The Best Zuppa Toscana Soup (Classic Olive Garden Copycat)

This delicious Zuppa Toscana is made using tasty ground beef with sausage seasonings, kale, bacon, and potatoes for an incredibly delectable and hearty Italian soup. This is the perfect Olive Garden copycat recipe that you're going to absolutely love! It's ideal for colder months or whenever you are craving a warm, comforting meal.

This soup is usually cooked with ingredients found in the Tuscany region of Italy, such as crispy kale, tender potatoes, and sausage. However, for a twist on the classic dish, this recipe substitutes ground beef for the sausage. This makes it healthier than store-bought sausage and gives the soup a comforting feel.

This Zuppa Toscana dish also calls for crispy bacon, onions, garlic, and a savory chicken broth along with ground beef. These ingredients work together to provide a rich and flavorful soup base that is then topped with heavy whipping cream for extra creaminess and richness.

The versatility of Zuppa Toscana is one of its best features. It goes great with crusty bread or a side salad and can be eaten as a starter or as a main entrée.

This Zuppa Toscana recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings for some comfort food, whether you're cooking for a big group or just want a warm lunch for yourself and your family. 

Want to learn how to make this delicious Zuppa Toscana? Then keep on reading. 

Table of Contents

• What is Zuppa Toscana?
• Is Zuppa Toscana Healthy?
• What Makes This Zuppa Toscana Recipe Special?
• What You Need to Make Zuppa Toscana at Home
• How to Make Zuppa Toscana (Step-by-Step)
• Tips for Making the Best Zuppa Toscana Ever
• Recipe Variation Ideas for Zuppa Toscana
• How to Store Leftover Zuppa Toscana
• Similar Soup Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• The Best Zuppa Toscana Soup (Classic Olive Garden Copycat)
• Comments

What is Zuppa Toscana?

Zuppa Toscana is a hearty Italian soup from the Tuscan area of Italy. "Zuppa Toscana" means "Tuscan soup" in English. Kale, potatoes, Italian sausage, and a broth made from chicken or beef stock are the traditional ingredients for Zuppa Toscana. A considerable amount of cream is often used to complete the soup, giving it a rich and creamy texture.

In recent years, this soup has gained popularity in the United States, particularly as Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana at the Italian-American restaurant chain. There are numerous variations of the recipe, some of which include bacon or ground beef in place of sausage or kale in place of spinach.

Despite the modifications, Zuppa Toscana is still a filling soup that is ideal for the winter or whenever you want a big, delicious supper. My recipe is the perfect copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana but with healthy ingredients that you're going to love!

Is Zuppa Toscana Healthy?

This soup is naturally grain and gluten-free. You can use cauliflower instead of potatoes to make a Keto-friendly Zuppa Toscana.

For Whole 30 (dairy-free), replace the heavy whipping cream with 1 can of full-fat, coconut milk by only using the solid white cream portion and adding it at the very end to heat through.

What Makes This Zuppa Toscana Recipe Special?

Kid-friendly: My picky little eaters absolutely love this delicious soup! In fact, they call it the 'best' Zuppa Toscana and often say "Mom brought the homemade taste to this already great meal!"

Hearty: With just the right amount of ground beef and bacon, this is one hearty soup! It will definitely leave you feeling satisfied whether you enjoy it as a side dish or a main dish. 

Creamy texture: The delicious texture is one of the best things about Zuppa Toscana soup. It's smooth, rich, and creamy with a fantastic taste. 

Versatile: This Zuppa Toscana soup recipe can be enjoyed in many different ways. Try it by itself with some crusty bread or as a side dish to entrees like Marinara Pasta!

What You Need to Make Zuppa Toscana at Home

All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make this delicious Zuppa Toscana at home. Let's look at them in more detail:

• Ground beef: The first ingredient we'll need for this soup is some ground beef. You can get store-bought beef or find out How to Grind Meat at Home, either way, it's a great source of protein!
• Sausage seasoning: Although this recipe calls for ground beef, we're going to get the best of both worlds with sausage seasoning. 
• Potatoes: Next we need some potatoes for this recipe. They add heartiness to the dish and are great for soaking up the creamy soup flavors. Red or russet potatoes are a good choice. 
• Kale: The bitter and earthy flavor of kale balances out the rich flavors of the other ingredients. It's also full of nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. 
• Bacon: Some deliciously crisp bacon adds a whole new level of flavor and heartiness to this soup. Find out How to Make the Perfect Broiled Bacon for the best results!
• Garlic: This flavorful aromatic will add a pungent, slightly sweet, and spicy flavor to the soup. It adds depth to the flavor profile and compliments the other ingredients. 
• Onion: We'll also need some onions to saute for this zuppa toscana. They're naturally sweet with a savory flavor that goes really well in this dish. They're also a good source of fiber!
• Salt: As with every good savory meal, we're going to use a little bit of salt. It really helps bring out the flavors in the other ingredients. Use sea salt if you can!
• Chicken bouillon: A little chicken bouillon will add a nice depth and flavor to this soup. Use a low-sodium version if that's important for your diet. 
• Heavy whipping cream: We're going to use heavy whipping cream to make our soup especially thick and creamy. 

How to Make Zuppa Toscana (Step-by-Step)

Making this incredibly delicious Zuppa Toscana is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:

First, start by preparing the meat ingredients. Use either store-bought or home-ground beef and season it with sausage seasoning. 

Broil bacon in an oven or Dutch oven, then place it onto a paper towel-lined cutting board to soak up excess grease and let it cool before cutting.

Next, peel the potatoes and rinse them. Dice potatoes or slice them, whichever you prefer. 

Rinse the potatoes again until the starch is cleared from the water. Fill the bowl with clean water making sure all the potatoes are submerged, and let it sit on the counter until ready for use.

While rinsing the kale, tear small pieces off of the stem and place them in a bowl.

You may chop it on a cutting board after rinsing as well. I just like to tear certain size pieces and I feel it's cleaner when done so under running water.

Place the prepped kale in a strainer for the water to drain. Set aside until ready for use.

Brown seasoned ground beef on high. Set aside until ready for use.

Chop onion and sauté on high temp for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, press and add garlic, and sauté for 5 minutes more, stirring from time to time. Set aside until ready to use.

Pour 16 cups of water into a large pot. Bring it to a boil on high temp. Drain the water from the sliced potatoes and add them to the boiling water.

Add a tablespoon of salt and bring to a boil again.

As soon as the water starts to boil, reduce to medium heat. Let it gently boil for about 5 minutes.

Remove accumulated starch from the water several times while boiling. Continue boiling until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Add sausage and bacon and continue to lightly boil for another 5 minutes, removing starch as necessary.

Add 2 tbsp. of chicken bouillon paste and stir it around a few times. Then add the sautéed onion with garlic, stir well, and let it boil for a couple of minutes.

Add the heavy cream and stir everything to combine. Let it lightly boil for a few more minutes.

Add and mix in kale leaves. Turn the stove off and let it simmer while the kale to softens in the soup. The soup will be ready to enjoy in about 15 minutes or so.

Cool to warm when serving kiddos. Top the served soup in bowls with grated Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese.

Your delicious Zuppa Toscana is ready to be served! This soup goes wonderfully with homemade garlic breadsticks!

Tips for Making the Best Zuppa Toscana Ever

Use high-quality ingredients: Since this soup is fairly simple, it's important to use high-quality ingredients to make it shine. Look for fresh, good-quality ingredients to give your soup the best flavor.

Adjust the seasoning to taste: Before serving the soup, taste it and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may need to add a bit more salt or chicken bouillon depending on your taste preferences.

Cut the potatoes into small pieces: To ensure that the potatoes cook evenly and quickly, it's best to cut them into small, bite-sized pieces.

Recipe Variation Ideas for Zuppa Toscana

This delicious Zuppa Toscana soup is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up here are a few variation ideas you can try:

• Use Italian sausage: Italian sausage is a traditional ingredient in zuppa toscana, and it adds a lot of flavor to the soup. You can use sweet or spicy sausage, or add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. 
• Add other vegetables: You can add other vegetables to the soup, such as carrots, celery, diced tomatoes, or cauliflower florets, to add more nutrition and flavor.
• Make it vegetarian: To make a vegetarian version of zuppa toscana, you can omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of chicken bouillon.
• Make it dairy-free: Try substituting the heavy whipping cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version of this soup.

How to Store Leftover Zuppa Toscana

Leftover zuppa toscana can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. To store it properly, place the soup in an airtight container and refrigerate it immediately after cooling to room temperature. Freezing this soup will let it last for up to 3 months. 

When you are ready to enjoy your leftovers, reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot. For best results, do not leave the soup sitting at room temperature for too long.

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This recipe was originally posted on October 10, 2016 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.