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Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup copycat

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup Copycat

This Zuppa Toscana soup copycat re-creates Olive Garden’s beloved Tuscan-style soup with a creamy broth, spicy Italian sausage, potatoes, and kale. Perfect for cozy nights, it’s an easy one-pot meal that warms and satisfies.
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Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb spicy Italian sausage links, casings removed
  • 8 slices bacon diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 32 oz chicken broth
  • 4 medium russet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cups chopped kale stems removed
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or soup pot
  • Chef’s knife
  • Cutting board
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Ladle

Method
 

  1. Heat the Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking into pieces, and cook until browned. Transfer to a plate.
  2. In the same pot, add diced bacon; cook until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside with sausage, leaving 1 Tbsp drippings.
  3. Sauté onion in reserved drippings for 5 minutes until translucent; stir in garlic for 1 minute.
  4. Sprinkle flour over onions and garlic; stir to coat and cook 2 minutes.
  5. Slowly pour in chicken broth, whisking to prevent lumps.
  6. Add cubed potatoes; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15–20 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
  7. Stir in cooked sausage, bacon, and kale; simmer 5 minutes until kale is wilted.
  8. Reduce heat to low; stir in heavy cream and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
  9. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

Substitutions & Variations:
Turkey Sausage for a leaner protein option.
Coconut Milk in place of heavy cream for a dairy-free version.
Cauliflower Florets instead of potatoes for a keto-friendly adaptation.
Swap kale for baby spinach or Swiss chard if preferred.
Cooking Tips:
Use starchy russet potatoes for creamier texture.
To thicken broth, mash a few potato cubes against the pot.
For extra flavor, stir in crumbled pancetta or a parmesan rind during simmer.
Storage & Scaling:
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days; reheat on the stovetop.
Freeze without cream and kale; add them when reheating.
Nutritional Benefits:
Each serving provides protein from sausage and bacon, fiber, vitamins A and C from kale, and energy-sustaining carbohydrates from potatoes. Nutritional estimate: 310 kcal per serving.
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