Easy, Keto Low-Carb Zuppa Toscana Soup is the best Olive Garden Copycat recipe. This keto soup is made with sausage, kale, cauliflower, and a creamy broth. The nutrition facts and macros are perfect for the keto diet. If you are looking for keto friendly ideas, this soup is perfect for your meal prepping!
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We have all been to Olive Garden! Most of us have enjoyed the Zuppa Toscana Soup. It’s a savory soup made with sausage, potatoes, and kale. They will even shave fresh parmesan on top while you watch. It’s definitely a soup for the books!
This recipe is identical to my Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup, but with a couple of tweaks.
Is Olive Garden keto friendly? Potatoes mean carbs! There is a way to make this dish no carb.
What to Use For Potatoes in Keto Zuppa Toscana
Sometimes the easiest swaps make a world of difference. Instead of using potatoes in this soup cauliflower is used instead. Cauliflower goes a long way with keeping a recipe ketogenic.
When cooked, cauliflower has a texture that is very similar to potatoes. Check out my Keto Cauliflower Mash if you haven’t!
How to Make Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Brown sliced bacon and ground sausage in a Dutch oven on medium-high heat.
- Add in onions and garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Adjust the heat to medium and add Chicken broth, oregano, cauliflower, salt and pepper.
- Place the lid on the pot and cook for 15 minutes.
- Open the pot and add heavy whipping cream and kale.
- Cool before serving.
Do You Have to Use a Dutch Oven
I use a Dutch oven because it allows me to use one pot for the recipe and it’s great for cooking soups. I brown the sausage and bacon and then throw the remaining ingredients into the pot and cook the soup.
Dutch ovens are heavy and thick. A Dutch oven conducts and retains heat really well and will keep the soup warm. You can read more about Dutch Oven Benefits here.
You can use whatever soup pot you want in the recipe.
How Many Calories and Carbs are in Zuppa Toscana?
This recipe has 309 calories and 5 net carbs per serving.
How Long Will the Soup Last in the Fridge?
The soup can be refrigerated for 3-4 days.
Is the Soup Freezer Friendly?
Absolutely! The soup will freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat the soup over the stove.
Sometimes, when I freeze soup with dairy, the dairy will separate from the soup (especially the longer you freeze). If you know you are planning to freeze in advance, I recommend adding the cream and kale to the soup after you have frozen it, as opposed to adding it when you cook the original batch.
More Keto Soup Recipes
Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Keto Chicken Noodle Zoodle Soup
Keto Beef Chili
If you are new to keto and the keto diet or just looking for great tips, check out my Printable Keto Grocery List.
Click here for a complete listing of Keto Low-Carb Recipes.
Easy, Keto Low-Carb Zuppa Toscana Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sausage Italian Sausage works best (I used mild)
- 3 slices bacon, sliced into smaller bits
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 head fresh cauliflower, chopped
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste I like to season it at the end so that I can taste repeatedly and adjust as necessary.
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 cups fresh kale, stems removed
- parmesan for topping optional
Instructions
- Add the pieces of bacon and sausage to a large pot (Dutch oven works best) on medium-high heat.
- Cook until the sausage and bacon have browned. Drain any excess fat, but reserve about a couple of tablespoons of fat in the pot for flavor. (I didn't have to drain any fat.)
- Add in the chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add the garlic, chicken broth, fresh cauliflower, oregano. Stir to combine.
- Cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft and can be pierced with a fork.
- Uncover the pot and add the heavy cream, chopped kale, salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook for a couple of minutes until the kale wilts.
- Cool before serving.
Video
Notes
- For me a Dutch oven yields the best results. You can use whatever soup pot you want in the recipe.
- You can use 1/2 cup heavy cream to reduce calories in this recipe.
- You can add 1/2 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning to standard ground sausage if you choose not to use Italian sausage.
- I like a lot of kale in my soup (it’s loaded with fiber) you can adjust to your taste.
- Sometimes, when I freeze soup with dairy, the dairy will separate from the soup (especially the longer you freeze). If you know you are planning to freeze in advance, I recommend adding the cream and kale to the soup after you have frozen it, as opposed to adding it when you cook the original batch.
Catherine Clinnick
I live in Australia where we don’t have Olive Garden and I often crave for their Chicken Gnocchi soup. I have tried to replicate it and looked on Pinterest but nothing really comes close. Do you happen to have a recipe for it?? And the other one I love and miss is Cheesecake Factory’s Chicken Madeira? Again, I’ve tried a few different recipes but nothing really outstanding. Thank you!!
staysnatched
Hi there, No I don’t have recipes on the site for either. My chicken marsala would be the closest to madeira.
Melissa
Used rice cauliflower and 1/2 cup cream. Good recipe. We enjoyed it on a cold rainy Sunday.
staysnatched
That sounds great! Glad you enjoyed it!
Patti
Could you use unsweetened almond milk in place of the HWC..thanks
staysnatched
Sure, if you want. The consistency of the soup and the taste will not be the same.
Ariana
Can I substitute turkey bacon and ground turkey instead of ground sausage and pork bacon? I don’t eat pork or beef.
staysnatched
Sure, you can do whatever you wish. I have not tested turkey in this recipe, as I prefer the taste of pork.
Mandy Stephens
I deviated just a tad in that I roast my cauliflower with olive oil, butter, salt and pepper. I just prefer those flavors. I add it once the broth is nice and hot. The second day always seems better than the first. The best thing about this recipe is that you don’t feel like you’re missing out. The flavor is still there and so is the texture. In fact, I like the fact the the cauliflower doesn’t dissolve if over cooked. P.S. My husband loves this and that’s saying a lot.
staysnatched
So glad both you and your husband love it!
Vickie Worthington
I also roasted my cauliflower. It turned out GREAT!!!!! Thank you for sharing. Will def make again!
staysnatched
Wonderful! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Jody Johnson
My husband and I really loved this soup! Adding bacon is a great idea, and replacing red pepper flakes with oregano was perfect for me, since I have trouble with spicy foods. Thanks for a great recipe!
staysnatched
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Jody Johnson
I’ve made this four or five times now. LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!
Thanks so much!
staysnatched
You’re welcome. I’m glad you love the recipe!
Faye
What can I use for heavy cream. Can’t do dairy.
staysnatched
Whatever you typically use for your dairy replacement.
Cheryl
This soup was amazing!! Thanks!
staysnatched
So glad you enjoyed it!
Kassandra
Do you have to add the heavy cream
staysnatched
You can omit it if you want. It will impact the taste.
Kelley
What is a serving size? Bowl or cup?
staysnatched
The recipe makes 8 total servings. Each serving size is 1/8th.
Sam
I’m not certain what a serving size is either. There are 8 total and I get that but has anyone figured out if one serving size is measurable to a cup?
Brandy
I always use coconut milk instead of cream. It turns out fantastic.
staysnatched
Thanks for sharing the tip!
Michelle
Has anyone ever tried this in an instapot?
staysnatched
I haven’t primarily because it already has a low cook time.
Nannette
This soup is delicious!!! Thank you !!!
staysnatched
You’re welcome I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
John David Vieira Stanton
Amazing!!! I’ve been wanting to make this for a while and finally got to it during the quarantine…. I added Parmesan rinds while it simmered away. Also made garlic Parmesan chaffles for breadsticks. Everyone needs to make this keto or not.
staysnatched
I love your tips!
Danny
I thought it was a bit weak. I may cut it down to a 1/2 cup cream and 32oz. of broth. Cauliflower took a lot longer than 15 minute to get soft.. And will cook bacon first because it did not brown properly with sausage and then set aside and add later. I’m Italian I want my soups strong!
staysnatched
Use a good Dutch oven to speed up your cook time for cauliflower. I’m surprised you don’t already have your own Italian Recipe! Thanks for your thoughts.
Julie
Love this recipe and make it frequently. I added a little xanthum gum this time to make it thicker and came out wonderful and so easy to make. I only use one pot for everything and cook everything in stages then added it together when you add the broth.
staysnatched
So happy to hear you make it frequently!
Dia
This soup is flavorful, and flat out DELISH! I don’t even miss the potatoes. It also freezes very well. I just enjoyed serving that I froze a couple months ago, and it tasted fresh like I just cooked it today! Thanks for another wonderful recipe, Brandi!
staysnatched
You’re welcome! I’m all about freezing soups!
Rachel Mudek
Absolutely loved this recipe! I used ground turkey the first time as opposed to Italian sausage and it was fine, but I used sausage recently and it was worth it! More flavorful and so filling! Keeping this for the future!
staysnatched
Yes! I love hearing you will make it again!
Marcus
I will definitely try this recipe during the weekend. I just started my keto diet journey last month. I hope I can achieve the result I am expecting
staysnatched
It’s a great recipe. Enjoy it!
Richelle
This is an excellent recipe! Super easy to follow and it is delicious. 😊
staysnatched
It’s one of my favorites!