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Home Recipes By Meal

Easy Zuppa Toscana Recipe

9 Reviews Recipe
By: Erin Antoniak • Published On October 21, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Indulge in the savory taste of this incredible Easy Zuppa Toscana Recipe. Made with sausage, turkey bacon, potatoes, veggies, and more, this recipe blends undeniably delicious flavors. It’s a soup the entire family will love!

zuppa toscana in bowl

Delicious and easy zuppa toscana soup recipe

There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup served up at your favorite restaurant… until now. This at-home and easy-to-make copycat Olive Garden zuppa toscana is a must try! From the creamy base to the delicious and hearty sausage and veggies, this dish has it all.

This is one of my favorite copycat recipes because it’s just so easy to prepare. It’s a one pot recipe, meaning less dishes and faster cleanup! Zuppa toscana is a great meal for an autumn gameday, but it’s also quick and easy enough to work well as a weekday dish.

zuppa toscana in dutch oven

Ingredients in this easy zuppa toscana recipe

To make Olive Garden’s zuppa toscana soup right at home, you will need an assortment of seasonings, sausage, bacon, onion, potatoes, and a few other mix ins. Everything is listed below, along with measurements.

  • Olive oil: First up for zuppa toscana is 2 tbsp of olive oil. This will be used to cook the sausage.
  • Sausage: As for the sausage, use 1lb ground. You can use pork, chicken, beef, or Italian sausage.
  • Turkey bacon: Add some nice bacon flavor with 6 slices of turkey bacon, diced into small pieces.
  • Onion: Next up, add an entire yellow onion. It should be diced prior to using in the recipe.
  • Garlic: Add flavor with 3 cloves of minced garlic. If using garlic powder, use a total of 3/4 tsp.
  • Seasonings: For seasonings, use 1 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of black pepper, and 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Chicken broth: Create the soup consistency by adding 6 cups of chicken broth. If your box contains 5 cups and you don’t want to have to open a second container, you can use 1 cup of water for the 6th cup.
  • Yellow potatoes: Thicken up the soup by using 2.5lbs of yellow potatoes, diced into cubes.
  • Heavy cream: 1 cup of heavy cream will make the soup nice and creamy.
  • Milk: Follow the heavy cream with 1 cup of milk (or another cup of cream).
  • Kale: Sneak in some veggies with 6oz of kale.
  • Topping: Last but not least, top each bowl of soup with some more cooked bacon and parmesan cheese.

Tools used to make easy zuppa toscana

Kitchen tools are kept to a minimum for this recipe. You’ll need a dutch oven and spatula, along with some measuring cups (1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, and 1 cup).

ingredients for zuppa toscana
potatoes and broth in dutch oven

    How to make this easy zuppa toscana recipe

    Let’s get started! You can expect this one pot zuppa toscana recipe to require about 40-50 minutes of total prep time and cooking time combined.

    Begin by heating a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat and adding the oil. Once hot, add the sausage and break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté until fully cooked, and then use a slotted spoon to transfer to the cooked sausage another bowl, leaving the oil behind.

    Add the bacon and let it cook for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to brown, and then add the onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Next, add the garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute.

    Add the potatoes to the onions and bacon, and then pour in the chicken broth. Stir and bring the mixture to a boil and cook for another 12-14 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.

    Once the potatoes are tender, add the cream and the milk, and then add back in the sausage. Bring it to a light boil and then reduce the heat to medium. Add the kale and simmer the soup for another 10 minutes to let the flavors combine and the kale soften.

    Serve with cooked bacon and parmesan cheese!

    What should I serve with zuppa toscana?

    This dish pairs nicely with some breadsticks and a side salad! Try it alongside Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad, Kale Superfood Salad, Fall Harvest Salad, or Cashew Crunch Salad.

    Storing leftovers

    Have leftovers? Extra zuppa toscana soup should be placed in an airtight container and refrigerated. When ready to eat, remove from the fridge and reheat on the stove. Enjoy within 2-3 days.

    Freezing is also an option. To do so, transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container and enjoy within 1-2 months.

    zuppa toscana

      Recipe Tips

      What does zuppa toscana mean in English?

      Zuppa toscana translates to Tuscan soup.

      What are the ingredients in zuppa toscana soup?

      Recipes vary, but this one includes olive oil, sausage, turkey bacon, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, chicken broth, potatoes, heavy cream, milk, kale, and parmesan.

      Why is it called zuppa toscana?

      This recipe is called zuppa toscana because it is a Tuscan soup recipe! The dish originated in Italy, particularly in the Tuscany area.

      Can I use beef or chicken in this recipe?

      Sure can! You can use chicken or beef in this recipe.

      zuppa toscana

      If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

      Get ready for some more delicious entrees made with flavorful ingredients that the entire family will love!

      • Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
      • Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas
      • Sticky Pork Meatballs
      • Sheet Pan Lemon Feta Chicken

      Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

      zuppa toscana
      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 9 reviews

      Easy Zuppa Toscana Recipe

      Indulge in the savory taste of this incredible Easy Zuppa Toscana Recipe. Made with sausage, turkey bacon, potatoes, veggies, and more, this recipe blends undeniably delicious flavors. It’s a soup the entire family will love!

      Prep: 20 Cook: 40 Total: 1 hour
      Yield 12 cups 1x
      Scale
      Print Pin it Rate

      Ingredients

      • 2 tbsp olive oil
      • 1lb ground sausage
      • 6 slices turkey bacon, diced into small pieces
      • 1 yellow onion, diced
      • 3 cloves garlic, minced
      • 1 tsp salt
      • 1/2 tsp pepper
      • 1/2 tsp red pepper flake
      • 6 cups chicken broth
      • 2.5lbs yellow potatoes, diced into cubes
      • 1 cup heavy cream
      • 1 cup milk (or more cream)
      • 6oz kale
      • cooked bacon and parmesan cheese for topping

      Instructions

      1. Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat and add oil. Once hot, add sausage and break up into small pieces as it cooks. Once fully cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer to another bowl, leaving oil behind.
      2. Add bacon and let cook for 3-4 minutes or until beginning to brown, then add in onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flake and cook for another minute.
      3. To the onions and bacon, add the potatoes and then pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a boil and then cook for another 12-14 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
      4. Once potatoes are tender, add in the cream and the milk, then add back in the sausage. Bring to a light boil and then reduce heat to medium. Add in the kale and cook the soup another 10 minutes to let the flavors combine and the kale soften.
      5. Serve with cooked bacon and parmesan cheese!
      Author: Erin Antoniak Category: soup, dinner, lunch, meal prep, winter Method: stovetop Cuisine: Italian
      zuppa toscana

      Did you make this?

      Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

      erinliveswhole

      There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      1. Erin G says

        Posted on 2/1 at 6:07 pm

        So delicious!! And it really was easy to throw together. Definitely making this again.

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 2/3 at 4:44 pm

          Hi Erin, so happy you loved it! 🙂

          Reply
      2. Erin says

        Posted on 12/29 at 7:29 pm

        I made this last night- so easy and delicious! And the leftovers today were just as good!

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 12/30 at 1:32 pm

          Hi Erin, so glad you loved it! 🙂

          Reply
      3. WhitG says

        Posted on 5/20 at 6:59 pm

        I make this often, I love how easy it is, and my family loves the taste! Perfect for a chilly day and has the flavor you want from an OG original with some lightness from an ELW recipe!

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 5/27 at 3:00 pm

          Hi Whit, so happy everyone enjoys it! 🙂

          Reply
      4. Heather Jaeger says

        Posted on 1/23 at 12:32 pm

        Making this for the second time in 2 weeks! Family said it was the best soup I’ve ever made 🙂

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 1/24 at 7:27 pm

          Hi Heather, so happy you loved it!!

          Reply
      5. Megan says

        Posted on 1/10 at 4:53 pm

        This was fun to make and SO tasty on a cold snowy day. Simple ingredients, most of which we already had on hand. Used regular bacon and we sliced our potatoes thin like OG. A bowl of this with a glass of red wine – perfection!

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 1/11 at 1:08 pm

          Hi Megan, so happy you loved it and made it your own!!

          Reply
      6. Erin says

        Posted on 12/22 at 7:34 pm

        It was a huge hit with the whole family! I opted to do regular bacon and the option to use extra heavy cream instead of milk. Will make again soon!

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 12/24 at 12:34 pm

          Hi Erin, so happy you all loved it and made it your own!!

          Reply
      7. Trudie says

        Posted on 11/1 at 11:03 pm

        So delicious!!

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 11/10 at 10:55 am

          Hi Trudie, so happy you liked it! 🙂

          Reply
      8. Lindsay says

        Posted on 10/30 at 7:54 pm

        I swapped the turkey bacon for regular bacon and the sausage for ground chicken (bc my lame husband doesn’t like sausage) and it tasted great! The kale really cooks down so it loses that toughness. So yummy!!

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 10/31 at 8:56 pm

          Hi Lindsay, so glad you liked it and made it your own! 🙂

          Reply
      9. Rachael says

        Posted on 10/28 at 6:04 pm

        Reply
        • Erin says

          Posted on 10/29 at 10:33 pm

          Thank you!!

          Reply

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      I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

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