It’s a classic addition to the Olive Garden menu but many people would love to take this recipe home and make it themselves. So – can you make zuppa Toscana soup at home?
The answer is – of course!
If you want to make your own version of zuppa Toscana soup, then just check out the recipe below!
Quick Answer
Zuppa Toscana soup is easy to make once you have the right ingredients. You will need Italian sausage, onion, red potatoes, garlic, kale, chicken broth, heavy cream, and a sprinkle of salt and black pepper.
Add them all to a pot and stew to capture this classic Olive Garden soup (Also check out Olive Garden Minestrone Soups)! This way you can enjoy this Olive Garden soup from the comfort of your own home.
What Is Zuppa Toscana Soup?
First, let’s learn a little bit more about zuppa Toscana.
Zuppa Toscana is a type of soup that originated in Tuscany, Italy – its name even translates to ‘Tuscan soup’! In the US, it became popular thanks to its addition to the popular Italian restaurant Olive Garden’s menu.
The soup is rich and creamy with plenty of vegetables, meat, seasoning, and cream to make a delicious filling meal.
Traditional Tuscan soup is made using potatoes (Also check out The Best Potato Leek Soup To Soothe The Soul), spicy Italian sausage, and vegetables – but Olive Garden has put its own spin on this classic Italian dish.
So, to learn how to make zuppa Toscana Olive-Garden style, just follow the recipe below!
Key Ingredients For Zuppa Toscana Soup
Before you start making your own zuppa Toscana soup, it’s important that you make sure you have all the right ingredients. Here they are:
1 lb of Italian sausage (casings removed) – The Italian sausage is what really gives this soup its iconic flavor so try and find a type of Italian sausage that works for you.
1 small onion (chopped)
8 cups of red potatoes (diced)
4-5 cloves of garlic (minced)
3 cups of kale (chopped)
4-5 cups of chicken broth (or stock)
1 cup of heavy cream
Salt and black pepper for seasoning.
Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe
Your first step into making your own zuppa Toscana soup is to saute your Italian sausage. In a pan over medium heat, cook your sausage until it is completely browned.
Then, add your onions and cook them until they are soft and brown, stirring them frequently to prevent any burning.
Then, add in the garlic and continue cooking for another minute. Once this is done, remove the pan from the heat.
In a separate pot, add your potatoes and chicken broth and bring it to the boil. Continue boiling your potatoes until they are nice and soft – then you can add in the sausage, onions, and garlic.
Stir in the cream and kale until the kale wilts – then your zuppa Toscana soup is ready for serving.
Season well, portion out your soup, and enjoy!
How To Make Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup
These days, a lot of us use slow cookers or instant pots to make our soups and stews so here is what you need to do if you are using this kind of equipment to make your zuppa Toscana soup.
Preheat your Instant Pot by pressing the ‘Saute’ button and once it is hot enough, add the sausage. Once the sausage is brown, add in your onions for 5 minutes until they are soft. Add the garlic for 1 more minute – remember to stir frequently!
Once this is done, add in your chicken broth and potatoes. Use a utensil to scrape any bits from the bottom of the pot so it mixes in with the broth.
Lock the lid of your instant pot and press the ‘Manual’ button. Set the timer for 12 minutes and allow the pot to cook on a high pressure with a sealing set release valve.
Once the time is up, open up your instant pot with quick pressure release. Add in the kale and cream, stirring until the kale wilts. Once wilted, add the seasoning and serve!
It’s easy!
What You Can Serve With Zuppa Toscana Soup
Tuscan soup is pretty filling on its own but there are still plenty of sides you can serve with your zuppa Toscana soup to make a larger, more filling meal.
The obvious choice is bread. Soups work great with bread because they soak up the liquid while keeping the flavor.
Some great bread to serve with zuppa Toscana soup is garlic bread (obviously, it’s a classic) or pane Toscano (Tuscan bread). However, you can’t go wrong with some basic buttered rolls either.
Alternatively, sides like crispy potato wedges, light salads, and additional sauteed or steamed vegetables or mushrooms work great too. They all bring alternative textures and extra flavors to the meal while not outshining the main course!
Because zuppa Toscana soup has its roots firmly set in Italian cuisine, you can use this as a springboard for ideas when it comes to side dishes. There are lots of Italian recipes for salads out there so check them out and give them a try!
How To Store Zuppa Toscana Soup
If you have made too much zuppa Toscana soup, then don’t throw it out or let it go to waste – store it so you can enjoy another bowl or two later in the week!
Once your zuppa Toscana soup is cool, store it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Make sure you eat your zuppa Toscana soup within 3 days after cooking and reheat it either in the microwave or in a pot over a low heat.
Bring the soup to a simmer (do not boil) and then serve when it is hot!
You can also freeze your zuppa Toscana soup and store it in your freezer for up to 3 months. This means batch cooking zuppa Toscana soup and enjoying it throughout the week is super easy!
Final Thoughts
And that’s how you can make your very own batch of zuppa Toscana soup!
This soup is a popular pick from the Olive Garden menu and as a result, it’s one soup many people want to make at home. It’s easy to do once you have the right recipe.
So, just check out the guide above, pick up your ingredients and gather your utensils, and give it a go!
Do you love the zuppa Toscana soup from Olive Garden? Check out this guide to discover how you can make the same delicious soup at home – it’s easy!
Ingredients
1 lb of Italian sausage (casings removed)
1 small onion (chopped)
8 cups of red potatoes (diced)
4-5 cloves of garlic (minced)
3 cups of kale (chopped)
4-5 cups of chicken broth (or stock)
1 cup of heavy cream
Salt and black pepper for seasoning
Directions
Your first step into making your own zuppa Toscana soup is to saute your Italian sausage. In a pan over medium heat, cook your sausage until it is completely browned.
Then, add your onions and cook them until they are soft and brown, stirring them frequently to prevent any burning.
Then, add in the garlic and continue cooking for another minute. Once this is done, remove the pan from the heat.
In a separate pot, add your potatoes and chicken broth and bring it to the boil. Continue boiling your potatoes until they are nice and soft – then you can add in the sausage, onions, and garlic.
Stir in the cream and kale until the kale wilts – then your Zuppa Toscana soup is ready for serving.
Hey! I’m Lana, the original Soup Chick! I decided to create this website as I am a massive soup fan. I will literally make soup for every occasion. Whether a friend is under the weather, has the flu, or I just want to try out something new in my slow cooker!
I hope that you can find some really interesting and different soup recipes to try out with my site. I know I’ve had a lot of fun curating and trying them all, and I hope that you do too!
