Zuppa Toscana Soup
For those of you who have tasted and fallen in love with the Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Soup, this is the recipe for you! I find that it tastes just like the restaurants! It is known at our house as “The Olive Garden Soup”. What is so fantastic about the soup is the flavor, but yet you don’t add any seasoning. I know all of you will love this recipe.
Updated November 2017: There are a few other versions I have made that originated from this recipe. Last year, I made this Paleo Zuppa Toscana recipe that uses coconut milk, instead of whipping cream. It worked really well, and my picky husband loved it.
One day last week, I knew that I was going to have no time in the afternoon to let a soup simmer so I fried up the hot Italian sausage and bacon, tossed everything in the slow cooker and put together a Crockpot Zuppa Toscana.
Of course the longer you simmer the soup, the better it tastes. Like all soups, this recipe tastes AMAZING the next day (that’s if there are any leftovers).
*Updated September 2010: I have taken the bacon out of the recipe. I find it doesn’t need it, I don’t notice any flavor difference. However, if you’re a bacon lover, feel free to keep it.*
Zuppa Toscana Soup
This recipe is such a comfort in the winter and fall months. This is my husband’s favorite soup recipe. He’s always asking for “The Olive Garden Soup”. I make it so often that I no longer need to read the recipe, it’s engraved in my brain – and those are the best kind of recipes
Don’t forget to check out a cheesy twist on this soup with this Baked Zuppa Toscana.
Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe)
Copycat recipe for The Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Soup. This soup is gluten free is a great soup for winter and fall. Comfort in a bowl!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground hot Italian sausage (mild will work if you’re scared of the heat).
- 2 large russet baking potatoes, cubed.
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups kale, torn by hand.
- 2 cans chicken broth
- 4 cups of water
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream.
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Directions:
- Fry up the hot Italian sausage, drain the fat and set it aside when done.
- In a large stock pot: add your onions, potatoes, garlic, chicken broth and water. Cover and bring it to a boil, and then reduce to medium heat. Cook until potatoes are done, about 30 minutes.
- Add the cooked hot Italian sausage to the pot. Let boil for ten minutes. Then at the kale, simmer for another ten minutes. Make sure you don’t add the stems to the soup. Personally, I don’t like the texture and I find the taste is bitter. *Updated February 12, 2014: I have found the kale to still be a little too crunchy so I simmer for twenty minutes*.
- Bring the simmer down to a lower heat and add your cream and red pepper flakes. Heat through, I usually let it go from another ten or so minutes.
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What’s your favorite comfort soup?
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This sounds like the perfect recipe for a cold winter day.
I made it because it was snowing and couldn’t deal with it haha. It was perfect.
That looks delicious! We love the Olive Garden food but don’t live close to a location. We’ll have to try this!
It’s amazing, give it a try!
I LOVE The Olive Garden! I wish it was back around here, but I stop in whenever I cross the border. This recipe looks and sounds delicious!
I love it too! Unfortunately the nearest one is a 14 hour drive 🙁
I used to LOVE LOVE the Olive Garden when they had one in Toronto and I always try to find one when we travel. I will definitely be bookmarking this. Have to figure out how to use up all the kale we bought!
Oh my goodness, it has been a decade since I have been to the Olive Garden. We don’t have one local. But this recipe looks like a winner. I love soup, will be coming back to make this for sure! Thanks!
I’m 14 hours away from the nearest one now. I miss it!
Soups and sandwiches are my weaknesses on a rainy afternoon. I’ve never had Toscana but am super excited to try it. It looks delicious!!
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MMM! I love Olive Garden Soups!! This one is a fav of mine. I will have to work this into our fall menus for sure. Thanks for posting!
I’ve never even been to Olive Garden but I am definitely craving for that soup right now because it looks and sounds so delicious! Thanks for sharing!
when is the heavy cream added
Just before serving. Enough to heat through, but I’ve also added it a good 1/2 hour before.
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I made this soup last night and it was amazing!! My co-worker loves to try the food I cook at home, but she doesn’t eat pork. Is there a substitution for the sausage that would have similarly amazing results?
I have seen hot italian chicken sausage or turkey at Costco and some grocery stores, maybe that would work?
I didn’t even know hot Italian chicken sausage existed! Thank you, I’ll keep an eye out for it.
I’ve made this 3 times so far, once following the recipe, once with chicken sausage, and now once doubled (it just went too fast!). Relatively cheap ingredients too 🙂 Wasn’t a big fan of kale before, but with this soup, I can’t get enough! This is a permanent entry in my recipe box.
Yes! It does go fast, I always meant to double and freeze it but forget haha.
I can’t freeze it, everybody always wants a taste. Even doubled, just last night, it’s nearly gone already!
That’s what I like to hear 🙂
I cannot wait to make this. Thank you for aharing this. I have a question…does it need to be heavy cream or can I use evaporated milk?
I’m not sure Danielle. In all honesty I have never cooked with evaporated milk before. You can just use regular milk, I’ve done that.
I have a pot on the stove right now and I can’t wait for dinner! I added the kale just after I combined the potatoes and onions because I’ve cooked kale enough ( greens and beans junkie) to know it takes longer to cook than sliced potatoes. As I suspected the broth turned slightly green. Do you think I’ll have a shamrock shake colored soup after I add the cream?
I have never had that happen to me before. You could, but pfftt it’s just festive then 😉
Yummy looks and sounds delish , i love soup , always looking for something new to make thanks for sharing 🙂
I love this soup at Olive Garden! I can’t wait to try making it at home. Thanks for the recipe.
Enjoy! It’s my hubby’s fav!
I’ve never heard of this before but it looks delicious and I like the ingredients
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