half sweet and half hot.!! and Im sure it later presents a bowel!!!!!! Lol!!!
This isn’t even close to “Tuscan soup of any kind”. In my casa, my sister, mother and wife would be annoyed. Nothing worse than outsiders trying to cook Italian from our regions.
Too bad they didn’t teach you any manners. You don’t have to like it but at least make a suggestion how you would improve it. Don’t just be nasty.
Seriously its OLive Gardens soup.
Thats what they call it and a lot of us love it. And copy cat it. It is a great soup nevertheless. Try it you might even like it!!!!
Thank you for the review, Nancy. I’m happy you enjoy this soup.
Sam – not helpful at all. If it’s not your thing, please feel free to quietly move along. You are rude and it’s not called for.
It’s the name of a soup, on the menu of a popular chain restaurant. It’s a copy, of that soup in particular, not your mothers. It is a shame to hear though, that those women would never make a recipe or try to cook a meal, that didn’t come from their region.
I don’t care what its called, it’s good! If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all. Just go back to your “region” where you won’t be “annoyed” by us outsiders. 🙂
Haven’t made this soup yet but interested in where you got your wooden ladle. It appears to be practical.
Thank you
Hello Heather, you can find the kitchen tools that I use here on my Amazon affiliate shop.
Would I be able to substitute escarole for the kale? Not a fan of kale.
Hi Anna. I have not tried this but I think it would work. Let us know if you try.
Great recipe! Made a minor tweak and left put the potatoes and used frozen Tuscan blend vegetables because my husband is diabetic. Will definitely be making this again!
I’m glad the substitutions that you used worked well in this recipe. Thank you for the review, Valarie!
This turned out excellent!! Much better than Olive Garden’s Zuppa. After reading the comments about it being watery, I omitted the water and used just chicken stock. Wonderful!!! My family loved it!! I will be making this often. This recipe is a keeper!! Thank you for this recipe..
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Renee!
How much chicken stock did you use? Just the amount the recipe called for or did you add more to replace the water? Thank you
I made this for supper and it was fantastic! I always tweak recipe’s a bit, and I like a thicker soup so made a roux, put in less water, and added oregano (from last summer’s harvest)… didn’t have cream so I doubled up on goats milk. Also, had frozen swiss chard from my garden last summer, so put a quart of that in instead of kale. oh my goodness! Fantastic flavor. Love all the garlic.
Hello Liz, that’s great! Feel free to make some minor adjustments according to your preference. Glad you loved it!
Too much water. Also needs butter to transluce the onions. Very weak!
Hi Joe, make sure to add enough of everything else in the recipe so it doesn’t come out watery. If using spicy sausage and the correct amount of garlic, it definitely should not be lacking in flavor though. If you like a thicker soup, you can add a little flour after adding garlic and stir for a minute or two before adding the liquids. That will make it slightly thicker.
Have you had Olive Gardens version? It is a watery broth soup.
Hi Natasha,
It looks so good I’m gonna try it. Love your cooking.
Wanda Clarke
Hi Wanda! I hope you love this recipe!
Do you have a recipe for making this in the crockpot? Thank you.
Hi Celeste, one of my readers shared the following great review on making this in a crockpot/ slow cooker: “We make it in a crock pot. We add the cooked sausage and all ingredients minus the kale and heavy cream. We add the cream and kale 30 mins before serving. It is perfect.” Another reader reported cooking on low for about 8 hours.
I love this soup. Sometimes I make it with chicken breast, sometimes with both the sausage and the chicken breast, and sometimes with only the sausage depending on who is eating it. The chicken is great!!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Robin! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Sorry there isn’t 10 stars to select – because this was all of that. I honestly thought it would be a bit crazy to use 10 cloves of garlic, but wow!!! I have used several recipes for this soup and this is by far WAY better than all the rest. Thanks for this rock star recipe!
Oh one last add to the comment – after grating Parmesan Reggiano, I carved off the rind and threw it in the soup.
That is fantastic news! I am so happy you enjoy this recipe. Thank you for the great review.
Is there a good substitute for the kale? Would spinach work?
Anxious to try it!
Hi Linda, spinach is a great substitute!
You know a recipe is good when you memorized it by heart. I have this soup at least twice a month. Very good staple to have and love how quick it is to make it!
Wonderful to hear! We love this soup as well. Thank you for the great review.
Made it tonight and it was the best soup we’ve had in a long time. I added a fresh farmers’ market carrot with the onion, and fresh corn off the cob with the chard (instead of kale); amazing! I also topped with fresh chopped parsley. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Sounds great! I’m happy to know that you loved the result. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Nailed it! This soup is even better than the restaurant’s I think. And I used to work there! Haha
Love it, thanks for the awesome feedback!
At what step do you add the bacon back in? Is it when you add the sausage and kale?
Hi Gabby, we serve it topped with crispy bacon 🙂
I made this with half broth and half water. I also used spinach. Had mild sausage so I had some red pepper flakes for some heat. It was delicious. My wife wants it again this week! Thanks!
That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
i was not impressed with this one since it used beef brother versus normal chicken broth.
Hi Valerie, did you use beef broth? The recipe calls for chicken stock/broth. Both can be used but we prefer Chicken.
Have made this 3 times in 2 weeks, love it. Each was a bit different because I used what sausage I had on hand. Italian, Cuban and Portuguese sausages were delicious. Made it with spinach once too instead of kale. Soup pots are made to be versatile using sometimes what’s on hand. I also had sautéed carrots and celery. Thx for this amazing recipe!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Rosemary!
I made this and it is very yummy! I only used half of the garlic and it still has a garlicky taste!!
Good to hear that you enjoyed the soup!
I made this last night, as written, and it was excellent. Directions were extremely easy to follow. I will be adding this to my monthly dinner rotation. Thank you for this recipe!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!!
I was cooking for 8 tonight (including 4 boys ages 7-13). Everyone loved the soup! The boys commented on how flavorful it was. I used sweet sausage in casings (took it out) and baby kale since it’s what we had on hand. I doubled the recipe and we will finish it tomorrow I’m sure. I found a recipe for copycat OG salad and we had some thick crusty bread and it was a hit all the way around. I think I have found my “company” meal….been looking for a standby meal that I can easily make for a crowd. I can freeze the soup and bread and then add a quick salad for unexpected guests. My husband doesn’t like kale and he did not even complain and really enjoyed the soup. Thank you!
PS: Since two in the family are sensitive to dairy, I used the coconut milk and it was great! Also I did make the bacon ahead of time in the oven, but after tasting the soup, decided to leave it out…it was so good without it.
That’s good to know. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Gina. I’m happy to know that your family enjoyed this soup! That is so heart warming and inspiring to know.
Thank you! My boys and husband said “You nailed it” Everyone loved it!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Leann!
Can you use heavy whipping cream instead of regular whipping cream? If so, would it be the same portion?
Hi Jet! It will make it even richer! So that will work great!
Excellent Zuppa Toscana copycat recipe!!! I did alter it a bit. First we used baby kale as opposed to regular. It was nice because it gave my daughter a job to do by tearing off the stems 😉 We did add more cream and bacon than the recipe called for as my family loves decadent meals. The only other thing I found different was the prep and cook time. I’m not a super versed chef per se so I do chop more slowly than someone who’s super comfortable with knives. Overall, a very, very delicious meal!!!
Thank you for sharing that with us, Sarah. I’m so happy that you loved this recipe!
My Italian sausage is in casing. Can I just slice it thin and cook that way?
Hi Norma, one of our readers took the casing off her sausage and cooked it that way – she said it worked great! I hope you love this recipe!
I used a gluten-free sausage in casing and just cut it up into halves and quarters. This was a huge hit in our home!
Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
I made the Zuppa Toscana and it was better than Olive Garden! My whole family loved it. I didn’t have any bacon and it wasn’t missed. It was delicious!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new family favorite, Sandy!
Made this delicious soup and shared it with two other couples. We loved it and when the one couple returned container said “better than olive gardens and couple we please have the recipe. The second couple sent me an email to say “soup was delicious, and said it was 10 out of 10. Will definitely make it again.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Linda!
ive been making zuppa for a while, I enjoy your video’s so much! wish i could leave a photo of how great it turned out. Keep being you!
Hello Jessica, great to hear that you’re enjoying my videos. You will not be able to share a photo here but feel free to share them on our Facebook group or page so others can see them too.
Absolutely amazing recipe. I was craving it from OG and decided to make it at home. I went to OG recently and it is official, this copy cat is BETTER than the original! Thank you so much!
Love it! You can now make this recipe anytime you crave it, I’m glad you loved it!
I was wondering why you use 6 cups of water. Why not add 6 cups of chicken broth instead? Wouldn’t that have more flavor?
Hi Veronica, you can do all broth. You may need to adjust to the salt, but that should work well if that’s your preference.
Delicious! I used 1% milk, spinach, and red/gold/russet because they are what I had on hand, so it looked different but tasted so good.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Lauren!
Can this soup be made ahead and reheated or made in a crockpot? I’d like to make it for company .
Hello Carol, I haven’t tried freezing this soup myself, but one of our readers wrote: “I freeze this soup all the time! I usually make a triple recipe so I can freeze some for later… It’s as good, or better!” I hope this helps.
I’ve been making this for years and I often refer to your recipe to keep me straight. I use thick sliced, center cut bacon and simmer it with the potatoes after browning. I also sautee 8 ounces of sliced portabella mushrooms with my onions and add a half teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Good job!
I’m so glad you always come back to this one! That’s so great, Dave!
WOW!!!! Tuscan soup was supber. Left out the bacon. Spot on, delicious. Can’t say enough
Isn’t it the best! I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Barbara!
I was never aware that OG used bacon in their Zuppa Toscana. Eat it often at OG and make it at home.
This was so good and so easy to make! I used a combo of regular pork sausage and added some chorizo for some zip. I used 4 cloves of garlic, which seemed to be just the right amount. Lastly, I used a 5.5 oz package of power greens (kale, chard, spinach) and it tasted pretty good.
I’m glad you loved the result, Jamie! Thanks for the review.
Oh, my gosh! I made this tonight for supper and it was awesome!! It was every bit as good as Olive Garden’s version. My husband said it may be even better. I thought it had more kale and sausage than theirs, and thus was more hearty. This is definitely a winner! Thank you very much, Natasha, for this recipe.
I’m so glad this was a winner, Janine! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I was hesitant to make this today because the first time I made this I had Covid and I couldn’t taste and I blamed the soup and my cooking skills lol, but I’m glad I decided to make this again because wow so much flavor it’s absolutely delicious thank you for a fantastic recipe!
I’m so glad you gave it another try! I’m so happy you enjoyed it and are hopefully feeling better!
Hi…I just wanted to ask/comment…the opening photograph of the video for this recipe clearly shows pieces of chopped red bell peppers and carrots. Why are these delicious ingredients in the photo, but not in the recipe?
Hi Sophia, are you possibly looking at a different recipe? I looked through all the recipe images, including the video, and I don’t have any carrots or peppers on there. I’m curious if your site cookies are stuck and default to another recipe?
I’m pretty sure those are the bacon bits, though it does look like carrots/red peppers.
Very easy to make. I substituted collard greens for kale as my store didn’t have any. So I added the greens after sautéing the onions and let boil for 45 minutes. Then added potato and bit more water following the recipe as written. It was very good, thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome! great to hear that the substitution that you used worked well too, thank you for sharing that with us.
I find I don’t like to add that much cream, also I like to add some red pepper flakes
That sounds like a good idea too!
My Son is a Le Cordon Bleu Chef, he thought I went to Olive Garden and bought this soup. So that’s pretty incredible. My beloved husband asked for seconds and he NEVER does that. My dear, this recipe is fantabulous. ❤
That’s amazing! I’m so glad you both loved it! Thank you for your excellent review, Maggie!
If your son really is a La Cordon Bleu chef and he thought you bought homemade soup at Olive Garden where it comes out of a plastic bag, that is FAR from high praise!
Obviously you should KNOW what you’re talking about BEFORE DISSING OTHERS. OG is made FRESH daily and only bagged because we make it in large batches. Feel slightly STOOPID now?
Oh my goodness! I’ve been having insane pregnancy cravings for this soup from Olive Garden, but I don’t want to eat outside food. You are an angel! My craving is completely satisfied by this delicious recipe! Thank you so very much!!!!!
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Has anyone replaced the kale with spinach? I fine kale to be chewy and my kids don’t like it
Hi Maggie! That should work great! I hope you love this recipe!
I only use spinach for this recipe. I tried kale once and wasn’t happy. My husband loves this.
I use the 10 oz box of frozen chopped spinach. Of course you can use fresh.
Spinach works great! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Recipe looks great! Can I use fresh spinach instead of kale?
Hi Eileen! That should work great! I hope you love this recipe!
I made Zuppa Toscana with cauliflower in place of potatoes (no cream). The family loved it! Thank you. I look foward to more of your recipes.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Candace! I know our readers will find that helpful!
Hi there! Looks delicious but wondering if I could use regular breakfast sausage? Not much of an Italian sausage fan. Thank you!
Hi Blythe, we love it for the flavor! I recommend making the soup without substitutions the first time around and then comparing it with regular sausage!
I always use either hot or regular breakfast sausage! I don’t like Italian sausage either.
I used 9 cups of broth made with better than bullion as directed on the jar and no extra water. I used a tad of extra bacon because the 6 oz pile looked kind of tiny compared to all the other ingredients. I also swapped for a sweet Italian sausage because my husband is wimpy when it comes to spices. He loved it and I brought some to my grandparents and they said they are never going to olive garden again! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re most welcome, Kylie, Thanks for sharing your experience trying out this recipe. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I used hot chicken Italian sausage and half/half to make it a bit lighter and perfection! Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
You’re welcome, Lisa! Thanks for your excellent feedback.
Easy recipe delicious and oh so copy cat!! Family loves it! We’ll definitely keep this in rotation.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review, Sabrina!
Made it tonight, it was very delicious? My husband says it’s better than Olive Garden.
Thanks for the recipe.
Wow! That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Mary!
My boyfriend loved this the first time I made it, and now he asks me to make it all the time lol. If I get a ring out of this, I’m convinced this recipe was the tipping point.
Wow, that’s fantastic! I think he just found a new favorite, that’s so nice. Thanks for the review and good luck!
Perfect dinner for a cold winters night!!! Will definitely be making this again and again!
Yay, thank you for the nice review!
Just perfection. There’s nothing more to say. So delicious on a cold Sunday afternoon. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re most welcome! Thank you for your great comments and feedback, Austin.
Very good! Tried to make it a bit healthier and subbed in zucchini and yellow squash for some of the potatoes. Just added them a little later. It was still delicious! My husband really liked it too!
That’s a great substitution! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
My husband’s favorite from OG. Ever since I’ve made this soup, we
Have no desire to go back to OG. It was so good, my husband enjoyed leftover for days
Hi Crys, happy to know that you both enjoyed this soup! You can now make your favorite anytime you want to at home.
Delicious! Made it for lunch and hubby and I greatly enjoyed! I didn’t have enough kale in the garden so I subbed some bok choy. Will definitely make again!!
Glad you loved this recipe, Sarah. Thank you for the review!
I used the instapot on saute for meat in the beginning to fully cook and used stovetop fry pan for onions separately and boiled the potatoes separately. Everything added to instapot at end. A nice dish in cold weather.
That’s great to know it works well in the instant pot. I love that tool for speeding up processes.
Soup is delicious but way longer than 10 min prep time not sure where that came from. Maybe not all from scratch? E.g. store bought minced garlic, etc. Serving size is alot! I’m begging my one other meat eating roommate to help finish it off. But seriously delicious recipe and one of my most favorites. Enjoy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Angel! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is my husband’s favorite Olive Garden soup so I had to make it. It was absolutely wonderful and makes a big pot so we have enjoyed leftovers. Thank you for this great recipe!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Claudia!
Delicious! I used Cajun hot sausage, all I had on hand. I also used all chicken broth rather than any water. I didn’t have bacon so didn’t add that and only had fresh spinich rather than kale. It was great and will continue to make it! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Lisa! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Natasha,
I just made this tonight and it is fantastic! This is my favorite when we go to OG, but I really think this is better. I have made several of your recipes and they always come out really good. Thank you for all you do!!
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying my recipes, Steve. I hope you’ll enjoy all the recipes that you will try.
I saw a few people made this in the instapot. If doing so how long would you cook it and would it be on high pressure?
Hi Lisa, I haven’t tested that yet to advise of the timing but I saw some comments below the recipe wherein they shared their experience making this recipe in an instant pot. Feel free to check out their tips and comments.
Sooo sooo sooo delicious! My family said it’s better than Olive Garden. I did all spicy sausage but I doubled up the recipe. It was the perfect spice, right on point. Thanks so much for sharing, I’ll never get out of this one hahaha
Wow, that’s really awesome feedback! Thank you for sharing that with us.
Deliziosa! My family loved this. Your recipes are becoming very popular in our house. I’m also sharing them with my daughter whose family is loving them as well. Thanks Natasha for sharing your wonder talents in the kitchen with us ❤️
I’m so glad this was a hit with your family, Bev! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Very good when following the recipe. However, I am curious if I cut it in half would is still be just as good? This always just makes too much for my husband and me!
Hi Erin, yes, this can easily be halved! I hope you give it a try soon!
This recipe was amazing. Easy to follow and full of flavor. Tastes just like the restaurant version. Love natasha’s kitchen. Her recipes really never fail!
Aaaw, that is so sweet of you, Heather. Thanks for the amazing feedback, I appreciate it!
Absolute delicious. Turned out just as you said it would and the smoked paprika made it the best-skinned chicken breast I’ve ever tasted. Thanks for sharing! and please visit us
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I made this for the first time & my husband loved it.. he loves to eat this soup whenever we go Olive Garden… He couldn’t believe how identical it tasted..
Instead of using 6 cups of water, I just used 4 cups.. Thank you for such a great recipe
Sounds good and great to hear that you loved the result! It is so similar and you can now make this wonderful recipe at home.
I have a keto version on the soup that I find delicious! Only 4 ingredients. 1 lb. italian sausage (I prefer hot) 32 oz (one carton) chicken broth, half bunch (I like the pre-cut bag – use half) kale, and 1 quart (one carton) heavy cream or half and half.
Brown the sausage in the soup pot, add the chicken broth to boil, add the kale till wilted and tender, add the cream bring to second boil. Done!
That’s nice, Cathy. Thank you for sharing that version with us, we appreciate it!
Thank you Natasha for this delicious recipe! I’ve already made it few times and my husband and I love it.
I am going to make it for Thanksgiving dinner but totally forgot to buy heaving whipping cream (pregnancy brain😔) can I substitute with cream cheese? I don’t even have milk or half and half☹️
Hi Kelly, I haven’t tried that but I did come across a recipe online that used cream cheese and they stirred in 8 oz of cream cheese (probably best to cut it into chunks for easier dissolving), adding it to the liquid after potatoes are nearly done then simmering for 5 minutes to dissolve the cream cheese before adding kale. I’d be curious to know how it turns out with cream cheese! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love this fast easy spot on recipe! My teens and hubby absolutely love it and yes, it’s a staple in our home for sure! Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome, Kelly. Thanks for your good comments and feedback, we appreciate the review!
Delicious. Instead of cream I added coconut milk. Husband was asking about leftovers for the next day! Great recipe.
Hello TG. Yes, coconut milk is a great substitute and I’m glad you liked it!
This is my meat and potato loving family’s favourite… yummy and hearty. I don’t thick I measure everything exactly, but it turns out perfect every single time. Thank you!!+
That is the best when the family loves what we parents make. That’s so great!
Just made this again with fresh kale form the garden and New York brand Hot Italian Sausage. It is delicious. Thank you for this super recipe.
Fresh ingredients are always the best! Thanks for your review, Nancy.
Wow my wife and I like it a lot.
I had turkey kielbasa and spinach. It was delicious.
Thanks for sharing, I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I’m pregnant and crave this from Olive Garden….. it’s perfect! It’s identical and easy to make! So glad I decided to be brave and try it!
Congratulations Emily! I’m so happy to hear you’re loving and craving this recipe!
I skipped water, but next time will do a half of water and a half of broth, added 2 tbsp of flour as Paul suggested (thanks, Paul!) and substituted kale with spinach. Yummy! Thanks, Natasha!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Julia!
Finishing last bowl of my version of this as I type. As above with these variations. I use a 19oz package of Johnsonville Italian Hot sausage, peeled, cut in half & slice into 1/2″ chunks. browned & drained. I use only chicken broth as needed, no water. I like to add 2-3 mushrooms diced & 1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper. When done, 2 tablespoons of flour mixed with 1 cup heavy cream until smooth & a double handful of chopped Kale. Cook additional 30 minutes.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Paul.