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!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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!
- Beet Salad with Arugula
- Stuffed Chicken Parmesan
- Filet Mignon
- Chicken Mango Avocado Salad
- Chicken Stir Fry
- Shrimp Scampi
- Monterey Chicken
- Homemade Salsa
- Chicken Piccata
I made this today for dinner but my husband hates kale so I used spinach. I served it with homemade French bread. Everyone loved it! This will go in my favorites recipe file. Thank you, Natasha!
Thanks for sharing that you used spinach. I’m glad everyone loved it!
May I please ask how much spinach you used and, was it frozen, canned or fresh? Thanx! (We’re not big fans of kale…)
This was delicious. Husband really liked it. Thank you for the recipe.
This is easily now my favorite soup recipe ever! It was so flavorful and perfect for our 35 degree weather today!! So cozy. I thought I was bad cook until I started using Natasha’s recipes, now I’m always wowing the family with great meals. I’ve never had one we didn’t all love ❤️
I’m so glad to know that you’re enjoying making my recipes! Thank you for sharing that with us.
A solid recipe. I was worried about the four cups of water but it didn’t seem to affect the flavor at all. Very good and will make again.
Like to make it during cold weather Recipe easy to follow,
Perfect. Tasty. Easy to make. Love it. Definitely recommend.
This is super easy to do! Delicious as well. One of my first soups I started to do since I started cooking! I make this so often now and my kids love it! It’s almost gone in one day😆
Thank you for your great feedback! I’m happy that you enjoyed making this recipe!
Better than the OG. Pretty easy to make. I used small red potatoes cubed, instead of russet. Still turned out great!
I found this recipe on your website about three years ago. I have been cooking it ever since. I eat a lot of soups when the weather cools off. This is my favorite soup to make. I have made two changes to the recipe. I add 8 ounces of mushrooms and little turmeric for color. I do enjoy your website.
Bill
P.S. – Thank your sister, Tanya, for the recipe.
Hello Bill! Thanks for sharing that with us. I’m so happy that this has become your go-to recipe since you’ve tried it!
I love this soup very much. So yummy!!! Will make it again soon 🙂
Total crowd pleaser! Very close to the restaurant version. So easy and delicious!
I made this for the family get together. Everybody loved it.
A staple in our household; especially during fall and winter! Great recipe!
We loved this soup! It’s very flavorful!
This is my husband’s favorite soup, and we have made it several times! So easy and tasty!
This was so good! My husband always loves when I say I am making a Natasha recipe!
I wish I could give this recipe more stars. I make it on repeat and it’s fabulous
I’m so glad you loved it, Linda!
This was so good. I did add rice too- my family likes it with rice.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Shirley!
This was really good. I also added rice too ( my family likes rice)
Thank you for sharing that with me, Shirley! I haven’t tried it with rice before.
10/10 Natasha’s recipes never fail me.
My son brought leftovers home and I wanted more, made it and wow! Def keeping this in rotation.