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 love the challenges. I tried using spicy chicken sausage! it’s really delicious. and califlower instead of potatoes. everything came out great! thanks
One of the tastiest dishes I’ve made. I used cauliflower instead of potatoes and it was yummy!
Great to hear that the substitution you used worked well!
10 stars! We had not tried the restaurant version, however, given the ingredient list this was a must try for us. Definitely did not disappoint. Fresh kale was not available so I enlisted the help of hubby to de-stem a bag of chopped, also couldn’t find hot italian sausage so I found a spice recipe and mixed it with plain ground pork. YUMMO 😋
So happy to hear you loved the recipe, Lisa! Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I made this for the cooking challenge with only 1 change. I used the mild Italian sausage because I just can’t take the heat. It turned out excellent! I served it with a side of cornbread. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
It is just as good with mild sausage! I’m so glad you loved it, Leatha!
This soup is delicious! I mixed spicy Italian sausage with mild Italian sausage. Family loved it. Thanks for posting it, Natasha.
I’m so glad to hear your family loved it!
This soup was delicious, I used spicy Italian sausage for my husband, next time I will try mild. A little too spicy for me. Instead of using cream, I tried the coconut milk. Gave the soup a nutty flavor.
We really enjoyed this soup.
Thank you.
You’re welcome! Thank you for sharing your experience trying out this recipe.
I Love Zuppa Toscana Soup!
Homemade is way better than
Olive Garden version. My kids love it.
Thank you for this great recipe!
Yes, I’m glad you also think so! Homemade is better and cheaper too.
Great Recipe!
My kids love this soup. Very healthy option.
Thank you Natasha
Tastes very close to the original. My store’s hot Italian sausage wasn’t the best. I think next time I’ll use my favorite mild ground sausage and kick up the heat to taste with red pepper flakes. Thanks for a delicious recipe!
Go for it! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Super easy and delicious. This will be in our winter rotation
I’m so glad you found a new favorite, Diana!
Just found out this cooking challenge. It makes me want to cook more. And my family and I enjoy this soup for the first time. Thank you Natashas!
Aww,m that’s so great! I’m so glad you’re taking on this challenge too! Happy cooking!
This recipe was pretty good. I have never had the original so I can’t say if it’s similar or not. But, I liked how after eating I felt light, not a heavy dish.
The family has voted to add this soup to the rotation I make. Its delicious!
So glad to hear your family loves it!
So good! Pair it off with Natasha’s sourdough bread, and you have a winner! I used mild sausage instead of hot, and it was perfect!
Yes to the sourdough with this! I’m so glad you loved it, Yulia!
Love this classical Olive Garden copycat recipe. I regretfully used spicy sausage and it was a bit too punchy for my little ones. However, the bacon and garlicky undertones were a treat and made this dish shine.
I Love Zuppa Toscana Soup! Homemade tastes even better! I left out the water and added a tablespoon of flour for a little thicker broth.
I can’t wait to try your pierogi recipe next! Thanks for sharing with us.💗
I’m happy that you enjoyed this soup! I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try from my website.
I have used your recipe to make this so many times, Natasha. Always a hit! Making it now and thinking about maybe adding a can of fire roasted tomatoes to kick it up a notch with the heat. Actually, I think I will do your recipe for tonight and add the tomatoes when I re-heat for leftover dinner tomorrow!
Great recipe! I’ve used another copycat recipe that called for crushed red pepper flakes, so that would be a nice addition for a little more spice. Still yummy though!
Thank you for sharing that with me, tatiana.
I used mild sausage since I made this soup before and it was too hot for me. I used Bok Choy from my garden instead of Kale. Excellent recipe. Thanks Natasha for sharing all these wonderful recipes and for all the love you share.
You’re welcome, Lucia. I’m so glad to hear you loved it with Bok Choy.
This is the second time I’ve made this soup from Natasha. It was a big hit! My parents came over for dinner and loved it! This is my husbands favorite soup from Olive Garden so wanted to surprise him with it. He took one bite and said it didn’t taste like Olive Garden. Said it was way better! We have made so many of Natasha’s recipes from her cookbook. Basically if she makes it, you know it is going to be good. Thank you for the recipe!
Hi ReDana! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. So glad to hear this recipe was a hit!