Zuppa Toscana (A Simple Hearty Soup)
This Zuppa Toscana soup is creamy, hearty and loaded with flavor. Spicy Italian sausage, crispy bacon, kale and tender gnocchi simmer in a rich chicken broth for a delicious soup that warms you from the inside out.
It's the perfect comforting soup for chilly nights or colder months, whether you're craving a homemade version of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana or looking for a crowd pleaser the whole family will enjoy.
Soup season is probably my favorite time of year, and two I make most often are my Pumpkin Carrot Soup and Italian Penicillin Soup.
Jump to:
Ingredients
This easy soup comes together with a handful of pantry staples and fresh ingredients.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Bacon: Provides smoky flavor and crispy texture to finish the soup.
- Hot Italian Sausage: Adds heat and a lot of flavor; ground sausage also works if that's what you have.
- Kale: Adds a fresh, slightly bitter note and extra nutrition.
- Gnocchi: Tender gnocchi replaces russet potatoes for a faster cooking method while keeping the classic feel.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy cream gives the soup its creamy, comforting finish.
For this quick soup recipe, grab your large Dutch oven along with measuring cups and spoons.
Variations
- Potato Version: Swap gnocchi for russet potatoes or red potatoes to make a more traditional Tuscan soup.
- Add Beans: Stir in white beans or great northern beans for more protein and texture.
- Spinach Swap: Replace kale with fresh spinach or add extra kale for a greener bowl.
- Pressure Cooker: Make this in the Instant Pot using high pressure and a quick release for faster cooking.
How to Make Zuppa Toscana
This Italian-inspired soup comes together quickly, making it a great option for soup tonight without much fuss.
In a large pot over medium high heat, add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked bacon to a plate with paper towel for later.
Leave bacon grease in cook sausage fully breaking it apart into bite sized pieces, then transfer to a separate plate.
Remove all but a thin layer of grease in the pan and cook onion for about 5 minutes.
Add in garlic and ground pepper and cook until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and add the cooked sausage, kale, gnocchi and whipping cream.
Stir to combine. Serve with bacon on top.
Hint: Let the sausage brown in the bottom of the pot over medium heat for maximum flavor.
Recipe Tips
- Save the Grease: Cook the onion in a little bit of excess grease for depth or use olive oil instead.
- Simmer Gently: Before adding the kale and gnocchi into the soup, simmer gently for 20 minutes over low heat to really pull out the flavors without overcooking.
- Crispy Bacon Topping: Be sure to add the bacon on top to keep it crispy.
- Parmesan Finish: A sprinkle of parmesan cheese or even a parmesan rind simmered in adds so much flavor.
Another reader favorite, that is always a hit, is our Marry Me Chicken Soup.
More One Pot Recipes
Storage Suggestions
- Refrigerator: Once the soup is fully cooled, place in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled soup in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months (though cream based soups may slightly separate).
- Reheating: Warm gently over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or cups of water if it's too thick.
Serving Suggestions
- Breads and Rolls: Garlic bread, focaccia or warm dinner rolls are perfect for dipping into the creamy soup.
- Italian-Inspired Additions: Marinated olives or bruschetta bring a restaurant feel to the table.
Zuppa Toscana Soup FAQs
You can skip the heavy cream for a lighter soup or use half-and-half or milk with a touch of olive oil for creaminess.
Russet potatoes or red potatoes cut into small pieces are traditional in Italian soup recipes like this.
More Recipes
Ready to get cooking? Save time by having a grocery list automatically generate for you by clicking the "Add to Shopping List" below.
Zuppa Toscana
Equipment
- Large Soup Pot
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 6 ounces bacon chopped into 1" pieces
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage
- 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
- 1 bulb garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 cups chicken stock low sodium
- 6 cups kale roughly chopped
- 2 17- ounce package fresh gnocchi
- 1 cup whipping cream
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium high heat, add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked bacon to a plate with paper towel for later.
- Leave bacon grease in cook sausage fully breaking it apart into bite sized pieces, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Remove all but a thin layer of grease in the pan and cook onion for about 5 minutes.
- Add in garlic and ground pepper and cook until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and add the cooked sausage, kale, gnocchi and whipping cream.
- Stir to combine. Serve with bacon on top.
Notes
- Let the sausage brown in the bottom of the pot over medium heat for maximum flavor.
- Cook the onion in a little bit of excess grease for depth or use olive oil instead.
- Before adding the kale and gnocchi into the soup, simmer gently for 20 minutes over low heat to really pull out the flavors without overcooking.
- Be sure to add the bacon on top to keep it crispy.
- A sprinkle of parmesan cheese or even a parmesan rind simmered in adds so much flavor.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
So creamy and the perfect cozy meal!!
Thank you. We love it!
This Zuppa Toscana soup sounds amazing! I’m planning to make it this coming weekend, the combination of sausage, bacon, kale, and gnocchi sounds perfect for a cozy meal!
I hope you love it! It is a super cozy meal!
Love creamy soup like this! Thanks for sharing! Is there any alternate option for sausage ?
It is so good. Absolutely, you can remove it all together or use any ground meat, like chicken, turkey or beef! Happy cooking.
We love this soup; it has so much flavor, is lightly creamy and so hearty!