This hugely popular and easy Zuppa Toscana soup recipe is made with sausage, potatoes, kale, bacon and cream. It's always a crowd pleaser!
Do you love soup recipes as much as I do? Try my Chicken Tortilla Soup, Creamy Tortellini Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, or Beef Noodle Soup!
We can thank the American restaurant Olive Garden for the namesake of this Zuppa Toscana recipe, which translates to “Tuscan Soup”. As usual, the homemade version is fantastic, healthier than what you'd find at a restaurant, and seriously EASY to make!
How to Make Zuppa Toscana:
Brown Sausage: Cook and stir it until it's nice and brown and crumbled into pieces.
Add Vegetables: Toss in chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped potato to the pot then add chicken broth and water. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
Finish It: Add some cream, cooked bacon, and chopped kale. Season it to your liking with some salt and pepper, then crushed red pepper flakes (if you like a little bit of heat). Serve the Zuppa soup with homemade artisan bread.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: Homemade Zuppa Toscana soup can be made 1-3 days ahead of time, stored in the fridge.
To Freeze: Make the soup according to instructions but don't add the cream and don't cook the potatoes until tender. Allow soup to cool, then store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and rewarm on the stove, cooking potatoes until tender, and then stir in cream.
More Popular soup recipes:
- Spicy Chicken Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Taco Soup
- Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
- French Onion Soup
- Chile Verde Soup
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Recipe
Creamy Zuppa Toscana
Ingredients
- 1 pound hot ground Italian sausage
- 1 large onion , chopped
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 large Russet potatoes , or gold potatoes, peeled, quartered, and then chopped in ¼ inch slices
- 5 slices bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 4 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cups water
- 3 cups chopped kale (ribs/stems removed)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- crushed red pepper flakes to taste, if desired
Instructions
- In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, Add the ground sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, until browned. Remove some of the grease and move sausage to one side of the pan.
- Add chopped onions, garlic, and potatoes and sauté for a few minutes. Pour in chicken broth and water and allow mixture to come to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium low and cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in the bacon, chopped kale, and cream. Season with salt and pepper and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for 2-3 more minutes or until warmed through.
- Serve with homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks.
Notes
Nutrition
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Recipe adapted from Food.com.
I originally shared this recipe October 2017. Updated September 2020 and September 2023.
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Love this soup so much. Made it without the bacon.
Incredibly yummy! I made this very close to the recipe. It makes enough for a family meal! We had a small amount left over, which I put in the refrigerator for the next day. It was best fresh made, especially as the cream separates. I am afraid my house will forever smell like hot sausage and onions though- lol.
Great recipe! Have recommended to other cooks.
this is a favorite in my house hold. I was wondering for the freeze option can I freeze the kale with it?
Absolutely amazing! My husband and I loved it!
What a hearty soup! It is packed with flavor and easy to make . This is definitely a new favorite of my son! Less trips to Olive Garden lol
This was so delicious! My family loved this soup. It was really quick and easy as well. We will be adding this to our fall/winter dinner rotations for sure!
Excellent soup! Easily as good as Olive Garden.
I have made this on repeat and it is so easy and delish! I usually opt to use Trader Joe’s mild Italian sausage.
Flavorful! Going to be trying the leftovers with some rice to soak the broth up next.
I substituted the sausage for turkey and it was still delicious! Great flavor