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 tender potatoes. It’s on my family’s regular menu rotation!
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Helpful Reader Review
“Soup was delicious! Best copycat Olive Garden recipe ever! Taste so authentic; I thought I was eating at Olive Garden!” – Marianne ★★★★★
Zuppa Toscana Video
Now wasn’t that easy? Serve topped with crispy bacon, extra cheese and generous slices of Sourdough Bread, or crusty French Bread. I hope this Zuppa Toscana becomes a favorite in your home as well.
Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe
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!
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 from scratch 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! This American adaptation is classically made with kale, potatoes, onion, and garlic, then served topped with Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano.
Is Zuppa Toscana Spicy?
I 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 that’s more kid-friendly, then season with salt and pepper to taste. You can spice up individual bowls later with red pepper flakes if you prefer.
Zuppa Toscana Ingredients
- Bacon – the bacon adds an extra layer of flavor to the soup and a crunchy salty bite when sprinkled as garnish. Parmesan is also a nice touch to serve the soup.
- Italian Sausage – I prefer using ‘hot’ Italian sausage, but you can use mild if you prefer less spice. Remove casings if present.
- Aromatics – I use a whole head of garlic (more on that below) and a diced onion.
- Chicken stock – you can use chicken broth or stock here, or even substitute with turkey stock. Homemade always tastes best, especially bone broth! For richer flavor, you can replace the water in the recipe with more stock.
- Potatoes – you can peel or leave the skins on for a more rustic soup. Russet, or yello wpotatoes work great.
- Kale – strip the leaves from one kale bundle then finely chop. It will seem like alot of kale, but it softens and shrinks down in the soup.
- Whipping cream – heavy cream creates a rich broth. You can use a light cream if desired.
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 an incredible and authentic Italian flavor. Since the garlic is sautéed and 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).
Everyone in my family makes this Zuppa Toscana regularly. I love it when my Mom has a pot simmering on the stove when all of my sisters’ families come over for Sunday lunch. It’s the first thing I reach for, even with plenty of other options on the table (Mom always makes a feast on Sundays!). I hope this Zuppa soup 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 head of garlic, about 10 large cloves, peeled and minced or pressed
- 1 onion, medium, finely diced
- 6 cups chicken broth, or chicken stock
- 4 cups water
- 5 russet potatoes, medium, peeled and chopped into 1/4" thick pieces*
- 1 kale bundle, leaves stripped and chopped (6 cups)
- 1 cup whipping cream, or 1 can full fat unsweetened coconut milk
- salt and black pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese, optional, to serve
Instructions
- Brown Bacon – 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.
- Brown Italian sausage, breaking it up with your spatula, and sauté until cooked through and browned (5 min). Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate.
- Add onion to the pot and saute 5 min, stirring occasionally, or until soft and golden, then add minced garlic and saute 1 min.
- Add broth and water, and bring to a boil. Add sliced potatoes and cook 13-14 min or until easily pierced with a fork.
- Add chopped kale and cooked sausage, and bring everything to a light boil.
- Stir in cream and bring to a boil. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, then remove from heat. Ladle into bowls and serve garnished with bacon and grated parmesan.
Notes
- Fridge: once completely cool, cover and refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Soups with cream and potatoes do not freeze well, so I don’t recommend freezing this soup.
- Reheat: Warm on the stove over medium-low heat or in the microwave until steaming hot. Avoid boiling.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
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!
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- Filet Mignon
- Chicken Mango Avocado Salad
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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.