Crock Pot Zuppa Toscana

What’s in zuppa toscana soup?

To enjoy your own hot bowl of zuppa toscana soup, you’ll need to collect the following ingredients:

• Ground Hot Italian Sausage: Adds some protein with a delicious flavor. You can also use an equal portion of any flavor of sausage (or level of spiciness) or substitute this for other ground meats (beef, chicken, turkey, etc).
• Yellow Onion, Garlic, Salt, and Black Pepper: Common ingredients for hearty soups that add delicious flavor.
• Russet Potatoes: Because nothing is as comforting as soft potatoes in a soup. You can also substitute this for red or golden potatoes. Peeling the potatoes is also optional (especially for goldens!)
• Chicken Broth and Heavy Whipping Cream: For creating a delicious, creamy broth for the soup. You can also substitute the chicken broth for an equal portion of more water or vegetable broth. Dairy substitutes, half and half cream, or omitting the heavy cream altogether can also be done.
• Kale: A classic ingredient for this soup that adds some soft, leafy texture. This can also be substituted for an equal portion of spinach, collard greens, or mustard greens. One reader even recommended using endive. You can also omit the greenery entirely if you’d like.
• Parmesan Cheese: Totally optional but it gives this Italian soup a classic cheesy topping.

Do you have to use kale?

Since posting this recipe, one of the most common questions about this soup has been about the kale. Because, weirdly enough, kale has the reputation for not being very tasty. Oh so strange, I know.

So, as someone that is not normally a fan of kale myself but is a fan of this soup, I can confirm that kale can taste good – in the right circumstances. And the flavors in this soup go a long way in bringing out the very best qualities in kale, giving this soup a great veggie texture and an added nutritional bonus.

However, if all the positive vibes in the world couldn’t sell you on kale, many readers have substituted the kale for spinach and liked the results.

What else can you add?

Soups like this are very forgiving and are great for adding your own touch of flavor, such as:

• Cooked and crumbled bacon.
• Red pepper flakes.
• Doubling the meat content (from one pound to two). You can use the same meat or even use different types.
• Cannellini beans.

If you’ve made an addition to this soup that you enjoy, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

How can you thicken soup?

This soup is fairly brothy, but there are two easy methods for making it thicker:

• Blend or mash a portion of the cooked potatoes within the soup.
• Create a slurry. When adding the heavy cream, reserve two or three tablespoons of cream and whisk it with one tablespoon of cornstarch, then mix it in with the soup. The soup will progressively become thicker the longer it cooks.

How long is zuppa toscana good for?

Once prepared, this Italian soup can last in the refrigerator in a sealed container for three to four days.

Can you freeze zuppa toscana?

Yes, you totally can! Soups are great for freezing in individual-sized portions, too.

To freeze, allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then transfer to a sealable container or freezer bags.

Soup can be stored in the freezer for up to two to three months.

What to serve with Italian soup?

If you’re serving soup as the main course, you might be wondering what else to serve with it. And I totally get it; soups are one of those gray areas where it can be an appetizer, side, or main course, and each situation can call for different options.

In my house, we typically serve soup with:

• Bread. Whether it’s plain toasted bread, a bread baked with cheese, or even some simple sandwich, anything with bread is bound to be a good complement to soup.
• Salad. And when serving salad with soup, I try to pick a variation that has different (yet complimenting) ingredients to the soup. Leafy salads or hearty pasta salads are always a good fit.
• Meat dishes with minimal seasonings. You don’t want the other recipe to totally steal the show, but a lightly flavored chicken or beef dish would go great with potato soup.

Notes & tips for this zuppa toscana crock pot recipe

• You can make zuppa toscana soup in numerous ways, but the main staples are kale, heavy cream, and potato. I’ve seen soups that use both bacon and chicken, but I’ve always felt it works best with sausage (and Italian sausage at that).
• This soup isn’t difficult to make on the stovetop, but I’ve always liked the convenience of a crock pot, and this Olive Garden zuppa toscana recipe is a perfect example of what a crock pot can do. I’m a big fan of this crock pot – it has three sizes in one!
• And if you like Olive Garden copycat recipes, be sure to check out this one for Parmesan Baked Shrimp!

Step 1 – Cook the ground hot Italian sausage, garlic, and yellow onion in a large skillet (draining the grease from the skillet).

Step 2 – Add the cooked veggies & sausage, potato, seasonings, and chicken broth to your crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Step 3 – Add the kale and heavy cream to the crock pot, stir, then cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!

And that’s it! This recipe can also be made on the stovetop, but sometimes you need the extra freedom that a crock pot can provide on a busy weeknight. There’s nothing more comforting than a crock pot full of soup!