Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat
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This copycat tastes just like the restaurant version except you can make it in the pressure cooker. It is unbelievably easy and effortless – anyone can make it! It is basically fool-proof. Promise!
Greetings from South Korea!
We have a quick layover here in Seoul before we finally head home to Los Angeles.
It’s been an amazing two weeks in Thailand but I am very much ready to get back home to our 56 degree F weather.
When the scarves, Uggs and seat warmers come out.
And this IP Olive Garden copycat recipe.
It’s truly one of my favorite winter soups ever.
And it’s even more of a favorite now that I know I can make it in the Instant Pot.
It’s rich, it’s hearty, and it’s full of kale!
It’s a great way to sneak in those veggies for those picky eaters, or in my case, Ben.
I have never seen him eat so much kale.
He said, and I quote, ” The kale soaks up the flavors of the sausage so it just tastes like sausage.”
Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 russet potatoes, chopped
- 6 cups chicken broth
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
- 1 cup half and half
Instructions
- Set a 6-qt Instant Pot® to the high saute setting. Add olive oil and sausage. Cook, stirring frequently, until sausage is lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess fat.
- Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and oregano until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in potatoes and chicken broth; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 5 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer's directions.
- Stir in kale until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in half and half until heated through, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?
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Very good, have made several times and it’s always great. I use 3 to 4 cups of frozen diced potatoes and it is makes the recipe even easier. I like using hot Italian sausage or just adding a lot of red pepper flakes
Absolutely delicious no leftovers
Love it and so easy!
DEFINITELY DAMN DELICIOUS! I should have left a review earlier, because I make this all the time. It was the first thing I made in my Instant Pot and is still a recipe that I make regularly. I sometimes use spicy sausage for a little kick, and always use baby spinach instead of kale. I always use extra spinach, because you know, greens that taste like sausage! 🙂 When using mild Italian sausage, I most often throw in some crushed red pepper flakes which brings the taste and zip over the top! Sprinkle a little bitof parmesan cheese on the top and…MWAH! Chef’s kiss. It’s even better the next day, and the day after!
Husband likes this better than olive garden now
I make this all the time for wife and me. I use hot Italian sausage and spinach instead of kale. This is one of our favorites. Especially during our Wyoming winters!
Love it! Easy and delicious. I like to use hot Italian sausage for a bit of a kick.
This was so good. It just melted in my mouth. The potatoes was so tender. There was so much flavor will make again soon.
How do youprepare this soup if you do not own an Instant Pot???
Hello,
Use a pot. Saute the sausage medium to medium high (step 1). For step 2, reduce to medium. For step 4, medium/low stir in potatoes and simmer until tender 15 minutes+. Then follow the rest of the recipe as is.
Excellent! Whole family loved this recipe. Quick and easy option for a weeknight.
I’m pretty sure I’ve left a comment on this before, but it’s so good I wanted to leave another! This is in regular rotation in my house and everyone loves it. So simple and so delicious!
Definitely needs more seasoning.
I use half Italian sausage and half chorizo. This will fix your spice problem. And make the best version you ever had. Your welcome.
Delicious! Thanks. I cut it in half because we’re down to two in my household. I also use Italian spices instead of oregano and I always add a splash of fish sauce to soup or stew. And no salt, because sausage seems to hold salt in, especially in the instant pot. Spinach instead of kale for me. I made a pot of it for a family who had a member recovering from difficult surgery. They said the second day they were fighting over the leftovers.
So delicious. Used whole milk in place of half and half and still very tasty.
I made this tonight and loved it! I used bratwurst instead of Italian sausage and omitted the garlic. Also used Italian seasoning instead of oregano. Served with side of bread. Delicious!
This recipe is awesome!! I make it every few weeks – I always double the recipe to freeze or to have extra to give to family or friends. If I am freezing I don’t add the kale Or dairy – I wait to add kale / half and half after it’s thawed and reheated. It’s just us great without the half and half – I’ve also substituted oat milk for a dairy free option – you can’t wrong with this recipe
We love this recipe so much, it is a delicious meal that comes together so quickly. Thank you for sharing!
Very delicious and full of flavour! I would definitely make this again. I used the whole “bunch” of kale because the other half would have just gone to waste if I didn’t use it up.
The recipe says it makes 6 servings and it was more like 8. I had enough soup to feed an army and I’m only one person meal prepping for myself for the week. I would probably halve the recipe if I made it again.
Tasty, but it doesn’t have the depth of flavor that Olive Garden’s soup does. Super easy though.
This recipe is delicious and easy! I substitute the sausage with Jimmy Dean’s mild sausage chub.
Absolutely amazing!
We veganized this recipe and it was so “damn delicious” my father in law kept asking “Can she eat this?” while slurping his own portion happily. Our slight alterations: we subbed Beyond Meat brand’s Sausage and coconut milk for the half&half.
The slight how-tos that people ask for details about: No need to remove any casings, it will all disintegrate…and coarser chunks make for good texture. No, there won’t be extra fat too drain off.
Sit unopened tin of full fat coconut milk in hot water when you start making the soup. This will soften the coconut cream to mix it in smoothly. Open tin when you would normally mix in half&half cream. Stir in the coconut milk. (No, It doesn’t have any coconut flavour at all.) You can reduce calories and fat content by using light coconut milk, but soup will not be as creamy.
What did you substitute the broth with?
This was so delicious and I believe it tastes better home made than the Olive Garden’s.
Please make a copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s chicken gnocchi soup! I love your recipes and know you’d do it right.
My family request this ALL THE TIME. Such a great recipe. I sometimes add a can of garbanzo beans as well. This is such a quick easy crowd pleaser and easy to adjust for a crowd!
One of our favorite soups! We add a few carrots in with the potatoes. I love the kale in it for its texture. Awesome with a side of some dinner rolls or sourdough toast 🙂
Awesome selection of recipes
Is there a way to cook on top of stove?
So delicious! My very picky husband loved it too. Will definitely make this again! Thanks Damn Delicious!
Omg. This is RIDICULOUSLY delicious and RIDICULOUSLY easy! I am NOT what anyone would call a good cook, and at age 57 and having raised 3 kids, that’s not something I’m proud of, but this soup especially, along with several other of your recipes have given me a huge dose of confidence in the kitchen and warned me rave reviews! This soup is incredibly delicious, I made it exactly as written with the exception of subbing fresh baby spinach for the kale and its mouthwatering. It’s cooking in the IP right now for the second time in a week! If it’s even possible, this tastes even better the second and third day! I sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top and a generous dose of Parmesan cheese and I think it’s just as good as Olive Garden, actually I think it’s better. THANK YOU CHUNGAH for giving me confidence in the kitchen, teaching this “old dog” some new (kitchen) tricks, and for making me LOVE cooking for the first time in my LIFE! It feels awesome to be making so many things that not only don’t suck, but that earn RAVE reviews (for something *I* made?!?! WOW!!!!
Absolutely fantastic and so easy! I’ll definitely be this again!
This is delicious. First thing I made in IP.
My hubby loved it! He was surprised how delicious it is with so few ingredients and Kale of all veggies. Thank you for the amazing Instantpot version.
I’ve made this recipe lots of times now, and it’s a favorite with the whole family! From the 2, 4, and 5 year olds, all the way to all our extended family.
I double the potatoes and kale, as we like a heartier soup. I also dice the potatoes, so that I don’t have to peel them. That also helps to thicken the broth a bit, with the extra potato starch from more potato surface area.
I also use heavy whipping cream, as it’s what I have on hand, and it works very well!
Sometimes I remember to pressure release at 5 minutes, sometimes I don’t, and it turns out great either way.
This turned out better than the restaurant’s!!! I had been sick and want something that tasted good without going to the store, so I substituted a few ingredients. For the kale I used 1 box frozen spinach and the half & half, heavy whipping cream also in my bowl a sprinkle of cayenne pepper just a little. Sooooo yummy!! By the way this was my first time using my Instant Pot Dou.
I nearly cried after making this the first time and realizing I didn’t save the recipe. But I found it again and it is SAVED. I’m anxiously waiting for my next batch to finish pressure cooking. This tastes exactly like the restaurant’s soup… And is much more affordable! I eat what I want and put the rest in the fridge. I warm leftovers in the microwave and it’s still delicious the next day! Thanks for sharing the damnded delicious recipe!
I LOVE this recipe. I’ve made it at least 10 times over the past few years. It’s so refreshing yet hearty, just like the Olive Garden version. So delicious! And very easy to make.
This is a favorite in my house. I am vegan so I use Beyond spicy Italian sausage and vegetable broth. Sub full fat coconut milk for the cream.
THANK YOU! This is the comment I came looking for <3
Very easy and delicious recipe. My family all said it tasted just like the Olive Garden. I added some extra minced garlic but otherwise followed the recipe.
Damn Delicious and so quick! I added a lot more garlic though and served with crispy bacon and parmesan! 🙂
I make this over and over. Its incredible.
I followed the recipe except I used hot Italian sausage and the little bit of spice was just perfect. This is definitely a rotation soup that I will be making monthly-if not more often!
Delicious! I followed the recipe using 1/2 pound mild Italian sausage and 1/2 pound mild chicken sausage and used spinach. Delicious!
I’ve made this several times and it’s always a family favorite. Imagine my surprise when it was just as delicious tonight with lean turkey sausage and no cream.
This is a Huge hit with my family! I think even better than OG’s. Added a pkg of thick cut bacon cooked, put the kale in from the beginning, and then lots of Parmesan Romano cheese on top and it’s the bomb!! Thank you!
Today with it being chilly here in Florida by our standards, I wanted to make soup for lunch. I had been craving Zuppa Toscana. I made the recipe today and omgeeee, I am in love. This recipe is so simple and so yummy. Didnt have to change anything about it at all. I served it with a couple garlic butter breadsticks and it was a hit. Thank you for posting this recipe its going into our favorites file for sure.
I use 1/2 hot & 1/2 mild sausage, peel and dice the potatoes in smaller cubes, double the kale and add the kale before pressure cooking so it’s more tender. This is one of my favorite soups and get so many compliments on the recipe. Thanks so much!
When they say copycat they mean copycat it is spot on delicious made this several times and gonna make it again tonight!!
Oh yeah, you gotta cook 4 slices bacon with the sausage and onions. It soooo makes the whole taste. Delicious!!
Awesome recipe. Delicious. Thanks for doing this. Hubby said this is the best one I have tried yet. Yummy.
Question about the kale. If I were using frozen kale rather than fresh, how much should I use to approximate ‘1/2 a bunch’?
This seems to be a common practice now……..all most all recipes will say so many servngs but not what a serving is.
Having never actually tasted Olive Garden’s soup, I can honestly say my family won’t ever enjoy it as much as this homemade version! My kids come home from college begging for it, so it’s the bomb!!
This is was my first time making this soup and it’s amazing!! Can’t get enough. The only thing I swapped was oat milk & butter for the half and half.
I add a whole pack of bacon, and use spinach leaves instead of kale. Delicious.
Added Boulder hot Italian sausage and bacon
Made this soup a few times now. 2 days ago I doubled the recipe, hoping to freeze half. It never made it to the freezer. The whole family couldn’t stop eating it. Damn delicious indeed.
Any recommendations on how to make this if you don’t have an instapot?
Just google it for stove top and it gives great recipes for it .
Just do the same but simmer until the potatoes are cooked and the kale is tender on your stovetop.
Excellent , and my family LOVED it, thank you so much for sharing.
Kelsey
Awesome recipe! I added 1/2t of red pepper flakes for a tiny kick!
I used to eat this on my breaks when I worked doubles at OG – dead ringer. Now, you got a copycat for the breadsticks? Hint: Lotsa butter; lotsa salt 🙂
I’ve made this recipe several times now, and it’s always a group favorite. Great instant pot meal. I add some lemon and sometimes pesto, and add red peppers.
BRILLIANT. I take my mentor kid to OG and we both loved the Zuppa Tuscana, so I’ve made this 6 or 7 times, I’m losing count bc it’s just so Great!
I always read the comments too:
Yes to 1 tsp red pepper flakes or using hot sausage.
Also, use the full 12oz bag of Aldi’s kale – I do an extra wash and debone it and cook it with everything else for best texture. I tried spinach instead and it’s too floppy, I like the firmer kale better.
And I like to fill up my IP –
I add another 4 cups of chicken broth, 3 more sliced potatoes.
it saves well and freezes perfectly, even with the half & half added.
Thanks for this! Such great leftovers for lunch and later nite snacking.
So I did make one little change, as I’ve never been a big fan a kale ( thanks to growing up as it being used mainly as garnish), but I substituted spinach it it’s place. ..needless to say if the kids don’t complain about me sneaking it in it was a hit!!
Easy recipe to follow! I’ll be making this for dinner tomorrow. Thank you.
I have made several copycat recipes for this soup and this was by far the best and easiest! This will be on our family rotation from now on!
I topped with Parmesan and my hubby and I added red pepper flakes for a little heat but this recipe needs no adjustments
OMG! i have never liked this soup. This was definitely DAMN DELICIOUS!! I don’t eat Kale either, so I cooked from beginning and 3 minutes longer…Kale melted in your mouth! THANK YOU!!!
I just barely got an Instant Pot for Christmas and this was the first meal I made in it. Delicious! Great way to christen my new appliance. Thank you for sharing.
Turns out amazing every single time. I’m single so I use my 3qt duo mini and half the recipe. Shopping at Aldi makes this recipe even better because it’s so stinking cheap and delicious. LOVE this!!
Soooo goooood!! A complete hit!! Love it so much!! Thank you! Is my fave meal at Olive Garden so It was great to make it at home. Used canned coconut milk instead of half and half:)
Normally, I’d add Kale (or other greens) at the end of the recipe to steam-cook for 5-10 minutes. When do you add Kale to this recipe?
My family loves this. So easy to make. Thanks for sharing.
So good. And it freezes well too.
I’ve never froze soup before, do you just put it in a freezer bag and remove the air? Or is there another method? Thanks!!
This is my go to IP soup recipe. It comes out amazingly every time.
I love this soup! I also add a 1/2 c of mild Cheddar Cheese and add more chicken broth as well. Thanks
This is DELICIOUS and so easy to make!!!
First, what I did different.
I used and 8qt instant pot (some recipes will not fit in a 6qt). I used spinach instead of kale so I didn’t have my friends turn against me. I used half hot and mild Italian sausage. And last I took the casings off all by myself, thank you very much.
This recipe is truly worth the moniker “Damn Delicious”. I added parmesan cheese cuz I like the taste.
Fantastic thanks for sharing
Just made this and WOW, SO FLAVORFUL….and so easy!!
The soup is very good and very quick. I made it from scratch a few weeks ago and it definitely tasted better but took a very long time. This is great for a delicious quick weekday meal that yields great leftovers.
This soup is amazing!!!!!!!! This is the first meal I fixed in my new Instant Pot, just follow the recipe, you will love it!
I made this and I thought it was just as good, if not better, than Olive Garden’s soup. The Insta pot directions were good. I took some to work and the staff enjoyed it too.
So good and so easy to make. One of my sister’s and I’s favorites in the Instant Pot
Absolutely delicious and very easy to make.
The soup was amazing! I jazzed it up a little by adding a few bay leafs, peppercorns and a chicken bouillon cube.
Like other comments I peeled the potatoes, added the kale before the pressure cooking and doubled the garlic.
Will be making again.
I used breakfast sausage and added Italian seasoning. I also subbed Swiss chard for the kale. That’s what’s so great about this soup, I can use what I have on hand & it’s always delicious!
Deliciouso! 🙂 I used turkey sausage and unsweetened almond milk to cut down on calories and it was yummy!!
This is a regular meal in our house! We’ve been making it, or some variation of it, for a few years. It’s super quick and easy.
The quality/flavour of the sausages can make this dish go from good to amazing!
Fantastic – the flavor was spot on! I would absolutely make this again. Here’s a few modifications to my taste:
Hot Italian Sausage instead of mild
8 garlic cloves total
4 potatoes total
lots of dried oregano and thyme sprinkled on
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes – this is a must!
Sorry if this has been asked already. Can this be doubled in an 8 quart?
One of our favorite staples when it gets chilly outside. I use medium Italian sausage to add a bit more flavor and spice, and I also use 1.5 lbs of sausage so it is heartier a d has a better balance between sausage and potatoes. One other trick I do is to heat the half and half in the microwave for a minute or two so it doesn’t break the broth. Super easy, super delicious!
It was good, but it needed the touch that a roux would add. Not quite hearty enough.
Unbelievably easy and quick to put together. I just have to be sure I have the kale on hand. I have some home-cooked great northern beans I’m adding. Just sounded good. We’ll see. But, I’ve made this wonderful soup several times and it’s just such a perfect soup. Thanks!
This is so good. I made it for relatives after a surgery. They were all mad at each for sneaking the leftovers and called me the next day for the recipe!
I made this and it turned out AMAZINGLY well! I don’t know that it took much less time (due to how long it takes to come to pressure,) but it sure was a ton easier to prep and clean up than my usual stovetop recipe.
I didn’t have 1/2 and 1/2, so I subbed a can of evaporated milk. You couldn’t even tell if you hadn’t known. Also, I added some chopped real bacon because that’s how they do it at OG. 😉
I give this 5 stars!
I forgot to add I used kale from my own garden. Total newbie at that too.
I made this tonight and my husband and I enjoyed it very much. We had it as a main course and it was very filling. I followed your recipe totally, except for the pressure release. I feared the quick release might be messy so I did 10 minutes natural release and then quick. No mess! And the potatoes were not mushy. Thank you for helping a newbie!
Totally loved this recipe! It was simple, quick and tasty. The only thing I did differently was add real bacon bits.
This was my first instant pot meal and I can’t get enough of it! I used Chorizo in place of italian sausage and the rest of ingredients as per recipe. The only issue I had with it was kale – not tender enough even after leaving it for 15 min with lid on , before adding the cream.
Next time I’ll add it right at the start . Overall great , easy recipe!
Greetings from Down Under
Quick, easy and delicious ! Greetings from France !
I made this a few minutes ago! It was fast and easy! It tastes great! Will definitely make again!
Quick and delicious. The only think I did differently was use 1/2 mild and 1/2 hot sausage. And only because I like a bit of heat. This is a keeper. Thanks for another wonderful recipe.
My family loved this soup. We made it dairy free by using unflavored soy milk instead of cream and we used hot italian sausage. It is a great recipe and easy to make.
I’ve been a Zuppa Toscana fan ever since it graced the soup plates at Olive Garden. My courage to DIY was lacking until I read this recipe. I added turkey sausage to Italian sausage and doubled potatoes and broth to make more. I added flavor with paste bouillon at the end and a half more cup of 1/2 and 1/2. Perfetto!
Great likeness!
Amazing! So yummy and delicious! I would definitely make it again. I used ground Italian turkey and it turned out great. I would just peel the potatoes next time 🙂
I made this last week and again this week. It’s delicious!
Delicious! Couldn’t find kale so I used a bag of fresh baby spinach leaves instead. So hearty and comforting.
The only thing I did differently was added some red pepper flakes….yum!
I cannot wait to make this, I’ve never been disappointed by a recipe of yours so far!
I don’t have an instant pot, does anyone know how long I should cook this for if I use a slow cooker instead?
Thanks!
Thank you for the recipe! Made with what I had on hand, half freshly ground chicken and half ground pork, and red potatoes. Followed everything else, absolutely a keeper!
I never, ever, ever leave reviews for things on food blogs, but this recipe has broken my silence. Both my super picky mom and me could not get enough of this soup. I halved the potatoes, doubled the kale, and put a ton of black pepper and chili flakes in there. I did feel like it was too much potato (I think I’m just not a fan of potatoes in my soup!), but I’m anyway planning on going back on keto, so I will just dump a ton of kale in there next time and call it a day (not a fan of kale, but as the husband in this story said, it ends up tasting just like sausage!). Thanks sooooo much for a recipe that I will keep coming back to again and again. 🙂
I absolutely love this recipe!! One question, can you freeze the leftovers?
So, I had to make some changes. My grocery order did not include the onion needed for this (even though they charged me for it!), so I substituted…. a can of corn. Because why not? And the grocery store was completely out of kale, so I substituted something else green… a can of green beans. Sounds reasonable, right?
Anyway, I followed the directions exactly otherwise and believe it or not, this turned out delicious! I’d definitely make it this way again.
I haven’t made this yet, but I have a question. I have dental issues and I’m concerned about the kale getting tender enough. Can I add it during the pressure cooking phase or would that be a bad idea?
I like my kale soft, so I always put it in with everything else.
This looks great. Can you offer this recipe in a crockpot or on the stove? I don’t have insta-pot. Thank you.
Excellent recipe! I used vegan sausage, coconut cream, and veggie broth to make a vegan version and it translated perfectly. Definitely going to work this into the rotation.
Delicious! Definitely a “do again”! I followed the recipe exactly and wouldn’t change a thing.
I veganized this soup and it was easy and delicious! Subbed vegan sausage, veggie broth, and sunflower crème. Big hit with my family ~ will make again often. Thank you!
Soooooo good, made it yesterday and then again today!
I Love your recipes! You have made me a Rockstar in the kitchen! I’m an OR nurse so working long days and my days off during this Pandemic so being a picky eater I enjoy cooking and eating at home…especially now. I’ve taken in a homeless person that I went to high school with and he’s my #1 fan, every time I cook he says it’s the best he’s ever had…thank you! Made the beef stroganoff last night…so damn delicious! Just wondering if you would consider copycat recipes for Olive Gardens…Pasta e Fagioli and Carrabba’s…Mama Mandola’s Silicilian chicken soup. Two of my favorites but can’t wait to try this one as well!
I make this for my roommates and parents all the time! I’ve even made it for a party and everyone was asking me for the recipe. It’s pretty spot on to Olive Garden and goes great with bread.
I love this soup! Our family keeps it in our biweekly rotation, and I always look forward to the left overs. I use the whole bushel of kale, and add a can or two or white beans for extra protein. So delicious! Thank you for sharing such an amazing recipe. I am hooked!
Can I use heavy cream instead of half and half?
No
This is a favorite in our household. Thanks for this recipe! Love your blog!!
yes you absolutely can if you don’t mind the extra fat, it will taste even better.
You can totally make your own half-and-half. Use 3/4c. heavy cream and 3/4c. milk. I did and it worked great 🙂
I used heavy cream because I didn’t have half and half. Tasted great.
Love this recipe. Thank you!
Yes, I do, and it’s great!
Used 1 bunch kale instead of 1/2, hot sausage, and full fat coco milk instead of half and half. Delicious!
this was sooooo perfect! I did add cremini mushrooms and a can of pureed canalinni beans. Thank you so much for the recipe
Love this, been using this recipe for a year now. Suddenly the recipe is not visible on this page (only the video is available)…will you be putting it back up? Specifically I don’t know if we are doing a Natural Pressure Release or a Quick Release.
Please advise, Thanks!
Hi Moses! There was a system glitch last night but all recipes have been restored. I recommend clearing your cache to view the recipe. SO SORRY for the inconvenience!
Whoo hoo! Its back up, thanks!
Directions say quick release
Excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐… will make again. I went heavy with garlic and Italian seasoning (instead of only oregano), and used red potatoes instead. We loved it!
This is the best soup! I make it all the time. If you are ill or had surgery this is what I bring. I also made a vegan version no meat vegetable broth and almond milk …it was.. Damn delicious also! thanks for sharing your talents. Monique
This Zuppa was absolutely amazing. The recipe is a 5* keeper!
My husband and I really enjoyed this. We added a dash of hot sauce to our bowls and found it perfect. My daughter wouldn’t eat it because she is 5 and will not eat anything. She said it was “spicy” because she is allergic to flavor. The fact that she thought it was spicy means that it does have a very nice flavor and is not bland. Next time I will add more potatoes and kale because we had a lot of broth left.
Hvaen’t tried it yet but wondering if anyone has done it with vegetarian Italian sausage? Wondering how I should change the recipe if we substitute that. I know part of the flavor comes from the fat that cooks out of the sausage so don’t know what to sub in for that. Let me know if you have any ideas. I love the taste of this soup but my stomach doesn’t like real Italian sausage.
Did anyone respond to this? I’m going to try vegan sausage tomorrow.
Yes made it with vegan sausage and it was really good, we aren’t even vegetarians.
This recipe is FAB!!! I followed the directions directly as stated. The Kale basically taste very similar to spinach, therefore either option is great. Easy to make. Great for family dinner or an entertaining option (Has a nice presentation). My husband is from Louisiana, and therefore robust flavor is required in all recipes. This recipe was added to the “approved list!”
It was good, but not enough flavor. When I make it again, I would use the spicy italian sausage instead
Perfect replica
I have made this soup twice now. Once as written and once with substitutes. Hillshire farms makes a roasted garlic chicken sausage, and substituted spinach for the kale, we also added some shredded carrots because I had them and they needed to get eaten. – ALSO a winner! my family ate it up. This is going to become a staple in our house during cold Kansas winters. Thank you so much for sharing!
great recipe for first time using insta pot. doubled the oregano, added basil and red pepper flakes. turned out great!
Turned out great! Tastes close to olive gardens. I have found that different brands of sausage can make a huge difference. We also add extra potatoes and kale.
This recipe is spot on! Absolutely delicious and super easy to prepare.
I am about to try making this non-dairy using 1/4 cup cashew butter pureed with cooked potato and a little broth, then stirred back into the soup. I’m giving this an aspirational 5 stars because I think it’s going to be great!
What can I sub for potatoes?
Cauliflower florets work well.
I add rutabaga
This soup is delicious and I think one of the best things I’ve made in my IP!
I wasn’t sure how well it would freeze with the half and half in it. So, before adding the half and half, I split the soup into two halves and froze one sans cream. I added the half and half in when I re-heated it from the freezer and it worked beautifully! So good! Thanks for another great recipe!
Great soup! I cut back on the sausage, added a bunch more kale, and omitted the half-and-half for a more climate-friendly meal. The potatoes make for a creamy texture on their own. Delicious addition to my winter repertoire.
This is absolutely delicious!!! A big hit with my family and I want to make a big batch at Christmastime. Can I double it in my 6 qt instant pot?
I love simple meals when we’ve had a busy week. This is always a favorite with my kids and husband. I’ve even used coconut milk when I didn’t have half and half and it’s been good too.
I love that this soup has very few ingredients, and is just so good. Will make again and again.
Dying to make this! Can you pleeeease help with cooking time if you don’t have a pressure cooker? Thanks! 🙂
I haven’t done it in a crockpot but have done it on the stove. Follow the directions as given and then cook everything w the chicken stock. Since everything is cooked, it doesn’t take too long. At the end, add spinach or kale until it’s how you like it, and then the half n half. Sorry I couldn’t answer how long in crockpot. As others have said, adding beans is great.
Best soup I have ever had!
What can you substitute for the Italian sausage. Unfortunately my husband isn’t a fan of Italian sausage because of the “seeds” in them?!
You can substitute a different kind of sausage to your husband’s liking. 🙂
This is easy and delicious. I used hot sausage and soy milk because my daughter is allergic to dairy. It came out great!
what brand of soy milk did you use? I tried to sub for blue diamond almond milk and it was weirdly sweet and spicy and just wasn’t what I remember from olive garden…
I am going to try and make this and am allergic to dairy and soy. I plan to use Ripple, which is a 1/2 and 1/2 dairy free creamer that is not sweet at all! I use in mashed potatoes and other savory dishes that need some richness.
I’ve been using this recipe for years. I also add in bacon bits when I add the kale.
This is delicious. As another cook mentioned I used spinach because that’s what I had and used milk for the same reason. I made a salad along with garlic toast. It sure was an easy recipe and will make it again.
I personally don’t like this. Not a fan of Italian sausage, but my S.O. Will eat the whole pot. 1st time I made it with the half and half and kale. The kale didn’t wilt well. This time milk and spinach and he said it was even better than before. This one’s a keeper!
I have an 8 quart instant pot and plan on making this for a big group, do you think I can double the recipe and still fit it all in the pot?
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without having tried this myself, I cannot answer with certainty. But if you get a chance to try it, please let me know how it turns out! Good luck! 🙂
It’s delicious, going to make for the 2nd time tomorrow night for some friends. I did double this in the 8 quart, used a 5 lb bag of potatoes minus two of them. .. however I was not able to add all of the 12 cups of broth. I just filled it up to right before the max fill line, left the cook time as instructed and added the rest after it was done pressure cooking along with the half and half and almost a whole bag of pre cut kale (I tore of any big ribs because I don’t like them) It all fit in the pot. Love this recipe.
Thank you for this review about doubling it. That’s what I came to the comment section looking for. I needed to double for a big group. This was perfect, hoping it turns out well. Thanks for sharing,
First Instant Pot recipe we tried. Awesome. We have the mini version and we just cut the recipe by 2/3 and it was perfect.
I love Zuppa Toscana at OG. And this is a real winner. I had to use up some mild Italian sausages but added red pepper flakes. Was perfect. Thanks so much.
Wow man. This soup is amazing and has so much flavor. Did not have to add any salt either. PERFECT and the kids loved it. It’s a keeper at my house.
Yummy, easy and fast.
Where are these spoons from? I love them!
West Elm. 🙂
Can I use chicken sausage? Is it just as good?
Chicken sausage is just as good, if not better. I use the spicy chicken sausage from Sprouts and have never had leftovers after making this.
Best ever my family loves it, lots of flavor.
Any idea if this would hold up in the freezer?
Unfortunately, soups that contain milk or cream, like chowders and bisques, do not hold up well in the freezer as they tend to take on a grainy texture and separate when defrosted and rewarmed. 🙁
Freeze it before you add the cream and kale!
I’m new to using the instant pot and this soup came out amazing and it was so fast and easy to put together
We loved it. But as I was making it my daughter reminded me to cook bacon to garnish, this put it over the too
NOW I understand why you named your site what you did! I made the beer bread to go with Zuppa Toscana soup. Absolutely delicious!
This was delicious. I used spinach instead of kale just because I had it on hand and needed to use it. This will definitely be added to my collection of go-to soup recipes.
SO YUMMY! I’m not a big meat eater and have fallen into the habit of only making chicken for dinner… which is driving my poor husband crazy! I decided to surprise him and make this as it’s one of his favorite meals from Olive Garden. We both loved it and the sausage is so good in this soup. Thank you thank you!
Do you know that Premio makes chicken sausage? Our favorite is the sweet Italian flavored one. So good!!!!
Family favorite!
Sweet!
I made this a couple days ago and it was delicious! I think even better than Olive Gardens! It was very easy and quick to make in the instant pot, I won’t be making it any other way from now on. Thank you!!
Awesome, thank you!
I have been making Zuppa Toscana for years but have recently used this recipe 2x for the instant pot instructions. It is very good and you NEED TO MAKE THIS! 🙂
I used whole milk both times because it was all I had on hand. Last night, I was also short on chicken stock but had an opened beef broth that needed to be used…so I ended up using 4 cups chicken stock, 2 cups beef broth. I also added a tad of cream cheese (also bc I had a bit left and it needed to be used) and through in a couple of handfuls of baby carrots. My 4 year old ate it up. It was delicious both times I have made it (1st time I followed the recipe and 2nd time i deviated) and I love how versatile it is.
Absolutely the Best! Made in my new 8 quart Instant Pot twice now, following recipe exactly. We just love this recipe. Have to add that my wife and I went to Olive Garden and had it. While very close, we like this IP recipe slightly better – go figure.
Even better!
This is my new favorite soup! I will be making it often!
Fantastic soup. Make it now.
Better than OG only thing I did was use evaporated milk, I’ve made it 2 weeks in a row!
Can I use spinach rather than kale?
Yes, of course!
It has been awhile since I had this soup at Olive Garden, but in my opinion, it was Better than Olive Gardens!
First recipe I’ve made using the instant pot! Loved it, easy and delicious
Can you make this on the stovetop?
Made as directed and it was delicious! I am an Instant Pot newbie, thank you for the clear directions, very simple.
Thank you!
I found your recipe online, and have loved previous recipes from your site. However, I am unable to see the directions. I don’t really need the ingredients-was just looking for an IP version.
Can you tell me how long to cook the soup for the IP version?
Thank you so much!
My apologies. The website was undergoing a system update earlier today but all recipes have now been restored. Thank you so much for your patience.
I made this exactly down to the t but in my 8qt one and it came out fantastic! Thank you so much !
That’s great!
What a fantastic dish and so easy! My husband and I both absolutely loved it! Definitely will become a staple recipe in our house!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I made this recipe last night and incorporated a few tips from other reviews (added 4 chopped carrots, doubled the kale amount, and let people add their own half-and-half to taste). Delicious flavor! It took the InstantPot a long time to come up to steam, so it wasn’t “instant”; however, the result was fast and took no tending on my part, which is part of the value of the InstantPot. The Quickrelease of steam also took a long time; be sure to wear an oven mitt.
Thanks, Pat!
I’ve made this dish several times and had great results each time. I have had inconsistent results from other recipes, probably mistakes of mine. But, with the problems, I’ve decided I’ll post reviews after more than one try. This is absolutely safe for even old people who make mistakes. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you for sharing, Dave!
Not impressed. I love cooked kale with bacon and beef kielbasa over potatoes. I grew up on that. This soup was ok but nothing to write home about
So easy and so good!!!! I did add some crushed red pepper to kick up the heat a bit.
This was SO easy to make and SOOOO DAMN DELICIOUS! My husband loved it and we had plenty of leftovers! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful recipes!
Awesome! Thanks, Laura!
So this was my first go round with the instant pot and I was shocked at how perfect this was!! The potatoes were done just right (after 5 minutes cooking?! Seriously?!!) and the broth was amazing! I added lots of kale and exploration potatoes don’t normally go thru that much kale with that much pleasure, haha. It really was delicious, thank you for sharing this recipe with the world!!! I added a little Italian seasoning just for kicks and extra garlic as I always do, and it was a hit with everyone at our house!
That’s awesome!
Just had this over the weekend and it was delicious. The cook left out the oregano, but even still there was plenty of flavor. Nice robust soup and very filling without giving you that leaden feeling. Very nice.
This was really good soup and my family liked it. We added a can of white cananelli beans, threw in the whole bunch of kale and a couple of extra cups of broth. It was super easy and delicious! Thanks for the recipe for the Instant Pot.
Just made this and it was delicious!!! Tastes just like the original from Olive Garden and so yummy on this cold autumn day. My picky husband took seconds ! Thanks for another winner, chungah!
So many copycat recipes do not taste like the real thing. This one does!! If you love Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, make this one. You won’t be sorry. It even tasted good before I added the half and half so you could save the calories if you wanted. Love using the instant pot! Love this website!
Thank you!
This was amazing! I added a bit more kale, substituted the broth for bone broth, and used heavy cream versus half and half. It was so good that my husband was making some suspicious sounds! Lol!
This turned out perfect, thank you!
Great!
Made the zuppa toscano copycat soup in my instant pot tonight and all I gotta say is damn, that is some goooooooood soup!!! The recipe was easy to follow and the end result was mouth-watering deliciousness! Will be using this recipe again and again and will recommend to friends and family. Thank you
Please do!
For the dairy free people: I just made this and used unsweetened coconut milk from a carton in place of the half and half. I also took a large ladle worth of the potatoes out with some broth and puréed it with an immersion blender (doing this brings out the starch) and added it back in. It was still missing something so I spooned some of the reserved sausage fat back into the soup, as it wasn’t getting the fat from the half and half. Adding the oil back added a lot of the sausage flavour that was lost when it rendered its fat when sautéd.
I made it for dinner Saturday and it was delicious, my husband love it. I owned an 8 quart IP.
Thank you
Sweet!
Delicious soup! I have made this in the Instant Pot for the first time. Previously I made it over the stove top. The Instant Pot version makes the broth much richer and flavorful – requiring less seasoning! I did not need to put any salt into the soup.
My only modification is adding chili flakes, as its what I’m familiar with in my stove top recipe. I added about a table spoon of chili flakes before turning on high pressure.
Thank you for your feedback, Melissa!
Great recipe. I don’t cook very healthily, so my modification goes like this… I cook 5 slices of bacon diced up on sauté first in the instant pot, retaining the fat. I remove the bacon bits, Proceed with your instructions throughout, and add the bacon back when the kale is added to the pot. I don’t add the oil. The rendered fat from the bacon is fine to cook the sausage in. I retain the sausage fat too, because it’s going to make it more flavorful and rich. Additionally, I use heavy whipping cream instead of half and half. I add 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper to kick up the spice. Salt is not necessary.
We gussy this up with cooked chopped smokey bacon and red pepper flake!
Delicious!
A friend and I used to go to Olive Garden and she would always have the ‘sausage soup’ and I would have minestrone. The calories and fat in the sausage soup is astounding.
Thanks so much for an IP version. I make a wonderful sausage soup using Soy-rizzo, which is vegan. That vegan sausage is incredibly good and I’m looking forward to trying your soup with the vegan sausage and vegann stock.
Thanks, Lou!
LOVE this soup! I don’t have an IP, but make it stovetop. I’m not sure how this would work in an IP, but I add a pkg. of instant potatoes to thicken the broth a bit. Also, I have substituted 1/2 of the broth with either white wine or beer (no kids here!). Thanks again for your yummy, easy recipes!
Thank you!
Um, can I just ask where those spoons were purchased? I love them!
West Elm!
Isn’t there diced bacon, and a little chilli flake in this soup
You can surely add these ingredients in if you prefer, David! Isn’t that the beauty of home cooking?
I prepared this soup with my grandaughter – it is sooo good!!!!
How fun!! So happy you enjoyed it!
I’ve been seeing all your FABULOUS Instant Pot recipes but don’t yet own an Instant Pot BUT I’m visiting my son & he has a brandnew one, I’m excited to be making this recipe as The First!!
It’s been a long time since I had this at Olive Gdn,, but as I recall the broth is supposed to be thin. It’s like milk. If you want a cream soup run an immersion blender in the potatoes when its done.
I prepped the ingredients before I realized that this recipe is for an Instant Pot. I don’t have one, so I prepared it on the stovetop. After the sausage was browned and the vegetable were sautéed, I simmered the potatoes for about 20 minutes until tender before adding the kale and half-and-half. Perhaps this soup is supposed to be the consistency of a chowder, but it is very thin with lots of broth. I followed the recipe, but substituted mild Italian chicken sausage and increased the amount of kale. After de-stemming, ½ bunch seemed a bit skimpy so I used all of it, which was not too much). This is a quick, tasty one-pot meal and I will definitely make it again, but will reduce the amount of chicken broth in the recipe.
I have an Instant Pot and it was really watery for me. I don’t think I’ll make this one again.
Can this be doubled in the instant pot?
Yes, of course, but cooking time may vary. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
I made this a few days ago but it turned out very runny. Still have lots of leftovers. Is there any way to salvage this? Also, it was pretty bland. Seemed like too much cream? And now I am rereading your recipe and see you specified half and half. LOL I totally messed up on this. Will try again. 😉
I also found it bland & the broth very thin. It needs something else to add some depth of flavor…more oregano? I think k the instant pot just create steam / water that goes into the broth? Not a fan unfortunately… :-/
If you’ve ever eaten this at Olive Garden you know it is a brothe based, not a cream soup. With 5 basic ingredients it requires high quality of each especially the broth. This is a delicious soup if made to the recipe.
This came out great! I used to make a stovetop version that took a lot longer. I really enjoy how the potatoes become so creamy. We doubled the sausage cause my boyfriend loves it and didn’t have to adjust anything else. I used 2 huge potatoes.
This was fantastic! Simple to make and hit the spot on a rainy evening! I doubled the kale since it cooks down so much and topped it off with some freshly grated parmesan cheese.
So I borrowed my friend’s instapot. The soup was a hit. My son ate 2 bowls yesterday and one today. My husband ate a huge bowl too. I used sweet Italian sausage by mistake so my daughter liked it because it wasn’t spicey. I used the kosher salt but it was still bland so I added pink salt instead. Tgank you for the recipe.
I just made the soup. It is very delicious! This is a keeper recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Can this be frozen.
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have never tried freezing this myself. Please use your best judgment for freezing and reheating.
I was wondering the same thing. Did you ever try freezing it? I was hoping to make this again for company but I would like to make it ahead of their visit and freeze it.
Delicious soup!
I have frozen it before with no issues.
I make this but just a bit differently – I wait until it is served to add the cream/half-n-half. this way each person can make it as creamy as they would like or not add it at all if they don’t want too. When you do it this way it freezes very well with no separation from the dairy. If you can freeze it in individual 8-10 oz size containers it is great for lunches. I also serve this with fresh grated Parmesan cheese, cracked black pepper, red pepper flakes, and fried onions as optional toppings for the zuppa. I am making this recipe tonight and have a loaf of no-knead overnight bread in the oven now to go with it for dinner …….. makes my DH’s heart and tummy smile. 🙂
This was so good and so easy. Thank you. I might add more garlic just because I really like garlic. I didn’t have russet potatoes so I used 6 smaller red potatoes my husband approved. Thanks again. Definitely making this again. Mangia Mangia
In case this is helpful for anyone, I made this recipe and it’s SO good!! My modifications were to add 4 large carrots and instead of the half and half I blended two cans of white beans. It thickened the soup and increased the fiber. I will make this again and again!! Thank you, Chungah!!!
What size instant pot do you use? I cook your recipes all week long and I I am trying to decide on the size of one to buy.
I use a 6-qt.
What can I substitute for the half and half that’s non-dairy?
Thanks, Jan
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
This looks wonderful, but I cannot have dairy… In your opinion, would you just leave the half and half out, or substitute a non dairy milk? Just wondering if it’s really needed or if I would alter the flavor too much with a different milk.. Thank you.
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
I have made zuppa toscana with coconut milk and it was delicious, so you could try that!
I’ve been doing a copycat Zuppa Toscana for years without the dairy. It’s still delicious. I usually just keep the half n half on the side and let people add to their bowl, if/as desired. My family loves it with & without the cream. Makes it easier for reheating purposes too. Heat up the soup without the cream, then add in after.
I just use a lactose free evaporated milk! It’s great!
Use a little bit of instant mashed potatoes! You went even be able to taste it but it’ll thicken up nicely
yaaasssss!!!
Looks delicious, but I don’t have a pressure cooker/instant Pot. Have you ever made in on the stove top or in a Crock-Pot?
We have a non instant pot version of the recipe here: https://damndelicious.net/2013/12/07/olive-garden-zuppa-toscana-copycat-recipe/
Can I make this in a crockpot? Thank you and I enjoy your recipes. John
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
I have a 3 qt mini instant pot. How would I adjust the recipe?
You can halve the recipe as needed, but please be mindful of cooking time.
If I half the recipe, how much do I reduce cooking time? Tyvm
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without having tried this myself, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment when making substitutions and modifications.
Did you make this in the mini? Did you make any adjustments? I figured the recipe would fit as is and i was going to try it today.
It’s my favorite soup. How can I make this stove top or slow cooker version? I don’t have an instant pot.
We have a non instant pot version here: https://damndelicious.net/2013/12/07/olive-garden-zuppa-toscana-copycat-recipe/
I don’t have a pressure cooker and this looks delicious!!! Can you add a method to cook it in a pan or one pot kind of thing? Is it possible?
Kind regards
Mel
We have non instant pot version here: https://damndelicious.net/2013/12/07/olive-garden-zuppa-toscana-copycat-recipe/