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 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. 
Just wonderful I cannot have dairy or pork so I use turkey bacon and spicy duck sausage and coconut milk full fat. It was wonderful.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Janice!
Outstanding recipe! I substituted spinach for kale and broth for some of the water but no other changes. This will be a regular in my home.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Ok. So I made this, almost word for word (I messed up on the order of 2 things). I added a little chili flake and replaced the 6C h2o with chicken stock. My family ate this like there was not going to be food available tomorrow. Thank you very much for this masterful recipe!
(I forgot to mention I was looking forward to trying the “Day 2” flavor….little did I know there would be no leftovers!)
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you all enjoyed it!
My husband and I just finished making a pot of this and we are so in love with it! The only thing different we did was we peeled and sliced radishes in place of the potatoes to save some carbs. We couldn’t even tell they weren’t potatoes!
Sounds awesome! I’m glad that you and your husband had a great experience making this recipe. Thank you for sharing, Paulette!
That’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing that with us, Paulette!
I substitute cauliflower for the potatoes, no one complains.
Omg amazing!!!!!! It tastes even better than Olive Garden when it’s cooked in your own kitchen. Perfect winter meal. I added a few other seasonings and used gold potatoes and added spaghetti pieces, but followed recipe to a t.
You are so nice, thank you so much for your kind words and great feedback. I appreciate it, Gina!
I tried this soup , it was delicious !!!!!! I love this recipe , my family love it! Thanks Natasha
So great to hear that, Judy. You are so welcome!
Please clarify…so 48 oz of kale?
Hi, it would be 6 cups of chopped kale if you filled a standard US dry ingredients measuring cup.
This is now my go-to recipe for this soup. I’ve made it for years, piecing together parts of two or three recipes from the internet. Now, I can simply use this one. Thank you Natasha! You’re The Best! Everyone loves Natasha!!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I’ve never had this soup at Olive Garden but my aunt raves about it all the time. So I’m making it today! I saw the recipe on Facebook! Very excited to try this
It is one of our favorite soup recipes! I hope you love this recipe!
How many cups is in a bundle of kale(tacan soup)
Hi Dolores, There is no standard size of the bunch, but a quick google search showed an average bunch of kale is 7 ounces
I have never tried this soup at olive garden because unfortunately I’m dairy free. However I made a batch of cashew cream and substituted it in the recipe; added a bit more chicken stock, some extra seasoning, a bit more kale and it’s so delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoeyd this recipe, Katrina! Thank you for sharing those substitutions with us.
not a kale fan, can you use spinach instead
Yes you can. We have made it with both and they are both very good.
OMG!! It was so…good. I did double the broth and not add water. Next time I will split the second 32 ounces between broth and water to decrease the sodium. I am a little afraid to change it because it was so… good.
I’m happy you enjoyed that, Cheree! Thank you for that great review.
I had a craving today for this soup and bought all the ingredients. Don’t know how many times I’ve made your recipe but I can pretty much do it from memory now 🙂 I had a package of gnocchi that needed to be used up and tossed that in one time. Seriously amazing! xo
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
What is measurement on Kale. I purchased a q16 oz bag. Is that too much?
Hi Ellie, it should be roughly 6 cups of kale.
That wont be enough actually, the measurment for a kale bundle is about 6 cups of kale or 48 oz of kale
Hi Natasha
I love your dishes and have made some. I really liked lasagna roll ups
I am trying to find your wooden soup ladle!! I absolutely love that. Please share where I can buy that.
Thanks so much
Fondly
JG
Hello Jodie, so nice to know that you’ve been enjoying my recipes. You can see the kitchen tools that I use here in my Amazon affiliate shop.
This soup was delicious!!!! Just added a little more seasoning like Italian seasoning and dried basil. This recipe is surely a keeper.Very easy to make. Thanks Natasha.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
A favorite soup, so good!
Thanks, MaryAnn!
Delicious 😋. Easy to make and my entire family loved it.
Thank you, Lisa. I appreciate your good feedback!
This soup is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! Was made with ease, added a few more seasonings and because I wanted the flavor to be a bit stronger I used more chicken broth and lessened the water.
The cream was icing on the cake!
Sounds awesome! I’m glad you loved it and you added more seasoning according to your personal preference. Thanks for sharing, Aisha.
I tried your recipe last night and only used half of the recipe and it was soooooooooo good! My husband loved the leftovers the next day. Thank you!!!
You are most welcome. I’m happy that you both loved it!
I tried so hard to like this soup. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it. It was lacking flavor and heartiness.
Sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy it. I would recommend adding more seasoning to taste next time as it really depends on your personal preference.
Where can I get Italian sausage ,?? None of the stores I go to has any..
Hi Fanny, we purchased it at our local grocery store. Have you tried calling around your area or asking the butcher at your grocery store?
I have made this recipe many times. Sometimes I use Cajun sausage and sometimes mild sausage. LOVE love love it!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hello! Love your recipes!!!
I am wondering how many bags of kale are equivalent to 1 kale bundle, sorry if this is a silly question! Lol
Also! Why add water to the recipe?
Hi Tori, it depends on the size of the bags. It should be roughly 6 cups.
This is absolutely spectacular. It’s identical to the OG. The spice level is perfect with the sausage and I can’t stop eating it.
I cut the potatoes in slices and kept the skin on versus what you do, as I feel it’s more authentic this way. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Joshua! Thank you for that wonderful review!
Your Zupa is the closest to Olive Garden I have had. I have been trying recipes for years, yours is great. Thanks 😊
So great to hear that, thank you so much!
Taste just like Olive Garden. Love this soup.
It sure does! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe, Sharifa!
Best soup ever!!!!!!
This was super tasty! I’ve never been to Olive Garden and haven’t tried this soup before. I made it ahead of time and let sit in the crockpot, and it had quite a bit of heat to it! I must have used some particularly hot sausage, so next time I’ll do half Italian sausage and half hot for my little kids sake. My husband and I really liked the spiciness though! This is now on my monthly menu thanks!
So great to hear that, Emily. I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe, I hope that you and your family will love every recipe that you will try!
Making this for the first time right now. This is my favorite soup from olive garden. I love it and so excited to try it. Quick question though if I want it to be thicker what can I add? Cornstarch with more cream? I love all your recipes by the way
Hi Angela, I hope this recipe becomes your favorite. Yes, you can try that, I imagine that should work fine.
Made this for Christmas and everyone loved it. Thank you!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
I love this recipe so much I’m making it for Christmas this year! Tastes just like the restaurant!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Making this as I write! I’m so excited! My niece made it for me a while ago and hers was really good. Easy to follow recipe. I’ll let you know the outcome when I’m finished.
I hope you enjoy it! We look forward to your feedback!
I just came upon your recipe and am excited to try it. I do a lot of my cooking via crockpot.
Can you make this in a crock pot if you cook meat and saute veggies ahead of time?
Hi Shawn, I think that could work, one of our readers wrote ” I usually make zuppa in a slow cooker and it tastes great! I just saute the garlic and onions and sausage on the stove first and then put all the ingredients (except the heavy cream) into the slow cooker for several hours and then add the cream in right at the end!” I hope that helps.
I used to make mine in the crock pot all the time. The flavor is amazing! Follow the recipe as is, just add the broth and potatoes to the pot. I also add in the sausage, onions and garlic when I start the pot. Let cook as long as you like, I usually do 8-10 hours. Leave the cream and kale for about 10-15 minutes before you’re ready to serve.
Made this tonight with my son and it was absolutely delicious! Very easy directions! Loved the visual image of the shopping list.
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles
Another delicious recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen. I made this before the weekend and my husband and I enjoyed it for three days in a row. I opted to add the kale right before serving each bowl (something I learned from working as a server at the olive garden years ago).
Thank you for sharing that tip with us Kris! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi Natasha, I made it today and it came out delicious 😋 Can I freeze the rest of the soup to enjoy again next week?
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Martha! 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.
Made this soup for my husband and we both loved it.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that wonderful review, Jovon!
First time making it …. turned out great
thanks for the recipe
You are most welcome, Monte. Glad you loved it!
I would like to know if you have a recipe for stuffed mushrooms
Hi Pegi, you can check out my Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.
I have made so many of your amazing dishes, desserts. I am always so impressed how easy you make it. My family and I are grateful for you and all your efforts for us.
Thank you for your appreciation, Robert. It’s very inspiring for me to read good comments like this one.
I love your videos, you are a great cook…really pretty too.
1) How do you plan your weekly menus?
2) How do you maintain such a slender shape and eat all that good food? lol
3) What type kitchen counters to you have ?
Hi Sheila, thank you for that sweet compliment. I don’t have plans to do a menu but I love that idea and will consider it. I work out 4-5 times a week at F45 which is a high intensity 45 minute workout. It helps me a ton to be able to still enjoy the foods I love and feel stronger and more energized as well. We have quartz countertops and love them. There is more info on our counters in our kitchen tour post.
This recipe tastes just like the Olive Garden soup. I wanted to ask how long does this soup last in the fridge? Also, can i freeze some of it or is that not recommended?
Thanks for your great feedback and comparison, Sarah. I honestly haven’t tried freezing it. I’m not sure how the kale would hold up.
I worked at an OG years ago and we added the kale just before we served it. You could freeze without kale and add it when reheating on the stove.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Kale freezes very well. I have seen it in the store in frozen vegetables. I tried it in soup and it was good. I like fresh if available. The frozen is good if you are on a hurry.
Loving all your recipes! No-fail which we all love!
I’ve made so many now and everything is good! Easy to follow and usually everything in fridge or pantry!
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles
This was so delicious and so easy to make. When my boyfriend came home he said it smells just like olive garden. Will save this recipe. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoeyd that, Erin! Thank you for sharing that with me!
This is the best recipe ever! I just moved out and am learning how to cook by following all your recipes! They are amazing!! Thank you so much, I love your cooking ❤
You are most welcome, Cindy! Thank you so much for your excellent review.
Can I substitute the Italian sausage for any other ground meat
Hello Yvonne, I imagine that should be alright too
I made this But I used some butter when the garlic and onion sautee along with a quarter of red pepper. Also, I slice russet potatoes instead of bite-size cut them, leaving the skin on..its delicious!
Sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing that with us, Sarah. Glad you loved it!
Delicious! The recipe says it makes 8 bowls and to me, that meant about half of my soup pot. so…. I doubled it for my crew. Don’t do that! I ended up having to pour half of it into another pot and cooking two separate pots! haha. It’s okay, it was my mistake. I think a single version would make one pot, maybe a little bit less than full. I made the soup with regular sausage, not HOT version b/c we are babies when it comes to spicy things. The only thing is, I wish there were measurements for the salt and pepper. I couldn’t figure out how much to add without over salting or undersalting. Kept having to go back and add more.
Thanks for another great recipe!
Thanks for sharing your experience making this recipe, Diana. I didn’t add the measurements for the seasoning because it really depends on your preference. It’s better to undersalt first, taste it, and then add more if you like. Thanks for trying out this recipe!
Diana, next time I recommend adding atleast 2 tsp (I used tblsp) when you add potatoes rather than wait to the end. Potatoes like pasta absorb the salt better while cooking. May sound like a lot but remember you are salting potatoes, onions, and eventually kale.
I have tried other copycat versions that are posted on the web, but so far, yours is a five stars rating. Thank you for sharing. Now I’m going to make your egg roll.
That is awesome yay! Thank you so much for your great review, Fred.
PIZCA ANDINA
Hi Natasha, Venezuelan farmers, who live in the high mountains of Mérida State quite cold) and have just a few chickens, a cow and a small piece of land, usually have a very simple,modest and unsophisticated but delicious soup called “pizca andina” for breakfast, very easy and cheap to make. Cut a big potato (o a little more) in small but bite square pieces, cut 2 or 3 green onions (white and green leaves included), cut a good amount of cilantro stems in 1 inch size and sauté in two soup spoons of butter until soft but not brown. In the same cooking pot pour 1 quarter of whole milk, add two tea spoons of salt or up to your best taste and go to a very moderate boiling and keep it so until potatoes are soft. When ready, add small dices of white cheese (salty preferably) and give it a few minutes to melt a bit. That is the original and traditional
recipe. Serve. I added my personal touch by adding some crispy bacon but I do´nt reveal it to any one cause my fellow cooks are VERY traditional and I would risk a probable and radical excommunication jejeje. Hope you try and enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing that with us, I hope I can try that recipe!
After discovering your videos, I find that you have some of the very best recipes, including the recipes on tv…. so simple, so good. On the top on my estimation.. a sweet way of displaying it.
Thank you for that wonderful compliment!
Made this soup quite a few times now and I am still impressed how delicious and easy it is to make.
Borscht with meat takes so much longer to make and I equally put them on a same rating scale.
Natasha great work again!
Thank you for that wonderful feedback Nikolai! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I made this today. Delicious. I used sweet mild sausage. However, the liquid was too much compared to the ingredients. Added extra potatoes, sausage, and cream. When I make it again, I will not use so much water.
Hi Linda, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, you can definitely add more bulk if you love a heartier soup.
OMG just made this! Followed recipe exactly! You’ll think your at Olive Garden! This is awsome! 5 stars. Now to resist eating the whole pot in one sitting!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
This was great! We substituted ground chicken and used italian seasoning instead of the Italian sausage. Just not a fan of sausage. It tasted great with the ground chicken!
Sounds great! Thank you for sharing that with us, Jessica. I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Wonderful on chilly Fall days!
Definitely so perfect!
I have not made this but I’m Italian and I have seen numerous recipes that call for adding water to a soup. I would NEVER add water to soup. Water? No flavor!
Feel free to omit the water from the recipe, we liked it with more soup so we added water.
is this soup good for freezing?
HI Dee, I honestly haven’t tried freezing it. I’m not sure how the kale would hold up.
Kale freezes fine. I’ve used it in other recipes with no problem.
Yes, I have frozen this many times! The texture changes a bit but it’s still delicious.
Thank you so much for sharing that! It’s wonderful to know it freezes well.
This is the second time I made this for my family. My son put in a special request for me to make it again. Love this recipe! I was unsure if my teens would eat kale and substituted it with spinach. Delicious! Thanks for the great soup.
That is so great, Patricia. I’m glad you and your kids enjoyed this soup!
Amazing each and every time. One of our family’s favorites.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
To the t!!!! Best recipe ever
Love it! Thank you, Tammy.
This is an absolutely phenomenal tasting soup! I’ve made it several times over the past couple years and follow the recipe to the T. I love cooking this for my wife especially on a cold winter day, because she too thinks it’s an incredible soup!
I’m so glad that you both enjoyed this soup, Terry. I agree – this is really so delicious and one of our favorites at home too!
Love this recipe! Thank you so much for what you do!
Hello Alexandra, thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I made this tonight for the first time. I am not a good cook, nor do I enjoy cooking. However, I love this soup at Olive Garden so I tried to make it. It was perfect!! My husband raved about how good it was.
Hello April, you can now make your favorite recipe from Olive Garden anytime at home! I’m glad you loved it.
All I had was sweet Italian sausage But husband doesn’t like spicy. So wld u suggest I add some paprika to it.
You can try that, Jennifer. I think that will work well too. Please share with us how it goes if you do try it.
I don’t like sausage can u use any other meat or just omit it?
Hi Jennifer, I haven’t tested a substitution, but trying plain ground meat like ground turkey or chicken will make the overall soup taste more like a meatball soup than Zuppa since you would be lacking the spiciness. I would suggest adding some spice since the sausage is a spicy sausage.
I tried a different recipe, but I use this Only now and have been making it for the last few years. It’s my go-to soup (other than borscht) About a year ago, my husband and I started dating & this was the first meal I made for him. So not to give you credit Natasha, but it might have sealed the deal it’s our favorite!
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m all smiles
I love your step by step videos! I’ve made zuppa before but will now ONLY use YOUR recipe! It was the BEST. I think in the past I have skipped the bacon but it sure adds flavor! I love the one pot recipes like this. Thank you for the recipe and the video!
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m all smiles!
Are the serving sizes for adults? I need to feed 6 adults this and 3 of them are heavy eater men. I’m making bread as a side but what are your thoughts? Would the original recipe for 8 feed everyone dinner?
I’m thinking of just adding a 2-3 more potatoes, whole thing of bacon, and 1-2 more cups of water?
You could but it would just be more hearty if you didn’t add more liquid so it’s up to you, but if you do, make sure to adjust seasoning accordingly since just adding water can make it bland. Broth would be a better choice.
Hello Miki, Yes, the serving size is for adults. If they are heavy eaters you can add more, just click on the number of sercings to adjust the ingredients.
sooooo good! first time trying this soup, sorry I waited so long! I used hot turkey sausage and used reg and turkey bacon, turkey for me..will be making this again and again and……
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is honestly better than Olive Garden’s Zuppa! My husband and I devoured this in a few days and have shared your reciped with family. This will be a go-to especially throught the winter. This is the first comment I’ve ever written on a recipe!
Wow! That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Can it cook in the crockpot for a few hours?
Hi Jenny, I have not tested that but here is what one of our readers wrote ” I usually make zuppa in a slow cooker and it tastes great! I just saute the garlic and onions and sausage on the stove first and then put all the ingredients (except the heavy cream) into the slow cooker for several hours and then add the cream in right at the end!” I hope that helps.
Awesome thank you! That’s exactly what I was thinking. Making this today.
I hope you love it Jenny!
This was soooooo good! Thank you Natasha for the recipe!
You are most welcome, Jen!
I used to go to Olive Garden just for this soup. I made this soup for my family and it is delicious!! Now, I will be making it at home. It takes even better the next day. Yum.
I meant “tastes”
It is one of our favorite soups! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
What can you use instead of kale? That’s nasty. I used to feed that to my bearded dragons.
Hi Curt, you’re welcome to substitute that with spinach for kale.
My mom and I enjoy this recipe SO much!! We go to Olive Garden all the time, so it’s nice to make it at home without going anywhere. Thank you so much!!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying this recipe!
How do you think this would freeze?
Hi Kate, I haven’t tried freezing it but one of my readers froze it and shared the following helpful info: “I froze the remaining soup in individual servings using freezer bags and this soup is just as delicious the second time around!”
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!
My husband thinks that he does not like Kale, is there a substitute?
How about spinach? I think that’s a good one.
If I sub cauliflower instead of potatoes should I reduce the water??
Hi Nikki, I haven’t tested that so I cannot advise, but here is what one of our readers wrote ” Natasha, this soup is perfect for my ketogenic diet. I just substituted potatoes for cauliflower and yum!” I hope that helps.
Daikon is another Low carb substitute for the potatoes…
Great idea! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Absolutely amazing!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Naomi!
Hello if I’m using preminced garlic in a jar how much would I use also I’ve got a bag of kale would a bundle be equal to about 2 cups??
Hi Katherine, I would follow the conversion on the bottle to match per clove. Most bottle show a single clove of garlic is equal to 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic, which is the same as 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic. I hope that his helpful.
Just made this tonight and it turned out great. I added one and a half pounds of sausage for a more meaty flavorful soup and it worked. My husbad went to the store to get the stuff for it and accidentally got Silk dairy free heavy whipping cream and it still tasted amazing so thought I’d share for anyone with a lactose sensitivity…my boys like it so much they are actually quiet lol, wish it would let me share a picture it looks awesome!
So nice to know that it also worked well! Thanks for sharing that with us, Liz.
Thank you Natasha! I am so pleased with not only how easy this was to whip together but the bacon and parmesan garnish just made it extra yummy! Made it to the recipe with an extra handful or two of kale, a load of crusty bread and dinner was served! Big hit!
This is one of our favorite recipes, Pamela! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Would this work with Spinach? I’m not a huge fan of Kale’s texture even in soups. Thanks!
Hello Heather, others shared that they used spinach and they loved it!
Good soup. This was a recipe that came up with a quick search. I used a different recipe previously with less cream and no water- just 6 cups broth and liked that richer flavor better.
Hi Alison, thank you so much for sharing that wonderful feedback with us, I’m happy you enjoyed that!
DELICIOUS, made this for my husband, I halved the recipe and it came out perfectly for 3 people, so great will make this again. Thanks for the great recipe!
You’re welcome, Shelby! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
to make this lower sodium, could you just use lower sodium broth and have it taste similar, salting as needed when you make a bowl?
Hello Molly, I haven’t tried that yet but I imagine that should work
I haven’t attempted this yet, but any lower fat recommendation than the heavy cream?
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).
My mother-in-law thought that I stopped by Olive Garden and got this soup to go. Spot on.
Super! What an awesome compliment, thank you!
Would to print Recipes
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that happen to make you that happen!
T you be able to help.
Thank you very much.
Hi Nancy, are you looking for help with printing a recipe? If so you can print the recipe following these steps here “The print friendly recipe is at the bottom of each post. Once you scroll there, click on the print icon in that recipe card which will open a print screen, then you would need to click file —> print. I hope that helps! If not, please let me know exactly what steps you are taking and where you are navigating to print our recipes.”
Can I substitute spinach for kale?
Hi Melissa, you sure can! I hope you love this recipe!
I can’t tell you how many times I have made this soup! It’s a crowd pleaser every time. Love it
That’s so awesome Pearl! It sounds like you found a family favorite!
Better than Olive Gardens soup. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you for that amazing review Pat! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Zupa Toscana is my very favourite soup. I always double the recipe and freeze it.
One of our favorite soups! So so good – always!
Tried it today. We didn’t have bacon, so substituted sliced prosciutto and reversed the order, sausage first, then prosciutto, so as not to overcook that. Still turned out excellent. Definitely making this again
Great to know the information. Thank you for sharing that with us, Eva. I am so glad that you loved this recipe, thanks for your excellent feedback!
Big hit at our house !!! Thank you it was delicious 😊
You’re welcome! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Amazing soup! Thank you for offering such great instructions to make this recipe; it is a favorite soup of my husband and I so no more need for Olive Garden!
I’m so glad that you and your husband loved this recipe. It’s also one of our favorites at home!
I’ve made this countless times as it happens to be my daughter’s favorite. I make this with whatever ground meat I have in hand and just add some spice and red pepper flakes for the kick. Love that it is naturally gluten free. Also, I make this dairy free by substituting cream for coconut milk. It tastes wonderful and the change is so subtle you can barely tell under the aromas of garlic and meat.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Excellent recipe. I’m no fan of the bitterness of kale. I substituted baby spinach for the kale. Perfect.
Sounds good, Jim. I’m glad that kale worked!
We enjoyed the soup. Used a 10 oz bag of Kale. Froze the leftover’s. Next time will use mild sausage maybe add pepper flakes. Forgot cheese and bacon the next day for lunch, favor was milder.
Thank you for that great review! I’m glad you enjoyed that.
As a former OG employee, just a few notes, way too much garlic, should be mild Italian sausage, and missing the crushed red pepper, also cut potatoes into slices and the starch will settle better
I’d give more stars if I could! This soup is wonderful, and I actually thought I wouldn’t really like it. I don’t like italian sausage but liked it in this (I used the sweet as I don’t like hot stuff). Only change I made was: instead of 6 cups water and 4 c. broth, I used 8 cups broth and 2 cups water. OH, I did ad some frozen corn too-we really liked that in it. This soup was so tasty. Me and hubby kept saying that while we were eating it, lol. Thanks Natasha
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me Brenda! It sounds like you found a new favorite.
I made this soup for my husband since he always orders it at Olive Garden. It is delicious. This will be one of my go to recipes when the grandchildren visits. Easy to make and I served it with garlic bread.
I’m happy to hear your comments and feedback. I’m glad this has become your husband’s favorite!
I first made this 1-2 years ago and have repeated it a few times since. I believe this recipe gets better with each time I make it! It’s a fantastic meal, suitable for special occasions or just for a quiet night with a book.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite Mike!
My husband’s favorite soup. Our Olive Garden went out of business. Must be because your soup is so good that everyone is making it at home instead of going out. I’m making this for lunch today on this bitterly cold day. Ymmm!
This is also one of our favorites soups Helene! Thank you for that wonderful feedback.
I greatly appreciate that you list the nutrition. And I appreciate your recipes. I am on a rather low sodium diet, and when people list the nutrition, it gives me a baseline on what the sodium level is as the recipe lists, and I can figure out how much I have to trim back. It helps a lot. Some of your recipes are low enough it doesn’t take a lot of work from me. Replacing sodium with flavor takes work, as I am sure you know!
Oh. kale. Yucky as a salad, so yummy in a soup. I have been doing it in soups for years.
Again, thank you so much for what you do. It helps me a lot in figuring out how to eat with low sodium. I have been hospitalized due to salt, so it can be a huge deal.
Sherri
You are so welcome, Sherri. I’m glad that the info helps you a lot in planning your diet. Wishing you good health and all the best!
Made this tonight for dinner! Delicious and rave reviews from my husband. Since there only the two of us, I didn’t want to add spinach to the soup as it would overcook when being reheated. So, not being a kale fan, I thawed and cooked part of a bag of frozen spinach in the microwave and added it to the soup bowls before serving. Perfect! I also only used 2 cups of water and 8 cups of chicken broth. Thank you for a terrific recipe!
Perfect! Thanks for sharing that with us, Carol. I appreciate the great review too!
Frozen spinach…smh
Seems like a good way to ruin a good thing by adding mushy microwaved spinach but you do you.
My husband has been asking me to make this for a few days now. He absolutely loved it and he is a picky one too. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thanks for your good review and feedback. I’m so glad that your husband loved this!
WOOOW! Definitely a keeper! We really enjoyed this soup and all it’s flavors! Risked the hot italian sausage (wasn’t sure if it might be too spicy for us). I’m so glad I did because it was sooo delicious! Wow, the flavor…every bite! Will absolutely be making this over and over again! Thank you Natasha!
I’m so glad you found a favorite on our blog, Cheryl! Thank you for that amazing review.
I made it and it is that good, need to get my chunks broken up, and learn what bite-size is.. Even my daughter enjoyed it. Garlic bread adds to the atmosphere.
I’m so glad to hear it. Thank you for that great review, Robert.
Love the soup it’s my favorite. Question do you know what it’s like to freeze? Love to be able to keep some on hand for my non beef eaters. Thanks
Hi Melissa, I haven’t tried freezing it but one of my readers froze it and shared the following helpful info: “I froze the remaining soup in individual servings using freezer bags and this soup is just as delicious the second time around!”
Looks like 5 stars to me. Wondering if this soup would take kindly to being frozen in portions to thaw and enjoy later?
Hi Ron, I haven’t tried that but I don’t see why not. I think it would work to freeze it.
Absolutely! I make this soup in bulk for my husband and freeze it. I place It in individual sized serving bags. All of the veggies hold their firmness after thawing and reheating. This soup is just as good the second time around!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed this Lori! Thank you for this awesome feedback!
SO delicious!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Jill!
Making this for my big guy for valentine’s day here in WI it’s so cold here. He can’t stop saying it smells so good. Love all the recipes and the videos. Huge fan
This is THE perfect comfort soup for the cold and chilly nights. I’m smiling big reading this comment. Thank you for sharing that with me.
Hi! in my country we do not have Italian sausage, can I substitute with some other sausage?
Hi Wendy! I bet another sausage would work. The taste will be slightly altered but will work. If you experiment I would love to know how you like the recipe.
Thank you! I will continue looking if in some place I found Italian sausage, if not I will try with something similar and I will let you know about the experiment.
Oh my gosh!!! I just made this & I cannot stop eating it! Ive never had this soup before & never had kale & I love it all!
I am 64 & have arthritis so I put the potatoes in my Cuisinart with a thick slice blade. perfect.
Sounds like you found a new favorite, Susan! Thank you for sharing that amazing review with us!
I have made this 4 time and just love it but the last two time I made the soup it soured when i put it away to eat the next can you tell me why?
Hi Michael, it definitely should not sour that quickly. Did it taste off? Sometimes it may look like the fast separates from the broth but reheating fixes that right away. Hopefully, that is what you mean. I’m not sure why else that would happen unless there was some kind of substitution.
How many days will the soup leftovers be good?
So delicious
Hi Christie, I haven’t stored it for more than 3 days. Since it has dairy in it I probably wouldn’t go much longer.
It’s because of the kale.. if it’s cooked at too high of a temperature for too long the kale will sour. Happened to me once as well.
My husband isn’t a fan of kale. Could I use cabbage instead of kale and get a similar taste?
Hi Sheri, I haven’t tested that with cabbage but it does work great with Spinach. If you experiment with cabbage I would love to know how you like that.
My family hates kale, but after making this soup with kale it’s their fave soup. It wilts , isn’t bitter and I put so much mire than recipe calls for now cause it’s so healthy…
That’s so awesome, Beth! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi Sheri!
The cabbage would definitely alter the taste and easily overpower the other flavors in this soup. The kale and/or spinach are your best bets. Honestly, they pick up so much flavor from the soup, you’d be surprised. If you do use cabbage, please share the results.
Just purchased all the ingredients this weekend to make today. It is rainy, windy and a great day to enjoy a warm bowl of soup with good bread!! Can’t wait to try this one since I tend to enjoy all of your recipes. I will let you know how I do. This is my husbands favorite soup at Olive Garden.
We absolutely love this one on a cold and rainy day! I hope you love this recipe!
Hi, I don’t see where in the instructions it says to add the heavy cream. When do I add it?
Hi Casey, we have it listed under step 6 in the recipe. “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.”
Kale in this soup??? OK, I’m not a fan of Kale in anything. So what might one substitute for Kale?
Hi Robert, kale is sooo good in this recipe! We have tried it with spinach in the past as well and loved it. You are also welcome to omit it.
This soup is soooo good! And super easy to make. My husband isn’t usually a soup eater, but he said this one is a keeper (and he went back for more!) Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Sounds like you found a new favorite! That’s so great!
recipe is good
I’m so glad you enjoyed that!w
Any way this could work using a crock pot?
Hi Jessica, I have not tested that but here is what one of our readers wrote ” I usually make zuppa in a slow cooker and it tastes great! I just saute the garlic and onions and sausage on the stove first and then put all the ingredients (except the heavy cream) into the slow cooker for several hours and then add the cream in right at the end!” I hope that helps.
Fantastically delicious and incredibly easy to make!! It was a perfect dinner on a cold snowy night. Thank you for this recipe! I’ve already bragged to my sisters and sent them the link.
You’re welcome, Shannon! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
This is a terrific soup! However, it is truly a one pot meal so you don’t have to complicate. Keep it simple
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing that with us!
Delicious!!! I just made the Zuppa Toscana today. I probably didn’t need to add salt & pepper since it had so much flavor from the Italian sausage, bacon & parmesan. My husband & I love it and it will become a family favorite! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
That’s just awesome, Karen! I’m so happy to hear that!
I just made a pot of chicken stock from scratch; I was wondering if you ever used 100% stock instead of a mix of broth and water…??
thought it might give it a more robust flavor.
And by the way, your instruction to add the garlic for about a minute after the onions are sautéed is a much more knowledgeable instruction than dumping it in at the same time as the onions – as other recipes say. It will become bitter that way. Well done!
Thanks!
Hi Julie, I haven’t tested that with all broth, I imagine that will make it richer. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I do not use water, I use all broth and its fabulous!
I will try to make it with cauliflower and hope it will be good too.
What do you think?
Thank you
Hi Cici, that sounds delicious. If you experiment, let me know how it goes!
This soup is absolutely amazing and so easy to make. Has became a House favorite for my husband and myself.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
This soup is very delicious, hearty, and “zuppa” easy to make! I followed the recipe almost exactly, cooking the potatoes separatedly and adding the potato water to the pot. Also, I made a vegan version! I subbed bacon for homemade portobello “bacon”, sausage for homemade leftover spicy veggie patties, and heavy cream for unsweetened coconut milk. So yummy!!!
Thank you for sharing that vegan version with us! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed that!
Have made this 4 times now it’s so good! My family loves this and thinks it actually tastes better than OG’s version!
That’s amazing, Molli!! Sounds like you found a new favorite!
The vidoes on your page keep automatically playing sound. And when I pause them, instead of turning off, it jumps to that recipe page. So incredibally annoying to look up recipes.
That definitely isn’t supposed to happen. I will report it to my tech team. Thanks so much for letting me know!
The one thing that’s missing is crushed red pepper.
That’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing that with me!
What is a good dish to make along side it? At Olive garden I get this soup and sometimes salad or a pasta, so I wasn’t sure what your thoughts are on this.
Hi Tashmier, we love serving this with dinner rolls. We have so many pasta recipes that it’s difficult to narrow it down but one of our favorites is Chicken pesto pasta. I agree this is wonderful with a fresh green salad (again, we have so many!), but Classic Caesar is always a good choice.
Thank you for this recipe ! Our home smelled absolutely delicious after making this soup for dinner tonight , I may have snacked a little to much on the bacon before the soup was done lol. Our family loved it ! Even the kids wanted seconds.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Lyndsy!
Your Zuppa Tuscana soup was spot on!! My family loved it and I had fun making it. 5 stars plus!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Carolyn!
Hi Natasha! Could I freeze this? Thank you!
Hi Naomi, I haven’t tried that but I don’t see why not. I think it would work to freeze it.
Can I use pancetta instead of bacon? Has anyone tried that?
Hi Joanne, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
Would regular milk be ok? I could make my own heavy cream but I only have 2% milk on hand. If not I have some half n half. This will be my second time making your recipe but I had heavy cream last time. It also has good flavor using beer bratwursts, I took the casings off. Adding the red pepper flakes does give it flavor as well.
Hi Michaela, I have not tested that with milk but one of my readers recommended canned coconut milk (the cream part) to make it creamy and dairy-free. You can also use half and half to make it a little lighter.
Love your recipe! The only things I did a little differently were to keep the skins on the baby potatoes I chopped, to give it a rustic feel, and to add a cup more cream with one less cup water. It’s soooo good!
That sounds so good! Thank you for that great review, Theresa!
Hi Natasha
Is the bacon for sauté flavoring and garnish only? I am substituting Spinach for Kale. (Not a Kale fan).
Thanks
Hi Marlene, the bacon adds great flavor to the soup and it’s nice as a garnish. I hope you love it with your substitution.
This is a great recipe. If you ever want to spice it up a bit. I swapped out half the sausage and replaced with Chorizo sausage to appease my Latino wife and her family. They absolutely loved it!
Thank you for sharing that great idea with us! I’m so glad your entire Family enjoyed that.