This Instant Pot Tuscan Soup, also known as a copycat of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana, is a rich Italian sausage, potato, and kale soup, made without beans. Flavoured with sun-dried tomatoes, bacon and onions, this popular soup is quick to make.
Instant Pot Tuscan Soup: you may know this as Zuppa Toscana if you're a fan of Olive Garden restaurants. It's been a popular item on their menu for years, and no wonder: it's absolutely delicious!
If you're looking for a light low-calorie soup, we'll see you another time! Head over to find more healthy soup recipe ideas in my collection of Soup and Chowder recipes.
But if you're willing to indulge for one day in a rich, hearty Tuscan soup brimming with Italian flavours, you'll love this sausage, potato, and kale soup.
❤️Why you need to make this soup
It's creamy and full of amazing flavour. This soup is creamy, but not cloyingly thick, and it's liberally flavoured with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and onions.
It makes a simple, rustic meal. Every amazing spoonful of this Instant Pot Tuscan Soup will make you believe you're dining in a cozy trattoria in the heart of Italy! This soup is deliciously rustic. It's a simple meal cooked with the passion for which Italians are so famous. Translated, Zuppa Toscana is simply Tuscan Soup!
It's made without white beans. If you're looking for Tuscan Soup without beans, this is the recipe for you! If you DO like beans in your soup, you'll love this Easy Instant Pot Minestrone Soup.
It's quick to make in an Instant Pot. This incredibly flavoured soup is all made in one pot!
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🛒 Ingredients
Ready to make a shopping list? Here's what you'll need to make Zuppa Toscana!
- nitrate-free bacon
- hot Italian sausage or turkey sausage
- onion
- garlic: minced
- oregano: dried or fresh
- potatoes: either yellow or red potatoes or Russets
- sun-dried tomatoes: packed in oil
- chicken broth: use the low-sodium variety (or your own homemade stock) as the bacon and sausage add a lot of sodium to this soup
- black pepper
- kale: you can substitute spinach if you like, or use baby kale
- heavy cream: gives this soup a rich flavour. You could substitute half and half, or keep it dairy-free by using the solid part of a can of coconut milk. (This will change the flavour, however.)
- Parmigiano Reggiano: Parmesan cheese brings amazing flavour to this soup! (You can omit it to keep it for dairy-free.)
- fresh parsley: for garnish
🔪 How to make Instant Pot Tuscan Soup
- Using the Sauté function on an Instant Pot, cook the bacon slices until crisp. Remove from the Instant Pot, drain on paper towel, chop into smaller pieces, and set aside.
- Add the Italian or turkey sausage to the Instant Pot and let it brown, stirring to break up large chunks, about 4 - 5 minutes. Drain the excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion, minced garlic and dried oregano to the sausage meat in the pot. Stir until onions are softened and translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, diced potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Press Cancel, then select the Manual setting. Set the timer for 5 minutes of high pressure. When time is up, do a Quick Release to release the pressure.
- Remove the lid and select the Sauté mode again. Add the chopped kale to the soup and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until the kale has wilted but is still bright green. Stir in the heavy cream and heat through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Ladle into bowls and top with reserved bacon pieces, Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Brown the sausage meat. Add potatoes, onions, garlic and oregano. Add chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, broth and pepper.
🔁 Possible Substitutions
You can substitute turkey sausage for the hot Italian sausage if you'd like, or choose a mild Italian sausage for a less spicy flavour.
If you prefer, substitute spinach or baby kale for the kale. You can also replace the potatoes with sweet potatoes.
Want to reduce the fat content a little? Use light cream (half and half) instead of heavy (whipping) cream.
🥶Storage and Reheating Instructions
This Tuscan sausage, potato and kale soup will separate as it cools, so just stir it as you gently reheat it in a saucepan on the stovetop or in a bowl in the microwave.
I haven't tried freezing this soup, as every time I make it, it's devoured right away, or closely guarded for lunch the following day.
🍽 Serving suggestions
This Italian Zuppa Toscana is a meal in itself. However, it's delicious with a simple side salad and you might like to add some bread or crackers.
Serve with your favourite crusty loaf, toasted crostini , Gluten-Free Seedy Snack Crackers, or bake a quick batch of these Herbed Gluten-free Baking Powder Biscuits while your soup is simmering in the Instant Pot.
🗒More Tuscan-inspired recipes you might like
One-Pot Hearty Tuscan Minestrone Soup
Tuscan Kale Salad with Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing
Tuscan Kale Pasta Salad with Gorgonzola Dressing
More Instant Pot Recipes
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Tuscan Soup (Zuppa Toscana)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 slices nitrate-free bacon, cut in half
- ½ lb hot Italian sausage, or turkey sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 6 cups chicken broth, low-sodium
- black pepper, to taste
- ½ bunch kale, spines removed, leaves finely chopped
- ¾ cup heavy cream, or light cream
- ¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano, coarsely grated
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Using the Sauté function on an Instant Pot, cook the bacon slices until crisp. Remove from the Instant Pot, drain on paper towel, chop into smaller pieces, and set aside.
- Add the Italian or turkey sausage to the Instant Pot and let it brown, stirring to break up large chunks, about 4 - 5 minutes. Drain the excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion, minced garlic and dried oregano to the sausage meat in the pot. Stir until onions are softened and translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, diced potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, and a few grinds of black pepper.
- Press Cancel, then select the Manual setting. Set the timer for 5 minutes of high pressure. When time is up, do a Quick Release to release the pressure.
- Remove the lid and select the Sauté mode again. Add the chopped kale to the soup and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until the kale has wilted but is still bright green. Stir in the heavy cream and heat through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Ladle into bowls and top with reserved bacon pieces, Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Marilyn
My hubby and I loved this soup! I will definitely be making it again.
Flavour & Savour
That's great to hear! Thanks for the 5 stars!
Cathy Bhandar
Thanks Elaine, I love soup in the winter ( even though it does seem a little spring like right now !) . I make batches of soup and put in the freezer for easy lunch or dinner. I will definitely try this one. Good luck with the puppy , you will be busy from now on. !!
Flavour & Savour
Hope you love it, Cathy! Agreed--having small portions of soup in the freezer is great for quick lunches or dinners. Can't wait until our puppy comes home!