Instant Pot or Slow-Cooker Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
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I love Olive Garden. Yes, I am a foodie. Yes, I still love Olive Garden! Back in my high school days, Olive Garden was a great celebration spot for my friends and me. For special occasions, we went to Olive Garden. Fast forward many years and there are so many local, non-chain restaurants available that are actually REALLY good.
Calories: 317 Fat: 14G Net Carbs: 28G Protein: 15G
So Olive Garden took a back seat. I recently made a trip into to Olive Garden during the holiday break. I go home to Omaha, Nebraska each year. My mom and I will usually go because she loves the soup, salad, and breadsticks. Of course, she always orders the Zuppa Toscana soup. It feels like a tradition for us.
I need a fix for this soup more than just once a year. I decided to whip out my Instant Pot to make that happen.
I lightened up the recipe by using a lot less whipping cream than you will find in the restaurant version. I paired with a little bit of almond milk. Skim or whatever you prefer will also work just fine. This recipe still accomplishes the same great taste because the flavor heavily lies in the sausage and chicken broth.
More Instant Pot Recipes:
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Instant Pot Chicken, Seafood, and Sausage Gumbo
Instant Pot Baked Creamed Cheesy Corn with Ham
Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup with Spinach
Instant Pot Caramel Apple Cider
Instant Pot Meatball Sliders
Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Sweet Potato Soup
Instant Pot Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Instant Pot Starbucks Gingerbread Latte
Instant Pot Skinny Pumpkin Spice Latte
Instant Pot Low-Carb Pumpkin Spice Bread
Instant Pot Lasagna
Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto with Vegetables and Parmesan
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Instant Pot Chicken and Spanish Rice (Arroz Con Pollo)
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Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
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Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Are you looking for soup bowls similar to the bowls photographed above? Check out these soup bowls from Amazon.

Be sure to check out step by step video instructions here!
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Instant Pot or Slow-Cooker Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
Instant Pot or Slow-Cooker Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup is a quick and easy copycat, pressure cooker recipe with sausage, kale, and creamy broth.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound low-fat sausage or chicken sausage Italian Sausage works best. Major win if you can find it reduced fat!
- 2 russet potatoes with the skin on sliced into medium-sized cubes
- 2-3 cups fresh kale stems removed
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 2-3 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 slices bacon or turkey bacon cooked and crumbled
- 16 oz low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk You can use any desired milk
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup water optional if needed
- parmesan for topping optional
Instructions
Instant Pot
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Turn the Instant Pot on the saute function. Add the olive oil to the pot. Add the sausage. Break the sausage into small pieces with a large spoon.
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Add the onions and stir. Cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic and stir. Cook until the onions are soft and fragrant.
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Add the chicken broth, oregano, and potatoes to the pot. Stir. If the broth does not completely cover the potatoes, add a small amount of water. The potatoes will need to be fully covered with liquid.
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Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Set the pot to Manual High-Pressure Cooking for 5 minutes.
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Allow the steam to naturally release for 10 minutes instead of quick release.
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Remove the lid. Add the cooked bacon, whipping cream, almond milk, and kale to the pot. Turn the Instant Pot on the saute function. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the kale has wilted.
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Serve with shredded parmesan if desired.
Slow Cooker
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Cook the sausage in a skillet on medium-high heat with the olive oil. Add the onions and stir. Cook for 1 minute. Add the garlic and stir. Cook until the onions are soft and fragrant.
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Add the sausage mixture, chicken broth, oregano, and potatoes to the slow-cooker. Stir. If the broth does not completely cover the potatoes, add a small amount of water. The potatoes will need to be fully covered with liquid.
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Cook for 3-4 hours on High, 7-8 hours on Low. Add the cooked bacon, whipping cream, almond milk, and kale to the pot. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the kale has wilted.
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Serve with shredded parmesan if desired.
Angela Tolsma
January 3, 2018 @ 11:00 am
Olive Garden was a favorite restaurant for my husband and I for years until we found some amazing nonchain places to go. That said I have never tried their soups! This looks so good!
Stephanie
January 3, 2018 @ 8:34 pm
I’ve never had Zuppa Toscana before. My husband gets it when we go to Olive Garden sometimes, but I can’t pass up the Chicken Gnocchi. I’ll have to try it next time.
Marjie Mare
January 3, 2018 @ 9:34 pm
It seems like you recreated the perfect zuppa. I am also a foodie, I take pleasure to try new recipes, I recently went to a Thai restaurant and my older daughter was surprised, that my attempt to make the Thai shrimp sauce I had there turns out as delicious as what she ate.
Ray Ruzzo
January 4, 2018 @ 7:53 am
So, you’re my new hero. I love this soup and I love the instant pot.
April
January 4, 2018 @ 12:12 pm
Oh my goodness this looks so yummy! I definitely am going to make this for dinner one night this week.
April |
Rose
January 4, 2018 @ 12:49 pm
Looking forward to trying this recipe out. I already make this soup for my family but not with my crock pot. I love my crockpot and making dinner in it makes life a little easier.
Robyn
January 4, 2018 @ 5:25 pm
This looks so delicious. I will have to make sometime soon because it is so cold. This would so warm me up.
jill conyers
January 5, 2018 @ 4:38 am
My husband loves his instapot. Especially when he is making soup.
Vy Nguyen
January 5, 2018 @ 8:42 am
It looks yummy. I also want to have a bite. Thanks for your ingredient.
Prajakta Sharma
January 5, 2018 @ 7:57 pm
The soup looks absolutely delicious…loved it. Your photos look great too!
Keep the good work coming in!
XOXO
Prajakta
Eloise
January 5, 2018 @ 10:30 pm
that looks like some good comfort food (which I could use these days!) Thank you for the recipe, I really want to try making it this weekend ; )
Yum!
Deb Savage
January 7, 2018 @ 7:39 am
I am always looking for an amazing soup to try. This one looks like it is so simple to make.
Lisa Huff
January 7, 2018 @ 8:59 am
Wow, looks just like Olive Garden! We could go for some of this soup now especially since it’s like 0 degrees here!
Edyta at Innocent Delight
January 7, 2018 @ 11:34 am
You can’t go wrong with Zupa Toscana. I love all the flavors in it. I also like that you lighten it up a bit 🙂
debi
January 7, 2018 @ 2:53 pm
This version of their soup looks so good. And I love the slow cooker!
Traci
January 7, 2018 @ 4:12 pm
Brandi, this looks outstanding! I just want to grab a spoon and scoop this yumminess right up. Comfort food all the way. Another vote for the Instant Pot!
Patranila
January 7, 2018 @ 5:29 pm
I love my slow cooker. Makes life so much easier. Set it and forget it!
Sarah
January 7, 2018 @ 6:33 pm
I absolutely LOVE using my Instant Pot to make soups….can’t wait to try this one! It sounds so delicious!!
Rebecca
January 14, 2018 @ 10:02 pm
This. Is. Amazing!!! This was my very first attempt in the Instant Pot and I absolutely love it. My super picky 16 year old looked at it suspiciously (I mean, Kale!) had a taste and then ate two huge bowlfuls!!! Thank you!!! 😀
staysnatched
January 15, 2018 @ 7:37 am
This is so wonderful! I’m so happy you and your 16 year old enjoyed it. I hope you try more of my Instant Pot recipes.