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Easy Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

Cook spicy Italian sausage till brown, add onions and garlic. Drop in potato chunks and pour hot broth over. Simmer till potatoes soft, stir in chopped kale and splash of cream. Season good with salt and pepper. Makes rich, creamy soup that warms you up good on cold nights.

Featured in Comforting Bowls.

Fatiha
Updated on Sun, 05 Jan 2025 01:26:55 GMT
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A bowl of creamy soup containing sausage, kale, and potatoes, with a piece of bread in the background. Pin it
A bowl of creamy soup containing sausage, kale, and potatoes, with a piece of bread in the background. | zestplate.com

Ready to make that famous restaurant soup right in your own kitchen? This copy of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana turns out rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. With chunks of sausage, tender potatoes, and fresh kale swimming in a garlicky cream broth, it's pure comfort in a bowl!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Skip the restaurant lines and hefty bill - this soup tastes just like (maybe even better than!) the original. You get to control exactly what goes in, make it as spicy as you like, and have plenty of leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Trust me, once you try this version, you'll never want the restaurant soup again!

What You'll Need

  • Hot Italian Sausage: 1 pound - gives the soup its backbone of flavor
  • Butter: 2 tablespoons for sautéing those veggies
  • Onion: 1 white onion, diced nice and small
  • Garlic: 4 cloves, minced - don't be shy!
  • Chicken Broth: 6 cups - homemade or store-bought works
  • Potatoes: 4 medium yellow ones, cut into bite-sized chunks
  • Salt & Pepper: Start with a teaspoon each, add more to taste
  • Heavy Cream: 1 cup for that signature richness
  • Kale: 1 big bunch, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • Bacon: 6 slices, cooked crispy and crumbled
  • Parmesan: Fresh grated for topping - lots of it!

Let's Make Soup!

Brown That Sausage
Break up the sausage in a big pot over medium heat. Cook until it's nice and brown, about 5-6 minutes. Scoop it out with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Get Those Veggies Going
Drop your butter in the same pot, then toss in those diced onions. Cook until they're soft and starting to turn clear. Add the garlic and let it get fragrant - about 30 seconds.
Build Your Base
Pour in the broth and dump in those potato chunks. Bring everything to a boil, then turn down to simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Make It Creamy
Stir in your cream and add the sausage back to the pot. Let it all warm up together for a few minutes.
Add The Greens
Toss in your kale and let it wilt down into the soup. This takes just a couple minutes.
Time to Eat!
Ladle into bowls, top with crispy bacon bits and plenty of fresh Parmesan. Don't forget some crusty bread on the side!

The Story Behind The Soup

While this soup's got "Toscana" in its name, it's really an American spin on Italian flavors. The original Tuscan soups were much simpler - usually just veggies and beans. But this creamy, sausage-loaded version? Pure genius, if you ask me!

Make It Your Way

Want it lighter? Swap the cream for half-and-half. Need it spicier? Add red pepper flakes or use extra-hot sausage. Got spinach instead of kale? Throw it in! This soup's pretty forgiving - make it your own.

Storing Your Soup

This soup keeps great in the fridge for about 4 days - just warm it up slowly on the stove. Want to freeze some? Go for it, but maybe leave out the cream and add it fresh when you reheat. The potatoes might get a bit softer after freezing, but it'll still taste amazing.

A bowl of creamy soup containing sausage, kale, and potatoes, with a piece of bread in the background. Pin it
A bowl of creamy soup containing sausage, kale, and potatoes, with a piece of bread in the background. | zestplate.com

What To Serve With It

Sure, this soup's hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but why stop there? Grab a loaf of crusty bread for dunking, toss together a quick green salad, or whip up some garlic bread. Now that's dinner!

Tips From My Kitchen

Here's what I've learned after making this soup dozens of times: don't rush the sausage browning - those crispy bits add flavor. Cut your potatoes all about the same size so they cook evenly. And most importantly? Make extra - everybody always wants seconds!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Need different meat?

Sweet sausage works. Plant kind too maybe. Just need good spice. Still gets rich. Watch salt amount.

→ Skip the cream?

Half milk works fine. Coconut milk too. Less rich maybe. Still tastes good. Just different some.

→ Make it early?

Three days good cold. Warm up slow. Fresh kale last. Stir while hot. Gets better next day.

→ Keeping leftovers?

Box it up tight. Keep it cold good. Heat up gentle. Stir while warm. Still tastes nice.

→ Can you freeze it?

Works real good. Skip kale first. Add fresh later. Thaw slow cold. Worth the wait.

→ Getting too thick?

More broth helps. Watch potato amount. Don't cook too long. Easy fix quick. Stir while hot.

→ Taking it places?

Keep it hot wrapped. Bring fresh tops. Pack kale side. Worth good pot. Maybe backup meal.

→ Need it faster?

Quick chop stuff. One pot works. Have things ready. Still needs simmer. Worth short wait.

→ Making big batch?

Double works fine. Need bigger pot. More time maybe. Watch liquid good. Keeps nice cold.

→ Want more kick?

Hot sausage helps. More pepper good. Fresh garlic too. Even red flakes. Start slow though.

→ Potatoes not soft?

Cut more small. Give more time. Check with fork. Keep lid on. Patience works best.

→ Kale too tough?

Cut it smaller. Cook bit longer. Fresh works best. Strip stems off. Worth extra time.

Conclusion

Love this? Try sausage potato soup next. Or make kale meat stew. Both warm you right up.

Easy Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

Game was on TV, weather turned cold, and takeout wasn't happening. Found sausage and potatoes in the kitchen and made this warm, rich soup that tasted just like the restaurant version.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
40 Minutes
By: Fatiha

Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Italian

Yield: 4 Servings

Dietary: Gluten-Free

Ingredients

01 1 pound spicy Italian ground sausage.
02 4 tablespoons butter.
03 ½ white onion, diced.
04 1 tablespoon minced garlic.
05 6 cups chicken broth.
06 2 cups water.
07 4-5 yellow potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces.
08 3 teaspoons salt, or to taste.
09 1 teaspoon black pepper.
10 2 cups heavy cream.
11 4 cups chopped kale.
12 Chopped bacon or bacon bits for topping, optional.
13 Grated parmesan cheese for topping, optional.

Instructions

Step 01

In a large pot, sauté the sausage over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until it is browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.

Step 02

In the same pot, add butter and sauté the diced onions until they become translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

Step 03

Pour in the chicken broth and water, then add the potatoes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender.

Step 04

Stir in the chopped kale and heavy cream, then return the cooked sausage to the pot. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Step 05

Serve the soup hot, garnished with grated parmesan cheese and chopped bacon if desired.

Notes

  1. If you have regular ground sausage, add 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning or Herbs de Provence along with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for an added kick.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large pot.
  • Slotted spoon.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy.
  • Meat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 833
  • Total Fat: 76 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 16 g
  • Protein: 25 g