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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Olive Garden Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup (Video)

    January 30, 2021 By Brandy 17 Comments

    ↓ Jump to Recipe
    If you love Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup, you'll love this delicious slow cooker version! Serve with our favorite homemade breadsticks!  Stove top directions have also been included.
    You might also like our lasagna soup or 30-minute clam chowder!
    soup in ladle and bowl

    Watch our step by step video!

    I'm not sure there is any reason to tell you what Zuppa Toscana soup is. Everyone knows how delicious it is, and you simply can't go to Olive Garden and not order a bowl of it with your dinner! Potatoes, sausage and kale simmered in a delicious broth.

    bowl of zuppa toscana soup

    Slow Cooker Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

    I've been making this soup for our family for over ten years using this recipe from Tuscan Recipes. To make a slow cooker version I reduced the amount of liquid and re-arranged the order that I added some of the ingredients. I find that I usually have more time in the morning to prepare dinner so I like finding ways to modify my favorite soup recipes to make them slow cooker friendly. No more rushing home from piano lessons or errands to start dinner.

    ladle of zuppa toscana soup

    Zuppa Toscana Shopping List

    (scroll to the end of the post for a printable recipe card)

    • Italian sausage (1 lb.)
    • yellow onion (1)
    • garlic (3 cloves, fresh or minced in jar)
    • potatoes (1 lb. or 3 large)
    • bacon pieces---I use precooked bacon crumbles.  (¼ cup)
    • chicken broth (4 cups)
    • water (2 cups)
    • kale (4-5 cups)
    • heavy cream (1 cup)
    • red pepper flakes (to taste)
    • salt/pepper (to taste)

    Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Directions

    Brown sausage with onions and garlic in a large skillet. Transfer to a slow cooker and add chopped potatoes, chicken broth, water, bacon, and spices. Stir. Cook on HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours. Add chopped kale and cream and cook on HIGH for an additional 30-45 minutes.

    Sprinkle with parmesan cheese (optional) and serve with crusty bread or breadsticks.

    Stove Top Directions

    Brown sausage with onions and garlic in a large stock pot at medium-high heat. Transfer the sausage mixture to a plate. You can drain the grease, but I like keeping it in the pot for flavor.

    Add potatoes, broth, water, bacon, and spices to the pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and allow broth and potatoes to simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.

    Add kale and cooked sausage. Bring soup to a boil. Stir in heavy cream. Return to a boil then remove from heat.

    two bowls of slow cooker zuppa Toscana soup

    I like serving the soup with our quick parmesan garlic breadsticks. They take 40 minutes to make and are SO buttery and delicious. I learned how to make them at a bread making class at church when I was newly married. They've been a staple in our home ever since!

    Crock Pot Zuppa Toscana RecipE

    two bowls of slow cooker zuppa Toscana soup

    Slow Cooker Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

    If you love Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup, you'll love this delicious slow cooker version! Serve with our favorite homemade breadsticks!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 hours hours
    Total Time: 5 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 bowls
    Calories: 352kcal

    Equipment

    • slow cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. Italian sausage
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 3 garlic cloves fresh or 2 teaspoons minced from jar
    • 1 lb. potatoes chopped (3 large)
    • 4 cups chicken broth
    • 2 cups water
    • ¼ cup bacon pieces fresh or bacon bits
    • red pepper flakes to taste
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 4-5 cups kale chopped
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

    Instructions

    • Brown sausage with onions and garlic in a skillet.
    • Transfer to a slow cooker and add potatoes, chicken broth, water, bacon and spices.
    • Cook on HIGH 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
    • Add chopped kale and cream and cook on HIGH an additional 30-45 minutes.

    Notes

    Note: turkey sausage may be substituted for pork sausage.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 352kcal
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    About Brandy

    Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

    Comments

    1. Maggie says

      November 14, 2011 at 4:14 am

      I love OLG breadsticks.
      Would luv for my readers to see this awesome idea, will you please join our weekly party at
      http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-showcase-tutorial-with.html
      have a great crafting weekend!
      Maggie
      http://passionatelyartistic.com

      Reply
    2. Anne says

      November 13, 2011 at 12:43 am

      Oh my goodness, I LOVE Olive Garden breadsticks! Plus, my brand new KitchenAid mixer is on its way. 😉 I can't wait to try these!

      Reply
    3. Kelli says

      September 16, 2010 at 11:41 pm

      I am just dropping by from the link party and I just had to tell you how delicious this looks! Thanks for sharing. I have a breadstick recipe that I love but mine have to rise twice and take forever! I will have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Its A Blog Party says

      June 21, 2010 at 9:26 pm

      Yummy!
      Thanks for linking up!
      ~Liz

      Reply
    5. JessieLeigh says

      June 15, 2010 at 6:04 pm

      I'm a Pasta Fagiole girl, but my hubby is all about the Zuppa Toscana... thanks for the link! And you are so right... what's soup without the breadsticks???

      Reply
    6. michelle@somedaycrafts says

      May 10, 2010 at 8:16 am

      Oh Yummy! I'm going to have to try this!

      Reply
    7. Julie says

      May 06, 2010 at 2:49 am

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Reply
    8. Julie says

      May 06, 2010 at 2:49 am

      Oh, my word! You are my new best friend for posting this. My favorite OG soup! Thanks!

      Reply
    9. Ashlee says

      May 04, 2010 at 3:36 am

      This sounds SO good! I am in love with soups. I'll have to try it out.

      Reply
    10. Kaysi says

      May 03, 2010 at 6:34 pm

      That looks sooooo yummy!

      Reply
    11. Mag says

      May 03, 2010 at 4:02 pm

      i have to give this a try too.. i love this soup a lot. thanks

      Reply
    12. Martha says

      May 03, 2010 at 11:34 am

      This is a great soup and a favorite of ours -- both at Olive Garden and at home!

      Reply
    13. mishebe says

      May 03, 2010 at 3:05 am

      I love that soup too. going to try that recipe!

      Reply
    14. Mandy says

      May 03, 2010 at 12:01 am

      Yummy, can't wait to try this recipe out!!!

      Reply
    15. Jennifer says

      May 01, 2010 at 4:31 pm

      Love your blog! I gave you an award on my blog!
      Life with the Lebedas
      http://www.lebedafamily.blogspot.com

      Jennifer 🙂

      Reply
    16. MrsJenB says

      May 01, 2010 at 11:42 am

      That is my favorite Olive Garden soup and yet it never occurred to me to try to make it myself! Meanwhile, the breadsticks? I'm totally making them with dinner tomorrow night - we're having family over and I'm sure they'll go over really big!

      Thanks so much for sharing this!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Meal Plan Monday #28 | How to train a Super Hero says:
      January 26, 2015 at 9:45 am

      […] Crockpot bbq chicken sandwiches, baked beans Zuppa Toscana soup with bread sticks Crock pot cilantro lime chicken Pasta with tomato cream sauce, apple walnut […]

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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