Growing up, Olive Garden was one of my favorite restaurants and Zuppa Toscana was my favorite soup on the menu. There’s nothing quite like sitting down with a warm, creamy bowl of soup that’s rich, flavorful, and full of comfort. The combination of spicy Italian sausage, tender potatoes, crisp kale, and smoky bacon in a creamy broth makes this soup a year-round go-to. The best part? You don’t have to head to a restaurant to enjoy it. This Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe brings all that cozy flavor home — easy to make, budget-friendly, and even better than the original.

Looking for more copycat recipes then you have to try this grilled to perfection Peter Luger Steak, or my In-N-Out Burger copycat recipe.

If you’re looking for hearty recipes, then my Collared Greens Cajun Gumbo is a must!

Why you’ll LOVE This Zuppa Toscana recipe.

Homemade soups are the ultimate comfort food, but this one takes it up a notch.
This Zuppa Toscana recipe is hearty enough to be a full meal on its own and quick enough to whip up on a weeknight. You’ll get that perfect balance of savory sausage, creamy potatoes, and the slight bitterness of kale, all tied together with a smooth, velvety broth. Whether you’re craving something cozy for cold weather or just want a restaurant-quality soup without leaving the house, this recipe delivers every time.

What is Zuppa Toscana?

In Italian, Zuppa Toscana literally means “Tuscan soup.” Traditionally, it’s made with simple ingredients — potatoes, greens, and sausage — typical of the rustic cooking style found in Tuscany. The Olive Garden version takes that concept and gives it a rich American twist with heavy cream and smoky bacon.
The result? A hearty, flavorful soup that feels indulgent yet still light enough to enjoy with a side of breadsticks or salad.

Ingredients needed to make an Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat

• Italian sausage: mild or hot, depending on your spice preference. The sausage brings that signature flavor and richness to the soup.
• Potatoes: Yukon golds are perfect. They stay tender and creamy.
• Chicken broth: liquid base for the soup. I highly recommend going with a lower sodium or unsalted broth. You can always add more with seasonings.
• Kale: adds color, texture, and a nutritional boost.
• Onion and garlic: the aromatic foundation that makes the soup taste homemade.
• Heavy cream: for that signature silky finish.
• Bacon: adds a nice finishing crunch.
• Crushed red pepper flakes: optional – but highly recommended for a touch of heat.
• Cheese: thickens the soup and adds a rich savory nutty touch.

Prep the ingredients

This Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat recipe comes together pretty quickly. It’s the perfect fall or winter weeknight meal that it hearty, delicious and will warm you up on the cold evenings.

Prepping the ingredients will make the process smoother and faster.

Start by washing and dicing the yellow potatoes into bite size pieces. Next, take a full batch of kale, rinse off any dirt and chop into smaller pieces. Finally, take half a yellow onion and dice it into small pieces. This soup is full of texture.

Separately, cook a few strips of bacon. You will need this at the end of the recipe.

How to make Zuppa Toscana

This Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat recipe cooks under 1 hour and is all made in a large dutch oven or pot.

Start by warming up the dutch oven or pot, remove the Italian Sausage from the casing and drop it in. Separate the meat and cook until the pink is gone and remove from the pot.

Next, toss in 4 tablespoons of butter, diced onion and minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent.

Pour in the chicken broth, add the diced potatoes and seasoning with Dad’s All Purpose rub or salt and pepper. Add a dash of crushed red pepper flakes for some heat.

Bring the broth to a boil and reduce it to a simmer cooking until the potatoes are fork tender. This process will take 10-15 minutes.

Finally, stir the cooked sausage back in and pour in the heavy cream. Fold in the kale and let it wilt just enough to soften while still keeping that bright green color. Grate some parmesan into the soup and stir. This will help thicken the broth and add a sweet and nutty flavor that compliments the sausage, spices and veggies.

Taste for flavor and season as needed. The result? A rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying soup that’s ready to serve in under an hour.

Serving Suggestions

Pair your Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat with more grated parmesan and chopped bacon. Instead of garlic breadsticks as offered at the restaurant, make a deliciously easy garlic bread or cheese dinner muffins.

Why you’ll love my Copycat Zuppa Toscana recipe better than the original

While Olive Garden’s version is undeniably delicious, this homemade take gives you full control. From the spice level to the creaminess, you can make it richer, lighter depending on your preferences. Plus, it’s made fresh with real ingredients and no shortcuts. It’s one of those recipes that feels restaurant-worthy but is simple enough for a cozy night in.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be afraid to try making homemade versions of your favorite restaurant dishes. For me, this Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat Recipe hits the spot. It’s rich but balanced, hearty but not heavy, and perfect for feeding the whole family. Once you make it at home, you might just skip the restaurant version for good.

When you’re craving a comforting, flavorful soup that warms you from the inside out fire up your stove (or even your outdoor Dutch oven on the grill), grab your spoon, and dig into this creamy, savory, perfectly seasoned bowl of comfort.

Enjoy!

Want to save this recipe?

Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Save Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions:

Other Hearty Recipes to Consider:

Beef

Smoked Short Ribs

Side Dish

Smoked Mac and Cheese

Pork

Classic Polish Dinner

Beef

Homemade Salisbury Steak

If you tried this Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a

star rating and let me know how it went in the

comments. I love hearing from you!

Print

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Copycat

Make the best Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana copycat recipe at home! This creamy Italian sausage, potato, and kale soup is hearty, flavorful, easy to make and perfect for cozy nights in.

Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword olive garden zuppa toscana copycat, restuarant recipes, soup recipe, hearty recipe, comfort food, grillin with dad recipes, grilling with dad recipes.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 8 People

Calories 616kcal

Author Maciek Zurawski

Ingredients

• 5 Mild Italian sausage links
• 4 cups Low sodium chicken broth
• 4 cups Kale
• 4 cups Yellow potatoes
• 2 cups Heavy Cream
• 1/4 cup Grated parmesan cheese
• 4 tbsp Unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp Minced garlic
• 1 tbsp All purpose seasoning
• 1 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
• 5 Bacon strips
• 1/2 Yellow onion

Instructions

• Start by washing and dicing yellow potatoes into bite size pieces. Repeat the same for Kale.
• Dice a yellow onion and cook the bacon strips.
• Start by browning the Italian sausage in a large pot or Dutch oven. Once cooked, remove it and set it aside.
• In the same pot, toss the butter, diced onion and minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
• Add sliced potatoes, chicken broth, and seasonings. Bring everything to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender
• Finally, stir the cooked sausage back in, pour in the heavy cream and add in the chopped Kale. Cook until the kale is soft and bright green.
• Add in grated parmesan cheese and season as needed.
• Once plated, top it all off with more grated parmesan cheese and crispy bacon. Enjoy!

Notes

Don’t skip the bacon. It’s what gives that smoky undertone that balances the creaminess.

Adjust your spice. Like it mild? Use mild or sweet Italian sausage. Want more kick? Go for hot sausage or a sprinkle of crushed red pepper.

Make it lighter. Sub half-and-half for the heavy cream or use turkey sausage to cut calories without losing flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 707mg | Potassium: 731mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2250IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 3mg