Introduction:
Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat is a hearty, flavorful, and creamy soup inspired by the popular Zuppa Toscana served at Olive Garden restaurants. This recipe perfectly recreates the restaurant favorite at home, capturing the signature flavors of Italian sausage, potatoes, kale, and a creamy broth. It’s a comforting and satisfying soup, ideal for chilly evenings, potlucks, or any time you crave a taste of Olive Garden without leaving your kitchen. Imagine a bowl of warm, creamy soup filled with savory sausage and tender vegetables, offering a taste of Tuscany right in your own home!
Picture a steaming bowl of creamy broth, studded with browned Italian sausage, soft potato rounds, and vibrant green kale. The aroma of garlic, herbs, and savory sausage fills the air, promising a comforting and flavorful experience. The texture is a delightful combination of creamy broth, slightly chewy sausage, tender potatoes, and softened kale. Every spoonful is a satisfying mix of rich and savory flavors – the spicy Italian sausage, the creamy broth, the earthy kale, and the hearty potatoes, all working in harmony to create a soup that’s both comforting and flavorful.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, looking for a delicious and hearty soup recipe, or simply want to try making a restaurant-quality soup at home, this Olive Garden Copycat recipe is an excellent choice. It’s surprisingly easy to prepare, uses readily available ingredients, and is guaranteed to become a new family favorite. Get ready to enjoy a taste of Tuscany with this incredibly satisfying copycat soup!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
There are countless reasons why this Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat recipe is destined to become a staple in your kitchen. Firstly, the flavor is remarkably close to the Olive Garden original, delivering that familiar and beloved taste that you crave. If you love Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, you’ll be thrilled with how authentically this recipe recreates it, allowing you to enjoy it anytime without going to a restaurant.
Secondly, it’s a hearty and satisfying one-pot meal, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a complete and comforting dinner. This soup is packed with protein, vegetables, and hearty potatoes, making it a complete and fulfilling meal in a bowl. It’s a great way to get a satisfying dinner on the table with minimal fuss and cleanup.
Finally, it’s a versatile and adaptable recipe, easily customized to your liking. You can adjust the spice level, add different vegetables (like white beans or cannellini beans), use different types of sausage (like sweet Italian sausage for a milder flavor), or incorporate other herbs and spices (like fennel seeds or red pepper flakes). It’s a great base recipe that allows for personal touches and creative variations to suit your dietary needs and taste preferences. Plus, it’s perfect for meal prepping and leftovers are even more flavorful the next day!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
To create this authentic Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat, you will need a selection of pantry staples, fresh produce, sausage, and dairy to build its signature creamy and flavorful profile. The key components are, of course, Italian sausage, potatoes, and kale.
For the sausage component, you will need Italian sausage. Italian sausage (1 pound, hot or mild Italian sausage, removed from casings) is essential for the signature savory and slightly spicy flavor of Zuppa Toscana. Hot Italian sausage will provide more heat, while mild Italian sausage will be less spicy. Choose based on your spice preference. Ensure to remove sausage from casings for browning and crumbling in soup.
For the soup base and vegetables, you’ll need chicken broth, potatoes, onion, garlic, and kale. Chicken broth (8 cups, low sodium chicken broth recommended) provides the liquid base for the soup and adds savory chicken flavor. Low-sodium broth allows for control over salt level and is generally healthier. Yukon gold potatoes (1 ½ pounds, about 4-5 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced into ¼ inch rounds) are the classic potato choice for Zuppa Toscana. Yukon gold potatoes hold their shape well during cooking and have a creamy texture. Yellow onion (1 medium, diced) adds aromatic sweetness and savory depth to the soup base. Diced yellow onion provides flavor throughout the soup. Garlic cloves (3-4 cloves, minced) are essential for pungent and aromatic garlic flavor, enhancing the overall flavor profile. Fresh garlic cloves, minced, provide the best garlic flavor. Kale (1 bunch, about 6-8 ounces, Tuscan kale or curly kale, stems removed and roughly chopped) adds vibrant green color, earthy flavor, and nutritional value. Tuscan kale (also called Lacinato or dinosaur kale) or curly kale both work well. Remove tough stems from kale before chopping. Roughly chopped kale will soften and wilt in the soup.
For the creamy element, you will need heavy cream. Heavy cream (1 cup) is essential for the signature creaminess of Zuppa Toscana. Full-fat heavy cream is recommended for best richness and texture.
Olive oil is used for sautéing vegetables and browning sausage, providing healthy fat and flavor. Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for its health benefits and flavor.
Seasonings are simple but crucial for flavor. Salt and freshly ground black pepper are essential for seasoning and enhancing all the flavors in the soup. Red pepper flakes (¼ – ½ teaspoon, or to taste, optional for extra heat) add a touch of heat to mimic the slight spice in Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, especially if using mild Italian sausage. Dried oregano (1 teaspoon) adds a classic Italian herb note that complements the sausage and vegetables.
Optional additions for enhancing the flavor and presentation of the dish include grated Parmesan cheese (for serving, optional), adding a salty and savory cheese topping when serving, enhancing the Italian flavor profile. Crusty bread or breadsticks (for serving, optional), for serving alongside soup for dipping and soaking up broth, a classic soup accompaniment.
HOW TO MAKE “Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat”:
Making Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat is a straightforward and primarily simmering culinary process. The recipe involves browning Italian sausage, sautéing vegetables, adding broth and potatoes, simmering until potatoes are tender, adding kale and heavy cream, and simmering briefly to finish. Simmering allows flavors to meld beautifully and potatoes and kale to cook through gently. Browning sausage is a key step for developing deep savory flavor.
The recipe is structured into clear, easy-to-follow steps. It begins with browning Italian sausage in a pot. Then, onion and garlic are sautéed in the same pot with the sausage. Chicken broth, sliced potatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper are added to the pot. Soup is simmered until potatoes are tender. Finally, chopped kale and heavy cream are stirred in, simmered briefly until kale wilts and soup is heated through, and then served.
By carefully following the step-by-step instructions, even novice cooks can easily achieve delicious and authentic Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat at home. The simplicity of the simmering method belies the incredible depth of flavor and comforting qualities of the finished soup. Get ready to enjoy a taste of Olive Garden in your own kitchen!
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1: Brown Italian Sausage. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Using a large pot or Dutch oven provides ample space for soup ingredients and even heating. Heat olive oil as base for cooking. Add the Italian sausage (removed from casings) to the pot. Add sausage to hot pot to brown. Break up the sausage with a spoon and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Browning sausage develops deep savory flavor and crumbles it for soup. Cook until sausage is no longer pink and is browned. Drain off any excess grease from the pot. Draining excess grease is important for soup flavor and texture.
Step 2: Sauté Onion and Garlic. Add the diced onion to the pot with the browned sausage (no need to remove sausage). Adding onion to pot with sausage to sauté in sausage rendered fat and flavor. Sauté the onion for about 5-7 minutes, or until softened and translucent. Sautéing onion softens it and brings out its sweetness, building a flavor base. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté for another 1 minute, until fragrant. Adding garlic in the last minute prevents burning and preserves its aromatic flavor.
Step 3: Add Broth, Potatoes, and Seasonings and Simmer. Pour the chicken broth into the pot with the sausage and vegetables. Adding broth creates liquid base for soup. Add the sliced Yukon gold potatoes, dried oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper to the pot. Adding potatoes and seasonings to broth. Stir to combine all ingredients. Ensure all ingredients are well mixed in broth. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer for gentle cooking. Simmering gently cooks potatoes until tender. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on thickness of potato slices and potato type. Potatoes are tender when easily pierced with a fork.
Step 4: Add Kale and Heavy Cream and Finish Simmering. Stir in the roughly chopped kale into the soup. Adding kale to soup to wilt and soften. Kale will wilt down significantly in volume. Cook until the kale is wilted and tender-crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on type of kale and desired tenderness. Kale is tender-crisp when softened but still has slight texture. Stir in the heavy cream into the soup. Stirring in heavy cream adds signature creaminess to Zuppa Toscana. Heat through gently, but do not boil. Heat through gently to warm cream without boiling, which can cause curdling. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes, or until soup is heated through and cream is incorporated. Simmering briefly incorporates cream and heats soup through.
Step 5: Serve Hot. Ladle the Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat into bowls. Ladling soup prepares it for serving. Serve hot immediately for optimal enjoyment and warmth. Zuppa Toscana is best served warm. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese (optional) before serving for added salty and savory cheese flavor. Serve with crusty bread or breadsticks (optional) for dipping and enjoying with soup. Enjoy this hearty and flavorful Olive Garden copycat soup!
USEFUL TIPS:
For a spicier Zuppa Toscana, use hot Italian sausage, and/or increase the amount of red pepper flakes to your preference. Hot Italian sausage and red pepper flakes increase spice level. Adjust spice level according to your preference.
For a milder soup, use mild Italian sausage and reduce or omit the red pepper flakes. Mild Italian sausage and reduced/omitted red pepper flakes create a milder soup.
To add more vegetables, consider adding diced carrots or zucchini along with the onions at the sautéing step. Diced carrots or zucchini are good vegetable additions. Sauté additional vegetables along with onions for even cooking.
For a thicker soup, you can mash some of the cooked potatoes against the side of the pot before adding the kale and cream. Mashing some potatoes thickens soup naturally by releasing starch. Mash gently against pot side to release starch and thicken broth.
For a vegetarian version (not truly copycat, but similar style), substitute plant-based Italian sausage (such as Beyond Meat or Impossible Sausage) for the Italian sausage, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Plant-based Italian sausage and vegetable broth create a vegetarian adaptation. Flavor profile will be slightly different from traditional sausage-based Zuppa Toscana. Adjust seasonings as needed when using vegetarian substitutions.
For a make-ahead option, you can prepare the soup completely (up to adding heavy cream) a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving, stirring in heavy cream and kale just before serving to keep kale fresh-tasting. Assembling soup ahead saves time on day of serving, especially for meal prep or busy days. Reheat gently and add heavy cream and kale fresh for best flavor and kale texture.
For freezing leftover soup, allow the soup to cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe airtight containers or bags. Freeze cooled soup for longer storage. Freeze in portion sizes for easier thawing and reheating. Dairy-based soups can sometimes separate slightly upon thawing, but Zuppa Toscana freezes relatively well. Thaw frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight or gently on the stovetop before reheating and serving. Thawing in refrigerator is recommended for best texture. Reheat gently on stovetop or in microwave.
DETAILS:
Prep Time: 20 minutes. The preparation time includes peeling and slicing potatoes, chopping vegetables (onion, garlic, kale), removing sausage from casings, and measuring spices and liquids. Efficient prep work streamlines cooking process. Proper preparation ensures a smooth and enjoyable cooking experience.
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes simmering (plus browning sausage and sautéing time). The cooking time is primarily for simmering the soup with potatoes and kale. Simmering time ensures potatoes are tender and kale is wilted and soup is heated through. Browning sausage and sautéing vegetables take additional time but are cooked separately. Total cook time reflects simmering and separate cooking components.
Total Time: 50-55 minutes. The total time from start to finish, including prep time and cook time, is approximately 50-55 minutes. Zuppa Toscana is a relatively quick and easy soup to make. Total time is reasonable for a hearty and flavorful homemade soup.
Yield: 6-8 servings. This recipe yields approximately 6-8 servings, suitable for a family meal or to have leftovers for lunch. Serving size can be adjusted based on individual appetites and serving context. Yield is sufficient for a family dinner or to have leftovers.
Category: Soup, Main Course (hearty), Lunch, Dinner, Copycat Recipe, Italian-American Inspired. Zuppa Toscana is versatile, categorized as a soup, hearty main course, lunch or dinner option, a copycat recipe of Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, and Italian-American inspired cuisine. It is primarily served for lunch or dinner. Categorization highlights its versatility and culinary role.
Method: Simmering, Sautéing, Stovetop. The primary methods are simmering the soup on the stovetop and sautéing vegetables and browning sausage on stovetop. Simmering is the main cooking method for soup. Sautéing vegetables and browning sausage are stovetop preparations for flavor base. These methods combine to create the final dish.
Cuisine: Italian-American, American, Copycat, Soup. Zuppa Toscana is Italian-American in style, a copycat recipe of an American restaurant chain, and a soup. Its flavor profile and restaurant origin classify it as Italian-American inspired copycat soup. Olive Garden is an American restaurant chain serving Italian-American cuisine. Cuisine reflects the recipe’s origin and culinary style – Italian-American inspired copycat soup from Olive Garden.
Diet: Not Vegetarian (contains meat), Adaptable to Vegetarian (with substitution). The base recipe is not vegetarian due to the Italian sausage. Vegetarian adaptation is possible by substituting plant-based Italian sausage. Diet category highlights its standard form (non-vegetarian) and potential for vegetarian modification with sausage substitution.
NOTES:
One note on sausage – use good quality Italian sausage, either hot or mild, depending on your spice preference. Removing the sausage from its casings before browning is important for achieving the crumbled texture in the soup. Italian sausage is key for signature Zuppa Toscana flavor. Hot or mild sausage allows for spice level adjustment. Removing casings ensures crumbled sausage texture in soup.
Another note is regarding kale – Tuscan kale (also known as Lacinato or dinosaur kale) is traditionally used in Zuppa Toscana, but curly kale also works well. Be sure to remove the tough stems from the kale before chopping and adding it to the soup. Kale adds nutritional value and texture to soup. Tuscan or curly kale are both suitable. Stem removal and chopping prepare kale for soup.
For serving suggestions, Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat is a hearty and complete meal on its own. However, it pairs well with: a side salad (such as Caesar salad or Italian salad), crusty bread or breadsticks (for dipping), or a light appetizer like bruschetta or crostini. Serving suggestions enhance serving presentation and offer complementary side dishes. Consider serving with lighter sides to balance richness of soup.
If you want to enhance the Italian herb flavor, you can add a pinch of fennel seeds or a bay leaf to the soup during simmering, and remove them before serving. Fennel seeds or bay leaf enhance Italian herb flavor profile. Add sparingly as flavors can be strong. Remove bay leaf before serving.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Can I use different types of potatoes in Zuppa Toscana?
A: While Yukon gold potatoes are recommended for their creamy texture and ability to hold their shape, you can use other types of potatoes in Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat. Russet potatoes will work but may become slightly more starchy and less creamy. Red potatoes will also work and hold their shape well, but have a slightly different texture than Yukon golds. Potato variations will slightly alter soup texture and flavor. Yukon gold potatoes are recommended for best result, but Russet or Red potatoes are acceptable substitutes.
Q: Can I make this soup in a slow cooker or Instant Pot?
A: Yes, you can adapt this Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat recipe for both a slow cooker and an Instant Pot.
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Slow Cooker: Brown the Italian sausage and sauté the onion and garlic as directed in Steps 1 and 2. Transfer the sausage and vegetables to a slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, potatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Stir in the kale and heavy cream during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Slow cooker method is very hands-off and allows for longer flavor melding. Add kale and cream later to prevent overcooking.
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Instant Pot: Use the sauté function to brown the Italian sausage and sauté the onion and garlic as directed in Steps 1 and 2. Add the chicken broth, potatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Secure the lid and cook on HIGH pressure for 8-10 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure. Stir in the kale and heavy cream. Use sauté function again to heat through kale and cream for a few minutes until kale is wilted and soup is heated through. Instant Pot method is much faster, reducing cooking time significantly. Add kale and cream after pressure cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain creaminess.
Q: Can I make Zuppa Toscana without heavy cream to reduce calories?
A: You can reduce or substitute the heavy cream in Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat to lower the calorie content, but it will affect the soup’s signature creamy texture. For a slightly lighter option, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, which will still provide some creaminess but with fewer calories. For a significantly lighter option, you can use evaporated milk or even whole milk, but the soup will be much less creamy and more broth-based. You can also skip the cream altogether for a brothier soup. Cream is essential for signature Zuppa Toscana creaminess. Reduced fat options will alter texture and richness. Consider your preference for creamy texture vs. calorie reduction when choosing cream option.
Q: What are other vegetables I can add to this soup for more nutrients?
A: You can add a variety of other vegetables to Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat to boost its nutrient content and flavor. Good vegetable additions include: cannellini beans or white beans (canned, rinsed and drained), diced carrots, zucchini (diced), bell peppers (diced), celery (diced), or escarole (instead of or in addition to kale). Add canned beans during the last 15-20 minutes of simmering to heat through. Add other vegetables along with onions at sautéing step to ensure they soften. Vegetable variations enhance nutritional value, flavor complexity, and texture. Choose vegetables based on your preference and add at appropriate cooking times.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS:
To ensure your leftover Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat remains safe and delicious, proper storage is essential. Allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Do not place hot food directly into the refrigerator, as this can raise the refrigerator temperature and potentially affect food safety and texture of the soup. Cooling to room temperature before refrigerating is recommended for best storage practices.
Once cooled, transfer the leftover soup to airtight containers. Airtight containers prevent air exposure and maintain freshness in the refrigerator.
Store the airtight containers of leftover Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat in the refrigerator. Refrigerate leftovers promptly within 2 hours of cooking to ensure food safety, especially because of the meat and dairy content. Store in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or below. Proper refrigeration is crucial for preventing bacterial growth and maintaining food safety for meat and dairy-based soups.
Consume refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days for the best quality and food safety. While leftovers may remain safe to eat for slightly longer, the texture of the potatoes and kale may change slightly upon reheating, and the overall soup quality may degrade over time. For optimal taste and to minimize health risks, it is recommended to consume leftovers within this timeframe. Always use your senses—sight, smell, and taste—to assess the quality of leftovers before consuming.
Reheating leftover Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat is best done gently on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through, or microwave individual portions. Reheat gently to avoid boiling and overcooking vegetables. Stovetop reheating helps maintain texture better for larger portions. Microwave reheating is quicker for individual servings. Add a splash of broth or water during reheating if soup seems too thick.
RELATED RECIPES
If you enjoyed this hearty and flavorful Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat, you will likely enjoy these other soup and Italian-inspired variations. Consider trying Sausage and Kale Soup (Simple Version) for a quicker and simpler version of sausage and kale soup, often without potatoes or cream, focusing on sausage, kale, and broth, offering a lighter and faster version of sausage and kale soup. Simple sausage and kale soup offers a quicker and lighter alternative, focusing on main flavor components without creaminess and potatoes, offering a brothier and faster soup option. It’s a delicious choice for a lighter meal or quicker soup fix.
Another excellent option is Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Olive Garden Copycat), for another popular Olive Garden soup copycat recipe, featuring pasta, beans, ground beef, and tomatoes in a hearty broth, offering another Olive Garden copycat soup experience, different flavor profile (tomato and bean-based) but same restaurant inspiration. Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli is another popular Olive Garden copycat soup, different flavor profile but same restaurant inspiration, offering another restaurant soup experience at home. It’s a great choice for fans of Olive Garden soups.
For a different style of creamy Italian soup, explore Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Spinach, for a creamy and cheesy Italian soup featuring cheese tortellini, Italian sausage, and spinach in a creamy broth, offering a different format (tortellini soup) but still highlighting creamy Italian sausage and vegetable flavors. Creamy tortellini soup offers a creamy Italian soup with pasta and sausage, different format but still creamy and highlighting Italian sausage and vegetable flavors. These related recipes offer diverse flavor combinations and formats within the soup and Italian-inspired categories, providing a range of delicious options to explore beyond Zuppa Toscana.
CONCLUSION
Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat is a truly satisfying and flavorful soup that perfectly recreates the restaurant favorite in your own kitchen. This recipe offers a straightforward and incredibly rewarding way to create a hearty, comforting, and deliciously authentic soup that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re craving a taste of Olive Garden at home, looking for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner, or simply want a warm and comforting soup that’s bursting with flavor, this recipe is guaranteed to be a hit.
The combination of savory Italian sausage, tender potatoes, vibrant kale, and creamy broth creates a symphony of textures and tastes that is simply irresistible. Homemade Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat is far more flavorful and satisfying than any canned or pre-made version, and the relatively simple steps make it accessible for cooks of all skill levels. It’s a treat that is as enjoyable to make and share as it is to eat, perfectly capturing the spirit of relaxed, delicious, and abundant home cooking, inspired by a restaurant classic.
So, gather your Italian sausage, potatoes, kale, and soup pot, and prepare to experience the simple joy of homemade Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat. Don’t be afraid to customize the recipe to your liking, adjusting the spice level, adding your favorite vegetables, herbs, proteins, or flavorings to create your own personalized version of this copycat soup sensation. Embrace the savory sausage flavor, savor the creamy broth, and enjoy the comforting deliciousness of every spoonful. Happy cooking, and may your Zuppa Toscana be a delicious success!
