Love this copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Soup – tastes exactly like the real thing!
Zuppa Toscana Soup
Many years ago, my little brother found a recipe for Zuppa Toscana soup from Olive Garden. This soup is a family favorite whenever we visit Olive Garden and is something we all look forward to. After a few tweaks I think this soup tastes just like the real thing.
My older sister sends me a box of organic produce once a month. Last week it arrived and had a gorgeous bunch of kale in it and I knew just what to make. This is the perfect meal for a cool fall or winter day – sure to warm up your belly!
Directions:
Crumble the sausage onto a baking sheet. Bake the sausage in the oven at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes or until no longer pink. Place on paper towels to drain.
Cook the bacon and crumble into small pieces. I baked my bacon. Slice the potatoes between 1/8″ and 1/4″. I used the thick setting on my mandoline. Just make the slices about the same size so they cook evenly. Dice up the onion and mince the garlic. Throw the potatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and water into a large pot on medium heat until the potatoes are cooked through.
Prepare the kale by chopping into bite sized pieces. Kale is wonderful for soups because it holds up to the heat so well. It’s also delicious! Add the sausage, bacon, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian Sausage spicy if you prefer more heat
- 5-7 slices of bacon
- 5 medium russet potatoes
- 2 cups kale chopped
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 qt water
- 28 oz chicken broth
- ½ large onion
- 2-3 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Crumble the sausage onto a baking sheet. Bake the sausage in the oven at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes or until no longer pink. Place on paper towels to drain.
- Cook the bacon and crumble into small pieces. I baked my bacon. Slice the potatoes between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch thick. I used the thick setting on my mandolin. Just make the slices about the same size so they cook evenly. Dice up the onion and mince the garlic. Throw the potatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, and water into a large pot on medium heat until the potatoes are cooked through.
- Prepare the kale by chopping into bite sized pieces. Kale is wonderful for soups because it holds up to the heat so well. It’s also delicious!
- Add the sausage, bacon, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- During this time the potatoes will start breaking apart into smaller bite sized pieces because they are so tender. Turn the heat to low and add in the kale and heavy cream. Let the soup heat through and serve. We like to serve this soup with some grated Parmesan cheese on top. Delicious!
Nutrition
More dinners to love:
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
20 Minute Skillet Chicken and Spinach Parmesan
Tiffany Youngren says
I can’t wait to try it! We avoid dairy, so I’ll do my “trademark” substitution of half unsweetened coconut milk / half almond milk – I think it’ll be amazing. Thanks! (found this recipe on Pinterest 🙂 )
~ Tiffany
Transfer of Health
Healthy Living and Recipes
4you-withlove says
That soup is AMAZING….thanks for sharing
Liz says
This looked so yummy I pinned it! 🙂
Happy New Year!
~Liz
P.S. I’m following you now… hope you will come by and say hi.
Erica says
I saw this on the Frugal Girls website awhile back and bookmarked it, and I finally made it for my family last week and it was a HUGE hit! All 6 people in my family loved it–that’s very, very rare! I made a huge pot and we all gobbled it up in day. Delicious! Thank you soooo much for sharing this recipe!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
@DeniseOh I’m so glad you like it! Doesn’t it just warm you from the inside out?? My kids lick their bowls when they’re done 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and letting me k now you enjoyed it. Happy New Year!
Mona Lisa says
Hey Trish was wondering about the pepper flakes. Is that just pizza red pepper flakes stuff or something totally different? I looked and looked and couldn’t find it otherwise.
Debra says
I’m not Trish, but yes…it’s the red pepper flakes…
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Debra!
Denise says
Thanks so much for the recipe! I found it on (I think, Frugal Girls email), I pinned it, went to the store and got the ingredients and we just finished eating a big ole bowl! To die for!
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust says
My Hunny is crazy about this recipe – thank you so much for sharing it!
Warmly, Michelle
Delightful Order says
You’ve been featured!
http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-ten-features-from-12142011.html
Thanks for linking to the Party.
See you this Thursday,
DaNita
Oh, boy. Oh, joy! says
Found you over at Delightful Order,
My mom is gonna be sooo happy when she sees this recipe. Thanks!
Miranda
Trish@MomOnTimeout says
@Anonymous Yep! You can leave it out.
Anonymous says
Could the kale be left out?
Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com says
Yummy!!!
I shared it on my TT&J facebook page 🙂
xoxo
Jen
Trish@MomOnTimeout says
@Lauren and Joe O’Brien I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s really an easy recipe to make and just warms you right up. I’m glad you’re going to tweak it suit your preferences 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
Lauren and Joe O'Brien says
I made this for my family and they were SO impressed. It was a little spicy so next time I will probably use less red pepper but even with that it was super good and will become a regular recipe for me.
Lindsey says
My husband and I made this for dinner this evening and it was fabulous! We personally thought that the ratio of sausage to potatoes was off and next time we will double the potatoes and put half of the sausage. We might add a bit more bacon as well, but that could all be personal preference. Loved the taste! Thanks 🙂