Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe
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So easy to make and 10x better than the original! With Italian sausage, potatoes, spinach + bacon!
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why i love this recipe
A homemade replica version of the most favorited Olive Garden soup? Yes, please! Now this copycat recipe comes together in one single pot, which is always a win on those super busy weeknights (hello, easy clean up here), loaded with crumbled spicy Italian sausage, tender russet potatoes, sneaked in greens and all the crispy bacon bits on top.
WHAT IS ZUPPA TOSCANA?
Zuppa toscana is a soup from northern Italy in Tuscany. Translated word for word, zuppa toscana literally means Tuscan soup, also known as minestra di pane in Italy (bread soup).
tips and tricks for success
- Add in leafy greens. This is a great recipe to sneak in leafy greens for those picky eaters. Spinach, kale, collard greens, swiss chard, or arugula are all great options.
- Add the cream slowly. Always add the heavy cream at the very end, pouring very slowly to prevent curdling.
- Make it dairy-free. Need a dairy free option? Substitute coconut cream or skip the half and half.
- Add garnishes. Garnishes are always optional but a fresh sprinkle of grated Parmesan or some crispy bacon will certainly take your soup to the next level, adding more flavor, texture and contrast.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH ZUPPA TOSCANA
Tools For This Recipe
Dutch oven
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe: Frequently Asked Questions
The spicy Italian sausage does pack a little bit of heat but you can substitute mild Italian sausage as needed.
Heavy cream (or heavy whipping cream) has one of the highest fat contents with about 36-40% fat. Half and half or whole milk are suitable substitutes, but will yield a lighter result.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers without the heavy cream and bacon (cream soups tend to separate when frozen) in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop, adding heavy cream and bacon when serving.
Absolutely! We have a recipe for that here.
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casing removed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium hight heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; drain excess fat, reserving 2 tablespoons in the stockpot, and set aside.
- Add Italian sausage and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess fat, reserving 2 tablespoons in the stockpot.
- Add garlic and onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in spinach until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream until heated through, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with bacon.
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can I use cauliflower instead of potatoes to make it low carb? Do you have another substitute for the potatoes? Thanks!
Yes, you can definitely substitute cauliflower but you may have to adjust cooking time as needed.
OH my GOD!!! Best soup ever!! Make this recipe…you will regret it…seriously amazing food!!! Thanks so much!!! This is just make you happy food!! Can you tell that we like it? I saw this recipe and immediately went to the store and then proceeded to make it! 10 Stars!! Thanks Chung-Ah, you ROCK!!!
I’m so glad you liked this recipe! This has quickly become a favorite of mine and you just reminded me that I need to make it again!
Making this tonight with kale and extra garlic. Yum!
Sounds amazing! Let me know how it turns out.
Amazing! My guy said it was better than the Olive Garden’s. 🙂
This soup looks so incredible, you did a fantastic job 🙂 can’t wait to try this for myself!
I make this as well. I have used spinach and Kale. I also add a can of diced tomatoes and I use light cream and I love it as does my family and my co-workers.
My family LOVED this!!!! We had it for dinner tonight and my kids said it was just like the olive garden!!! Thank you so much!
I made the soup this past weekend. My husband is already begging for me to make it again. I didn’t make enough that’s for sure!!! It was excellent and by far the easiest soup I’ve made yet. Thank you for the excellent recipe! 🙂
I’m so glad the hubby likes it so much! This is definitely one of my favorite soups, and the batch sure wasn’t enough for us too!
This soup is amazing! I think the only difference between Alyssa’s recipe and mine is that I use kale instead of spinach. Your pics are GORGEOUS!
You are too sweet. Thanks, Trish! And yes, this recipe is the best. I could have this soup every single day. I can’t wait to try it with kale next time!
I just finished making this soup… Easy and amazing! My husband loves it too! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe, I will definitely be making this again!
Haha…restaurant not recipe. Clearly the lack of sleep is getting to me!
Olive Garden was my favorite recipe as a kid too! We would go every Sunday after church. This soup truly looks 100 times better than the original. Can’t wait to try it!
Mercy! I need this – like right this second. So comforting and cozy!
This looks amazing! Pinned!!! Hope to make soon 🙂
I love this soup! I love that you added bacon to it I’m going to have to try that!
Olive Garden was probably my FAVORITE restaurant as a kid. I would always be such a fatty and get the Tour of Italy and ate the whole thing. Maybe that’s why I was overweight in high school 😉 hahaha – but I tried this zuppa toscana once at Olive Garden and it was so dang good, but to be honest, yours looks a zillion times better! I need to add this to my list!! Beautiful photography!
I love soup and don’t make it enough. This is going to be on our table tonight! Pinning now! Thanks for the recipe!
Zuppa toscana is my husband’s favorite! He was just asking me to make it, now I have a recipe! This looks incredible!
I’ve seen Olive Garden commercials but never been there. Looks like a bowl of comfort! Funny how eating out is such a treat when you mom cooks. My kids were the same way, but now that they’re older, I think they appreciate home cooked meals a lot more.
I’ve actually never been to Olive Garden, but this soup looks absolutely delicious!! So perfect for winter. 🙂 Pinned!
This is my favorite soup at OG. And you’re actually looks ways better than the restaurants. YUM!