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!

One-Pot Zuppa Toscana Recipe

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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.

Zuppa toscana copycat recipes in bowl with spoon and served with bread

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)!

Garlic, kale, potatoes, onion and hot Italian sausage ingredients for zuppa toscana

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).

Zuppa toscana soup served in bowl next to pot of soup

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!

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

4.99 from 1803 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Zuppa Toscana in soup pot
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!
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 bowls
  • 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

458kcal Calories29g Carbs19g Protein31g Fat14g Saturated Fat84mg Cholesterol906mg Sodium877mg Potassium2g Fiber2g Sugar1150IU Vitamin A18.6mg Vitamin C71mg Calcium2.2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Zuppa Toscana - Olive Garden Copycat
Amount per Serving
Calories
458
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
31
g
48
%
Saturated Fat
 
14
g
88
%
Cholesterol
 
84
mg
28
%
Sodium
 
906
mg
39
%
Potassium
 
877
mg
25
%
Carbohydrates
 
29
g
10
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
19
g
38
%
Vitamin A
 
1150
IU
23
%
Vitamin C
 
18.6
mg
23
%
Calcium
 
71
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2.2
mg
12
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: zuppa toscana
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 458
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

4.99 from 1803 votes (1,306 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Mags
    June 6, 2019

    Hello –
    I want to use cauliflower instead of potatoes. Can you tell me when I should add it? Any different steps to take? And about how much cauliflower?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 7, 2019

      Hi Mags, 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.

      Reply

  • Diane Willis
    June 6, 2019

    This soup is soooo good! Not a fan of Olive Garden! (too many carbs live there) but I grown kale so I had to try it. I sub the hot port sausage for mild chicken sausage and added some red pepper flakes when I sauteed it. I sub the russet potatoes for little red ones (less starch). Made the rest of the recipe as is. My husband is eating some for lunch today and saids it tastes even better the next day. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Will makes this again and again. Thank you so much for this.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 6, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Diane!

      Reply

    • Patricia
      June 25, 2019

      I made this for my dad while my mom was away. He has loved every recipe I have tried on here, but this one made him pick up the phone at 2 am to tell me how good the soup was even though I was in the other room. He kept raving that it was even better than Olive Gardens and that I do not need to know how to cook any other soup. Basically A++ recipe 🙂

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        June 25, 2019

        Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me Patricia. I’m so happy you found a family favorite. I’m all smiles!

        Reply

  • Bill
    June 4, 2019

    What a great base it turns out! As it happened I found myself with about 1/2 of a big bag (Sam’s Club) of broccoli along with most of large bunch of kale and about 8oz of mushrooms all heading south in a hurry. I was trying to come up with something to do with them when I happened onto this recipe. I thought, “what the hell, who needs potatoes”. I thought I’d just turn it into a low carb version, but in the end couldn’t resist throwing in a cup of elbow mac. It turned out to be nothing short of exceptional, certainly one of the top five soups I’ve made and I’ve made a bunch. I used Better than Bouillon so perhaps I ended up with more stock than called for but that’s more about taste anyway. I’m sure the recipe as written is wonderful, but this was so good I’m not sure I’ll ever get to it. 🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 4, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Bill!

      Reply

  • Miriam
    May 29, 2019

    AMAZING! Have you ever considered making your own app? I’d download it asap!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 30, 2019

      Thank you for that suggestion, Miriam!

      Reply

    • Mary
      June 1, 2019

      Agree! Every single recipe is a keeper!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        June 2, 2019

        You’re so nice! Thank you Mary! I’m smiling big reading this!

        Reply

  • Taylor
    May 21, 2019

    This is one of my favorite soup recipes! Tastes just like the one from Olive Garden!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      It is a favorite around here. Thank you for that awesome review Taylor!

      Reply

  • Chelsea
    May 21, 2019

    This is the best soup EVER!! So amazing!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that Chelsea!

      Reply

  • Aimee Shugarman
    May 21, 2019

    One of my favorite dinners!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      Thank you for sharing that with me Aimee!

      Reply

  • Tanya Schroeder
    May 21, 2019

    Such great classic recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that Tanya! It is one of our favorites!

      Reply

  • Cheryl S
    May 21, 2019

    This soup is perfect any time of year! It’s a family fav at our house.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      Hi Cheryl! I’m so happy you enjoyed that! It is definitely a favorite around here also!

      Reply

  • Marina
    April 18, 2019

    Natasha, this soup is perfect for my ketogenic diet. I just substituted potatoes for cauliflower and yum!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 18, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Marina!

      Reply

  • Pat Hatwell
    April 14, 2019

    Hi there, made this for dinner…love, love it. Followed the recipe to the tee…nothing to change. Served with crusty Italian bread. Love all your recipes…

    Pat Hatwell

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 14, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Mary
    April 13, 2019

    I made this with mild sausage and added some red pepper flakes. It was perfect! So delicious, tastes almost exactly like Olive Garden’s, if not better!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 13, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Mary!

      Reply

  • Jules
    March 25, 2019

    Where has this soup been all my life!! Thank you. We are soup fans and this is now easily in our top 5!

    Our mods were equal parts broth and water. Check! Added a handful of sun dried tomato strips and garnished with basil on top of the bacon and Parmesan. Triple check!!! Wicked and thank you. We love your blog!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 26, 2019

      That’s so great Jules!! Sounds like you found a favorite!! Thank you for that wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Val
    March 21, 2019

    I made this today, turned out very Delicious thank you.
    You should post a receipe For broccoli cheddar Soup from panera Bread!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 21, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Val! Thank you for that suggestion!

      Reply

  • Brandon
    March 5, 2019

    48 oz of water = bland soup. Why do you water it down so much?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      March 5, 2019

      Hi Brandon, It makes a big pot of soup and if you keep everything else proportional, it is rich in flavor.

      Reply

  • Lori Sondag
    February 7, 2019

    I made this soup about a month ago for my husband and I and the only substitution I made was using parsnips in place of the potato. We thoroughly enjoyed this soup! Thank you for the recipe. And BTW, I froze the remaining soup in individual servings using freezer bags and this soup is just as delicious the second time around!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 7, 2019

      HI Lori! I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review! 🙂

      Reply

  • Jess
    January 10, 2019

    Making this again tonite, so excited!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 10, 2019

      That’s so great!

      Reply

  • April
    November 21, 2018

    Nutritional information per serving? Please?😘

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 21, 2018

      Hi April! I added nutritional info on this. I hope you love our Zuppa Toscana Recipe! 🙂

      Reply

      • tatyana minchuk
        March 18, 2019

        How much oz is per serving?

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          March 19, 2019

          Hi Tatyana, I wish I had measured it that way! This soup will make about 11-12 cups, at 8 servings about 1 1/2 cups per serving or so. I hope that helps!

          Reply

  • RM
    October 1, 2018

    Where is your pot from?! happen to have a link

    Reply

  • Alina
    September 22, 2018

    Is there a difference between russet potatoes and yellow potatoes? Will it make a difference if I use yellow?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      September 22, 2018

      Hi Alina, yellow potatoes will work fine in Zuppa Toscana 🙂 They are a waxier potato and have a slightly different texture but will still work fine.

      Reply

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