Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat
by Chungah
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So much tastier and cheaper than the restaurant and it’s on your dinner table in just 30 min!
Featured Comment
why i love this recipe
- Copycat favorite
- Tastier, faster and cheaper than the restaurant version
- Rich, hearty and full of all the sneaked in greens
- Tastes as if it’s been simmering for hours
- Only needs 5 minutes in the IP – quick, easy, effortless
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. Kale, spinach, collard greens, swiss chard, or arugula are all great options.
- 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 Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
Tools For This Recipe
6-qt Instant Pot®
Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat: Frequently Asked Questions
Mild or spicy Italian sausage is great, or even turkey sausage!
Spinach, cabbage, swiss chard and collard greens are all great subs.
Half and half is equal parts of whole milk and cream. For 1 cup half and half, you can substitute 3/4 cup whole milk + 1/4 cup heavy cream or 2/3 cup skim or low-fat milk + 1/3 cup heavy cream.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers without the half and half (cream soups tend to separate when frozen) in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop, adding half and half when serving.
No Instant Pot, no problem! We have a favorited stovetop version here.
Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat
Video
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.
Equipment
Did you make this recipe?
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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.