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!
- 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 soup for the first time tonight. My middle son loves Olive Garden breadsticks so I made this soup with copycat breadsticks. The soup was delicious and was perfect with the breadsticks!
Thank you for sharing that with us! Great to hear that he loved thie soup!
I didn’t have sausage this time so I used diced pecan smoked kielbasa. I also added some poblano pepper and alittle celery. Just love this recipe.
Wonderful! I’m glad that the substitutions that you used worked great!
I made this recipe and seasoned the Italian sausage with my pantry herbs, spices, and homemade beef broth… and now my husband says this is the best Zuppa Toscana he’s ever had. He had made one before and now he’s officially scared to make his own version again ! Lol
Hi Mae! I’m so glad it was a hit. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I made this vegan by using cashew cream for the heavy whipping cream (I didn’t have a can of coconut milk), vegetable broth and plant based substitutes for the sausage and bacon. It turned out delicious. My family loved it! I’ll definitely be making it again as it was quick, easy, and a definite crowd pleaser in my house.
Thank you for sharing the substitutions you used. Glad to hear that they worked fine and you loved it!
I made this recipe vegan by using plant based chorizo tofu and vegetable broth. Since I didn’t have a can of coconut milk, I made a cashew cream sauce substitute (place 1 cup of raw cashews in sauce pan, add enough water to cover cashews by 1″. Bring to a boil, take off heat, cover pan with lid and let it sit for 20 min. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Add to Vitamixer with 3/4 c water and blend for 90 seconds or until creamy.) It turned out delicious and will definitely make it again and again as it’s a quick, easy and satisfying meal in a bowl.
Hi Susan! That’s wonderful that you were able to make your own vegan version of this recipe. I’m glad it was a success!
Such a good soup! Really easy to make and tastes just like the one from olive garden!
I enjoyed making, eating and sharing this soup! Overall the ingredients blended together for a very flavorful soup despite not being an all-day on the stove top type soup. I took a bowl to my in-laws along with a crusty chunk of Italian bread. I look forward to eating another bowl tomorrow!
Delicious soup! It gets a star * in my folder of soup recipes. Will definitely make again.
Love this recipe. Always make this for my family!
My family loves this recipe! It’s a quick easy soup to put together. It’s full of flavor. Perfect for a winters day!
My goodness! This soup has a phenomenal depth of flavor while being incredibly simple to make! Thank you so much for sharing this delightful recipe with us!
You’re very welcome, Rebecca! I’m glad you love it.
This was delicious! Made it exactly as written!
That’s so great, thank you for your wonderful review, Donna.
We have made a lot of your recipes over and over and love them.
Zuppa tescana is my favorite soup and I’m looking forward to trying this one.
this is one of our all time favorite go to recipes! so easy and fast! Thank you for the recipe!
So glad to know you’re loving it!
Made this tonight and it was delicious. My whole family loved it. I switched out the sausage and bacon for Italian turkey sausage and turkey bacon. Still had plenty of flavor. Thanks for another great recipe.
You’re welcome! Glad to hear that it was a huge hit with your family!
Made this yesterday and it was delicious!! Everyone loved it!! I will be making this often!! Thank You!!
So happy to hear that, Tina!
Really great recipe, easy to follow. Turns out really yummy.
You never mention when to add back the bacon
It’s in the last step in 6. 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.
Perfect day for this soup, very cold here in Anthony New Mexico. Love your book
God bless 🙏
Wow!!! This might be the best soup I have ever had!! It was fun to make and the layer of flavors took it to another level. Being a one pot dinner always a winner!!
Yay that’s awesome! I’m happy that you loved it a lot!
I loved this! I used 8 cups of bone broth and added 2 cups of water for extra protein and I topped with fresh little cherry tomatoes along with the bacon. Yummy!
I’m so glad you loved this soup!