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
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
- 6 cups chicken broth/stock, (48 oz)
- 4 cups water, (32 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
- 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.
- Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with your spatula and sauté until cooked through (5 min). Remove to paper towel lined plate.
- Finely dice onion and add to the pot. Saute 5 min or until soft and golden then add minced garlic and saute 1 min.
- Add 6 cups broth and 4 cups water, and bring to boil. Add sliced potatoes and cook 13-14 min or until easily pierced with a fork.
- When potatoes nearly done, add chopped kale and cooked sausage and bring everything to a light boil.
- 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.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
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Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
So delicious and so easy! I used mild sausage but ended up adding red pepper flakes because I was too conservative! Next time, as written!
Did you change the recipe? I could have sworn there were red pepper flakes and it was cooked differently. Something about the flavor in this one is not quite right.
Hi Yelena! The only change we made was to use more broth and less water. You can watch the old recipe in the video. We haven’t been able to re-film it.
Made it last night and my family loved it. They were skeptical at first because they never heard of it. Tasted just like the restaurant. I even made the salad and breadsticks to go with it. I definitely will be saving this recipe and making again.
I didn’t see storage instructions. How many days in fridge and can it freeze ok?
It can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. You can freeze it for up to 3months but soups with creamy tend to get grainy when reheat from frozen. When you reheat it, reheat it on low heat.
I dont like Kale. What can be used instead of Kale?
Spinach or escarole are great alternatives.
This is amazing, followed recipe exactly. Will never need to go to the restaurant again for this. Thank you so much Natasha, amazing.
I’ve made this for my family many times. It tastes better than Olive Gardens. I use Knorr Chicken Bouillon for everything, so that is what I used for this perfect recipe. Thank you.
So happy you’re enjoying this recipe, Keith!
Can I use milk instead of whipping cream?
Hi Shannon! Yes, milk can work too. It won’t be as rich or creamy but works well for a lighter version.
Do you drain any of the grease from the pot after cooking the sausage?
Hello there! I would drain the grease if there’s too much.
Thanks for getting right back to me. I’ve made Zuppa Toscana for years but I lost my recipe. After reading many 4.8, 4.9,and 5.0, yours sounded best. It’s easy, and came out delicious!! I will be serving it tomorrow for a Church Linger Longer, so made 16 servings.
Can’t wait to make the delicious winter warming soup. Can we use spinach instead of Kale. Than you so much for the recipe
Hi Julie, I LOVE having this soup in the winter. Yes, spinach works well! I hope you love it!
I use spinach every time, it turns out wonderful!
Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
My family LOVES this soup. Sometimes I substitute the potatoes ravioli…it is awesome too!
Thank you.
I love this recipe. I add an extra lb. If Italian mild sausage with a lb. of spicy Italian sausage. This is not just a soup, it’s a meal!❤️
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Jacqueline! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Natasha,
Happy New Year!!!
A little discrepancy : on your video , you say 4 cups of chicken broth and 6 cups of water … your Recipes ask for 6 and 4 …Also u show us chicken stock , anyway, I use 6 cups stock and 4 water … Best soup i ever make (according to my wife & kid )
Please let me/us know.
Thank you , all the best!!!
Hi Julian! I’m so happy to hear it was a hit with the family. The written recipe is the most up to date version. Sometimes we updated a recipe but can’t update the video since it’s already been filmed.
Also, in the recipe card I mention broth/stock, they can be used interchangeably. I hope that helps clarify.
As usual, Natasha’s videos and recipes are perfection. I made a double batch of this for our New Year’s Eve party. HUGE hit. I had to make a few modifications: I used coconut milk because a few partiers are lactose intolerant and Yukon Gold potatoes because I knew I had to use the Insta-Pot to cook the whole pot. I cooked the bacon, sausage, onions and garlic as demonstrated, but since I don’t have a big enough Dutch oven, so I put everything but the coconut milk and kale in the Insta-Pot for 10 minutes, with a “quick” release (lol). Then I stirred in the coconut milk and kale, which stayed vibrant green and beautiful. The IP also made a more watery soup than I was expecting, so I mixed in a potato starch slurry. It was a show stopper!
I’m so glad this was a huge hit, Lisa! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I’ve made this recipe several times since going to Olive Garden. Everyone has loved it. I think it is an amazing recipe. Very easy to make and it is absolutely delicious, even if I made it
We really love this one too, Jon! Thank you for sharing.
The first time I made this I knew I wouldn’t have to go back to Olive Garden. I loved the soup at the restaurant, but I always felt like the potatoes were not scrubbed enough. With this version at home, I was able to scrub my potatoes properly! Plus the nice thing about making it at home is now I can add flavor. When I want to make this soup this is the only recipe I come too.
Excited to try this recipe. Do you think it would still be great if I left out the heavy cream/coconut milk?
Hi Sue! I’ve never had this soup without the cream. It should work, but you may have to adjust the seasoning for more flavor.
I love this recipe! My husband is not fond of cream soups, so I take his portion out before adding the cream. He loves it! No additional seasonings needed!
This recipe is great. I used half sweet Italian and 1/2 hot sausage. I was skeptical about using a whole head of garlic but I am now a believer. This is the first time I’ve used kale. Pleasantly surprised that this recipe is so delicious without any added salt or pepper.
This has become a soup staple for us. SO flavorful and delicious. I crave it often.
I’m so happy you found a favorite on my blog!