The easy Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana is so delicious and only takes about 30 minutes to make. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, your family will love this flavorful soup!
Fall is here! I’ve decided to embrace the change of seasons, even though I am sad to see summer go. There is a lot to look forward to in the Fall – leaves changing colors, cooler days, going to the pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating, drinking hot cider, making homemade soup…
When the weather gets cooler, I love making soup. It’s just so easy, and there are so many different kinds you can make.
The other day it was cold and rainy here in Colorado, so I thought it would be a great day to make Zuppa Toscana, my favorite soup from Olive Garden.
A while back I decided I would learn how to make it myself. It’s actually super easy and cheap to make! And to be perfectly honest, I think mine is better! 🙂
To make this recipe you’ll need:
- Chicken broth
- Crushed red pepper
- Minced garlic
- Salt
- Pork sausage (any variety works)
- Russet potatoes
- Large sweet onion
- Fresh Kale (found in the produce section)
- Half & Half (milk works too, but it’s not as creamy)
- Fresh grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- Crumbled Bacon (optional)
To start, fill up a large stockpot with 10 cups of chicken broth. Then add 1 1/2 tsp. of crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tsp. of salt, and 1 lb. (7-8 small) sliced potatoes. Boil on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
You can slice the potatoes in small triangles like I did, or you can slice them in thin circles.
While that’s cooking, dice a large onion and combine in another pan with 1 lb. of sausage and 2 tsp. of minced garlic. Sauté until the sausage turns brown, then drain the fat and add the mixture to the stockpot.
Next, take the bushel of kale and break off small chunks of it and add it to the pot (discard the stems).
Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the kale and potatoes are tender. Then add 1 cup of half & half and simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
Serve hot and sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese. Yum!
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
The easy copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana is so delicious and only takes 30 minutes to make. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, your family will love this flavorful soup!
Ingredients
- 10 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 pound (7-8 small) russet potatoes, sliced in small triangles
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 1 bunch of rinsed Kale broken into small pieces, stems discarded (or about 1/2 of a 16 oz bag)
- 1 pound of sausage (regular, italian, or sage)
- 1 cup half & half cream
- Crumbled bacon for topping, optional
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, combine chicken broth, salt, red pepper flakes, and potatoes. Bring to a low boil on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
- While the potatoes are boiling, sauté the sausage, onion, and garlic until sausage is brown. Add mixture to stockpot, along with kale. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until kale and potatoes are tender.
- Add half & half and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve hot, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon if desired.
Try it out and let me know what you think! I promise you’ll want to make it again and again!
Mike
Tuesday 10th of November 2020
start with the sausage, onion and garlic in the stockpot, when browned add potatoes, water, bullion cubes. this way you don't sacrifice all that fond/flavor from browning the sausage and onion.
very yummy soup!
Easy White Chili - The PennyWiseMama
Friday 12th of September 2014
[…] a warm bowl of soup. I have a few favorites that I make over and over again, one of them being Zuppa Toscana, but my all-time favorite soup is White Chili. Over the past few years, I’ve tweaked and […]
Meg Arthur
Sunday 9th of February 2014
OMG this looks so yummy, I gotta try it :)
Mitzi
Sunday 2nd of February 2014
This soup was spot on!! Had buttered cornbread as a side and man, my family was a gang if happy campers!! Delicious!!!
michelle oakley warner
Monday 25th of November 2013
wow that looks AMAZING, i so have to try this and give to my hubby, i bet he would love it so much. my mouth is so watering looking at wonderful picture of finished product. wow thank you so much, im going to try this out. i cant wait