Whole30 Zuppa Toscana - The Defined Dish Recipes (2024)

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Bringing back another childhood staple, a Whole30 Zuppa Toscana copycat rendition of Olive Garden’s delicious soup. The only thing that I am missing is the endless breadsticks and salad!

Whole30 Zuppa Toscana - The Defined Dish Recipes (1)

Growing up in Celina, Texas, my friends and I would always drive up to Frisco (the closest city to us) so that we could dine at Olive Garden together and carb load on *all the yummy things*. In fact, when I ran Cross Country back in the day, Olive Garden was our day before meal of choice when we went to big meets out of town. Our Coach would take us to Olive Garden so we could feast before we’d run our little hearts out the next day. We loved it.

Whole30 Zuppa Toscana - The Defined Dish Recipes (2)

Being the soup lover that I am, I loved getting the Zuppa Toscana as my appetizer, even as a child. I loved it’s rich, creamy broth with the chunky potato and sausage filling. It’s one of those soups that really, in fact, is a true full meal.

Here in this Whole30 Zuppa Toscana recipe, I’ve recreated one of my childhood favorites while also keeping it Dairy-Free and Gluten-free. It’s still simple to make and just as satisfying as my teen years. The flavor from the ground sausage really does all the talking along with the rich and creamy texture of the soup (by thickening it with Arrowroot flour + using dairy-free creamer!)

Whole30 Zuppa Toscana - The Defined Dish Recipes (3)

I think this is going to be a total crowd-pleaser and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as me and my family!

For other soups and stews, check out thisrecipe round-up. Plus, be sure to try my Sausage, Fennel, and White Bean Soup and Tuscan Ribollita Soup!


Whole30 Zuppa Toscana - The Defined Dish Recipes (4)

5 from 77 votes

Whole30 Zuppa Toscana

A whole30 rendition of the popular soup served at Olive Garden.

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Ingredients

  • 2 strips bacon, diced medium
  • 1 cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 lb hot Italian sausage (if you buy it in the links, you can remove from casing) (chicken or turkey sausage is okay to use, also!)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot flour
  • 32 oz. carton of chicken broth
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 cups peeled russet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 4 cups chopped lacinato kale, ripped from stem (or one bunch)
  • 1 cup Nut Pods Original Dairy-Free Creamer
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (or the juice of 1 lemon)

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon is just crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. While reserving the bacon fat in the the pot.

  • Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper and sausage into the pot. Cook, breaking up meat with back of spoon, until cooked through, or no longer pink. About 4-5 minutes.

  • Add arrowroot into the sausage mixture and stir until well incorporated into the meat mixture. While stirring, slowly pour in chicken broth. Bring the soup to a boil.

  • Reduce heat to simmer, add the italian seasoning, chopped kale and potatoes. Cook, covered, until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

  • When the potatoes are tender, remove the lid from the pot and stir in the creamer, nutritional yeast, and lemon. Cook for 5 more minutes, simmering uncovered, just to mend the flavors and the cream.

  • Serve in bowls topped with the cooked bacon bits. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 577kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 18g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 1239mg, Potassium: 903mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 2346IU, Vitamin C: 37mg, Calcium: 193mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Alex Snodgrass

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 577

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Gluten-Free Paleo Recipes Soups Soups Whole30

Welcome! I’m Alex.

I’m a food lover sharing healthy, simple, delicious, recipes from my kitchen to yours. Here you’ll find lots of Whole30, lots of healthy, and a little indulgence here and there because…it’s all about balance y’all!

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Whole30 Zuppa Toscana - The Defined Dish Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What does Zuppa Toscana mean in English? ›

Zuppa Toscana means “Tuscan Soup” in Italian. However, the classic tuscan soup is usually made with veggies (like zucchini, celery, carrots), kale, potatoes, cannellini beans, tomato sauce, pancetta and toasted bread.

Do they eat zuppa Toscana in Italy? ›

Zuppa toscana ( lit. 'Tuscan soup'), also known in Italy as minestra di pane ( lit. 'bread soup'), is a soup from the region of Tuscany, northern Italy. While there are many variations of zuppa toscana, its classic ingredients are cannellini beans, potatoes, and kale.

What is Zuppa? ›

Zuppa (soup)

Zuppa has a dense and substantial appearance, very little liquid is used, which gets absorbed by bread and croutons. Zuppa is widespread in Tuscany, with collard greens or kale as the main vegetable. In Calabria and Sicily it's based on legumes and fava beans. In Sardinia it features bits of cheese.

How many calories are in zuppa Toscana soup? ›

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana (1 serving) contains 15g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 15g fat, 7g protein, and 220 calories.

What is Zuppa Toscana soup made of? ›

Traditionally, this soup is made with lots of veggies, beans, potatoes, olive oil, spices, Italian bacon, and Tuscan bread (it kind of reminds me of a minestrone). What is this? The American version though adds Italian sausage and bacon, garlic, and heavy cream in addition to the potatoes and kale.

How long is zuppa Toscana good for in the fridge? ›

Zuppa Toscana Soup storage

Once prepared and then safely stored, Zuppa Toscana Soup stays fresh for 3-4 days in the fridge, but we find this soup to be best the same day it's made. To reheat the soup, add to a pot over low heat.

What is the most famous soup in Italy? ›

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup known worldwide as one of the best Italian soups. It's got a flavorful broth and a variety of slow-cooked vegetables like potatoes, peas, and carrots. Adding Italian sausage gives it a kick of flavor and a shot of protein, so it's a complete meal all by itself.

What is the difference between zuppa Toscana and minestrone? ›

Zuppa Toscana has a thicker consistency due to the addition of cream or milk, which gives it a velvety smoothness. On the other hand, Minestrone has a more broth-like consistency with chunks of vegetables and beans creating a heartier texture.

What is the most popular soup at Olive Garden? ›

Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat (VIDEO) Zuppa Toscana is Olive Garden's most popular soup. This one-pot, homemade Zuppa Toscana recipe is hearty and loaded with Italian sausage, kale, bacon and potatoes.

What country is Zuppa Toscana from? ›

Zuppa Toscana is Italian and literally translates to Tuscan Soup. In Italy it's more specifically called Minestra di Pane, which means Bread Soup. The classic version is filled with cannellini beans, kale, zucchini, some chile powder, Italian bacon (called rigatino), tomatoes or tomato pulp, and Tuscan bread.

What is the healthiest soup at Olive Garden? ›

You can choose from options like Zuppa Toscana, Chicken and Gnocchi, and Pasta fa*gioli, but Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN suggests the Minestrone if you want something on the healthier side. "This soup is higher on the sodium side, but it is low in fat, contains fiber, and is chock-full of vegetables," says Manaker.

What is the lowest calorie soup at Olive Garden? ›

Calories in Olive Garden Soups
  • Minestrone. The Olive Garden's Minestrone has 100 calories per bowl. ...
  • Chicken and Gnocchi. A bowl of Chicken and Gnocchi soup from the Olive Garden has 250 calories, the restaurant reports. ...
  • Pasta e fa*gioli. ...
  • Zuppa Toscana.

How much protein is in a bowl of zuppa Toscana? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Total Fat 14.6g22%Tot. Carb. 16g
Sat. Fat 4.2g21%Dietary Fiber 1.3g
Trans Fat 0gSugars 1.1g
Cholesterol 21.4mg7%Protein 7.1g
2 more rows

Why is it called Zuppa Toscana? ›

Zuppa Toscana is Italian and literally translates to Tuscan Soup. In Italy it's more specifically called Minestra di Pane, which means Bread Soup. The classic version is filled with cannellini beans, kale, zucchini, some chile powder, Italian bacon (called rigatino), tomatoes or tomato pulp, and Tuscan bread.

What does Toscana mean in Italy? ›

/ (tosˈkaːna) / noun. the Italian name for Tuscany.

What's the difference between minestrone and zuppa? ›

In modern Italian, there are three words corresponding to the English word soup: zuppa, which is used in the sense of tomato soup, or fish soup; minestra, which is used in the sense of a more substantial soup such as a vegetable soup, and also for "dry" soups, namely pasta dishes; and minestrone, which means a very ...

Where does the word Toscana come from? ›

Etymology. From Late Latin (terra) Tuscāna (“the land of the Etruscans”), ultimately from tuscus (“Etruscan”).

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