This Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat really does taste like the real thing! Make your favorite Olive Garden soup at home!
Hi friends! Man Monday time.
Three reasons why copycat recipes are awesome:
1. To purchase the actual item at the restaurant (vs making it yourself) costs your child’s future tuition and your entire collection of Indiana Jones paraphernalia.
2. Often, the copycat version is better for you, and you feel it instantly… no gut bombs.
3. I can enjoy any copycat recipe in the comfort of my own home. And I don’t even need to wear pants.
One reason why copycat recipes can suck:
1. When they don’t actually taste like the original, you feel like shoving a pie in the face of the person who originally created the recipe. And by pie, I don’t mean the kind that is yummy. I mean the other kind… you know… made of animal… excrement.
Well, in this copycat recipe I literally cannot tell the difference between it and the Olive Garden original. It’s glorious. You avoid that one pesky negative to copycat recipes, and you can appreciate ALL the benefits. I would just recommend at least having some barrier between your hot soup and your… body… if you choose not to wear pants.
Don’t go out tonight. Don’t wear pants. Do make this soup. Enjoy life.
-Zach
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage {I use mild}
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 quart water {4 cups}
- 2 large russet potatoes sliced into fourths, lengthwise, and then in 1/4 inch slices
- 1 medium white onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup bacon bits {about 5-6 slices of cooked bacon crumbled}
- 2 cups fresh kale
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
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Brown sausage in a large skillet on medium heat. Strain and rinse fat. {You don't HAVE to rinse your sausage, but you'll get a greasy orange film if you don't. There's a little more flavor to it though, so it's your preference.}
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Combine chicken broth and water in a large pot and stir. Add the sausage, potatoes, onion, and garlic. Cook on medium heat until potatoes are soft, about 10-15 minutes.
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Add bacon, salt, and pepper and let simmer on medium-low for another ten minutes.
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Turn to low heat and add kale and cream. Heat through completely and serve.
I’ve actually never been to olive garden, but this soup looks and sounds incredible, so I have no dobt it is better than the original 🙂
I’ve been there & had this soup . It’s delicious. I had to find the recipe so whenever I want it I can make it, actually extra so I can freeze some for later.
Totally need this in my life!!!
Dear Sarah, I have not tried this soup from Olive Garden, but it looks wonderful. I prefer the homemade version anyway 😉 Have a wonderful day, Catherine
I make one similar to this but instead of heavy (fat laden) cream, I thicken 2% milk with potato buds. it’s just as good but not as high in calories.
I used soft tofu w almond milk blended smooth as a heavy cream replacement – this is an absolute favorite recipe for me now!!! ???? deliciousness!
And I boiled the italian sausage rather than frying/browning in a pan and simply drained it when it was finished …. so good just as well!
Hi! Thanks for the recipe! Can I substitute kale with something else? We don’t have it in Greece. 🙁
Hi, Stella! I would suggest using spinach. Hope this helps!
I do too
Just made this for my kids ! They absolutely loved it !! Thank you so much ! Much love from my family to yours ! ????????❤️
Spinach works
Wow…greece…sigh. my twin sons were there on a trip last year. But i digress. I like to use fresh spinach, and find it’s just as great.
I had this soup the other week at Olive Garden and it was delicious!! I can’t wait to try your recipe at home. Could I use the crockpot instead?!
If I want more nutrients from the kale, can I add it when the bacon is added?
Absolutely loved this recipe , tastes exactly like olive gardens zuppa. Will definitely make it again, thanks for the recipe !
I love Olive Garden’s version of this soup, so I was really excited to try this recipe out. I made it tonight and am in love! I tagged your Instagram in the picture I posted.
Thanks so much,
Leah
Can i make this in the crockpot?
Excellent dish! Second time making. YUM
The only thing I think is missing is parmasean cheese and oregano 🙂 delicious!
Made this yesterday. I did make some substitutions. I used a spicy chicken Italian sausage but real bacon. Also did not add any salt and pepper, didn’t think it needed it. I had leftovers and wasn’t sure how it would keep in the fridge since I used heavy cream. Took out today, reheated in the microwave and it’s so delicious. I deleted all other recipes I found for this soup and only kept this one. Thank you!
This is exactly like the Olive Garden and Sooo easy!!! Thank you so much!! Third time making it in 2 months!!
I fixed this recipe and it was amazing!! Tasted just like olive gardens
I’m so glad you liked it!! We love it too! <3
Do you peel the russet potatoes before placing them in the soup?
I’m making this for the second weekend in a row…a big pit that didn’t last for two whole days. Love this recipe and it’s super easy to make!
This is my favorite, go-to recipe for zuppa toscana and I share it with everyone!! It turns out delicious every time and I’m actually like it better than the OG! I’ve also used this same recipe, substituting cauliflower for the potatoes for a lower-carb option. Thanks for sharing such a great soup!
I have made this recipe several times. It is a big hit with the ladies at my church. Thank you so much for this recipe. It is so simple to make and simply delicious.
This soup is amazing! Made some alterations leaving out the bacon and used shallots and red potatoes, turned out so well. My fiance absolutley loved it, our favorite soup by far! thanks for the recipe????
I love olive garden and I always get this soup. Loved your recipe so glad I found it. Thank you.
Couldn’t find just kale but used kale and spinach. I was tasting as I went and was worried. In the end it all came together absolutely delicious! Just like Olive Garden!
Loved it! Zuppa Toscana was always a favorite at Olive Garden. This was easy to make and a good match to the original. I made it, enjoyed it and shared it with my folks. They enjoyed it too and my mom is going to make it for an upcoming luncheon!
I have tried this soup at Olive Garden and it is delicious! I have lunch with a childhood friend of mine once a month and we always go to Olive Garden and we always order the soup and salad.
I know that sausage n bacon are the main ingredients but.. Can I substitute them and make this soup with ground turkey? Just wondering..
Zuppa Toscana is my go-to Olive Garden pick! I love that I can make it at home. Great recipe!
This soup looks divine! The Kale makes it healthy right?! 🙂
I wanted to complement you on your copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup. This is so comparable I wouldn’t have know the difference (maybe even better). Thank you for sharing the recipe.
I have eaten this soup almost every time I have gone too Olive Garden ,at one occasion I stopped for lunch and had three bowels ,and two orders of salad,plus two orders of bread sticks. Wow that took a while.
Made this soup today and it is fantastic! I used hot Italian style turkey sausage, and it tastes exactly like the soup from Olive Garden. So happy to add this recipe to my collection 🙂 Thank you!
I made this and I added twice the garlic and a little more potatoes and I bet you could not tell the difference in the taste. Make it exactly like the recipe and you’ll Love it. I used mild sausage and it turned out great.
I have tried Oli e Gardens and I love this just as much if not more. I can have seconds! It is a wonderful recipe and I can’t tell the difference between the two.
Great recipe! Zuppa Toscana tastes delicious!
I’ve made this many times over the years and everyone always loves it. I doubled the recipe to make for 6 people and we had a good amount left over.
Thanks for this perfect recipe!
My boyfriend loves Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana and I’ve been making your copy cat recipe for years now, he loves it!
this is one of my favorite soup recipes. I do substitute 1 Russet potato for 1 small head of chopped Cauliflower. I tried eliminating the potatoes all together, but it doesn’t have the same great flavor.
I am so happy to hear it! It’s one of my favorites too.
this is a regular and favorite recipe in our house!
This is my favorite soup. However, to make it less carb-laden and healthier I substitute 1/2 head of chopped cauliflower for one of the Russet potatoes. I tried substituting all of the potatoes with a whole head of cauliflower, but it lost the great flavor. Therefore, 1 potato and 1/2 head of cauliflower keeps the wonderful flavor in the soup. I also add Red pepper flakes for a little spice, unless you are using a spicy Italian sausage.
That’s a great idea! I’ll have to try that next time!
I made this no where near the restaurants version was sad I really wanted it to be like theres
I’m sorry you were disappointed! It’s a favorite copycat recipe of mine!