The Ultimate Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana Recipe for Cozy Nights

Zuppa toscana weaves together rustic Italian comfort with bold culinary magic, revamping simple ingredients into a soul-warming experience.

Medieval Tuscan traditions dance through this rich, creamy soup, blending robust flavors that whisper stories of countryside kitchens.

Hearty potatoes nestle alongside spicy sausage, while delicate kale adds a vibrant green complexity to each spoonful.

Smoky undertones mingle with velvety broth, creating a symphony of textures that defies ordinary soup expectations.

Home cooks can effortlessly recreate this restaurant-inspired masterpiece with just a handful of accessible ingredients.

Professional chefs and kitchen novices alike find joy in crafting this luxurious dish that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

Prepare to elevate your meal with a recipe that promises culinary satisfaction.

Why Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Is a Soup Lover’s Dream

• Savor Hearty Comfort: A rich, warming soup packed with savory sausage, crispy bacon, and tender potatoes that hugs your soul like a cozy blanket on a chilly day.
• Texture Explosion: Enjoy a delightful mix of crisp bacon bits, soft potatoes, and silky cream that creates an irresistible contrast in every single spoonful.
• Quick Weeknight Winner: Whip up this restaurant-style soup in just 30 minutes, transforming simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal that impresses without complicated techniques or endless prep work.

What Makes This Creamy Sausage and Kale Soup So Good

• Bacon: Crispy base for rich, smoky flavor. Choose thick-cut for better texture.
• Sausage: Adds hearty, spicy depth to the soup. Italian sausage works best.

• Onion: Provides sweet, aromatic base for the soup. Fresh, firm onions preferred.
• Garlic: Enhances overall flavor profile. Fresh cloves offer more intense taste.
• Kale: Adds nutritious green element. Curly kale holds up well in hot soup.
• Potatoes: Creates substantial, comforting texture. Waxy varieties maintain shape better.

• Chicken Broth: Forms the soups primary liquid base. Low-sodium allows better seasoning control.
• Heavy Cream or Evaporated Milk: Adds creamy richness. Evaporated milk offers lighter option.
• Parmesan Cheese: Provides salty, sharp finishing touch. Freshly grated recommended.

• Salt: Enhances overall flavor balance.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and depth.

How to Cook a Zuppa Toscana That Rivals the Restaurant

Step 1: Prepare the Meat

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Cook bacon until crispy and golden. Add sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once browned, drain excess grease, keeping 1-in the pot for sautéing.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics

Push the sausage to the pot’s edges. Add diced onions to the center and sauté until soft and translucent. Toss in minced garlic and cook until its aroma fills the kitchen.

Step 3: Build the Soup Base

Pour in chicken broth and add chopped potatoes. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Simmer gently for 20 minutes until potatoes become tender and easily pierced with a fork.

Step 4: Finish and Serve

Stir in kale and heavy cream or evaporated milk. Bring the soup back to a gentle simmer. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle into warm bowls and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve alongside crusty bread for a complete meal.

Tips for Flavor-Boosted Broth and Perfect Potatoes

• Bacon Crispiness Counts: Fry bacon until golden brown and crisp for maximum flavor and texture in your soup.
• Sausage Selection Matters: Choose a high-quality Italian sausage with robust spices to elevate the soup's overall taste profile.
• Potato Precision: Cut potatoes into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
• Kale Technique: Add kale near the end of cooking to preserve its vibrant green color and prevent overcooking, maintaining a fresh, tender bite.
• Cream Control: Stir in cream or milk gently and avoid boiling to prevent separation, creating a smooth and luxurious soup base.

How to Keep Zuppa Toscana Rich and Ready for Leftovers

• Refrigerate: Transfer remaining soup to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain flavor quality.
• Reheat: Warm soup gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of chicken broth or water to restore moisture and prevent potatoes from becoming mushy. Stir carefully to mix ingredients evenly and heat until steaming hot, typically 5-7 minutes.
• Freezing: For longer storage, freeze soup without cream for up to 2-3 months in freezer-safe containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add fresh cream when reheating to maintain the soup's creamy texture.

What to Serve with a Bowl of Creamy Zuppa Toscana

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich, savory flavors of the Zuppa Toscana's sausage and bacon.
• Match with Crusty Artisan Bread: Choose a hearty sourdough or rustic Italian bread to soak up the creamy broth and add delightful textural contrast to each spoonful.
• Serve Alongside Fresh Salad: Create a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the soup's richness and provide a crisp, refreshing counterpoint to the heavy, creamy dish.
• Finish with Crisp White Wine: A Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc works wonderfully to cleanse the palate and balance the soup's intense, robust flavors.

Flavor Variations That Reinvent Classic Zuppa Toscana

• Veggie Powerhouse: Replace sausage with plant-based crumbles or diced mushrooms for a vegetarian version that still delivers rich, hearty flavors.
• Spicy Southwest Kick: Add diced green chiles, swap kale for spinach, and sprinkle in some chili powder to create a zesty southwestern-inspired soup.
• Lean and Green: Use turkey sausage instead of traditional pork, increase kale quantity, and add extra herbs like thyme or rosemary for a lighter, more nutritious meal.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Incorporate white beans, swap bacon for pancetta, and finish with a drizzle of good quality olive oil to give the soup an elegant Mediterranean touch.

Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana Recipe

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4.8 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana brings hearty Italian comfort to your table with creamy, spicy sausage and tender potatoes swimming in a rich broth. Rustic flavors from Tuscany blend perfectly, creating a satisfying soup that warms souls and delights taste buds in one comforting bowl.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound hot Italian sausage (ground or from links with casings taken off)
• 3 cups Russet potatoes (cut into cubes)
• 2 cups kale (packed loosely, in bite-sized pieces)

Protein and Flavor Enhancers:

• 4 slices bacon (cut into small pieces)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 large yellow onion (chopped)

Liquid and Finishing Ingredients:

• 4 cups chicken broth or stock
• 1 cup heavy cream or 1 can (14 ounces) evaporated milk
• Sea salt or kosher salt (to taste)
• Fresh black pepper (to taste)
• Parmesan cheese (grated, for serving)

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Instructions

1. Position a large cooking vessel over medium flame. Render bacon until achieving a crisp texture, then introduce crumbled Italian sausage. Brown the meat thoroughly, and carefully drain excess fat, reserving 1-of rendered drippings.
2. Relocate the sautéed meat towards the pot’s perimeter, creating a central cooking space. Introduce finely diced yellow onions and caramelize until translucent and softened. Incorporate freshly minced garlic and allow aromatics to release their fragrant essence for approximately 30-45 seconds.
3. Stream chicken broth into the pot, followed by cubed russet potatoes cut into bite-sized segments. Season generously with kosher salt (¾ teaspoon or 3.75 grams) and freshly cracked black pepper (¼ teaspoon or 1.25 grams). Reduce heat and allow the liquid to gently simmer for 15-20 minutes, ensuring potatoes become fork-tender.
4. Carefully fold chopped kale leaves into the simmering liquid, followed by rich heavy cream or evaporated milk. Return the mixture to a delicate simmer, allowing flavors to meld harmoniously. Taste and recalibrate seasoning as needed. Ladle into warm bowls, garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serving alongside rustic crusty bread.

Notes

• Sneak extra flavor by leaving a touch of bacon grease in the pot for sautéing onions, which helps build a rich, deep taste profile.
• Potatoes absorb the savory broth beautifully, creating tender, melt-in-your-mouth bites that make this soup incredibly comforting.
• Break sausage into small crumbles while cooking to ensure even distribution and maximum meaty goodness in every spoonful.
• Kale adds vibrant green color and nutritional punch, transforming this classic soup into a hearty, wholesome meal.
• Finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese to elevate the overall taste and provide a delightful salty crunch.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 576 kcal
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 1090mg
• Fat: 42g
• Saturated Fat: 19g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 31g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 22g
• Cholesterol: 120mg