Healthy Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe
This healthy Zuppa Toscana soup recipe is a lightened-up take on the infamous Olive Garden dish. Made in one pot in under an hour, it’s the perfect feel-good comfort food!
Looking for more soup recipes? Try our ham and split pea soup and easy taco soup, too.
What Is Zuppa Toscana Soup?
Zuppa Toscana translates to mean “Tuscan Soup” or “Tuscan-Style Soup,” referring to Tuscany, Italy. Traditionally, it is made with veggies, beans, potatoes, olive oil, spices, Italian bacon, and Tuscan bread.
That said, more Americanized versions, like this skinny zuppa toscana recipe, typically feature Italian sausage, bacon, and heavy cream. As a result, it’s a pretty heavy soup but is oh-so-tasty!
For this healthy zuppa Toscana recipe, we keep all the savory, spicy flavor and hearty texture and lighten up the ingredients just a bit. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and protein-packed. The best part? It tastes just like Olive Garden’s recipe!
Recipe Ingredients
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this dairy-free zuppa Toscana soup recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Protein – You’ll need bacon and ground turkey sausage. You can use pork sausage or even ground chicken sausage if preferred, but the flavor will be slightly different.
- Onion – Use yellow or white onion.
- Potatoes – Russet potatoes work best!
- Broth – Use low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth or chicken stock.
- Garlic – Whole garlic cloves are best. Pre-minced garlic just doesn’t give you the same flavor!
- Seasonings – Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper create a savory flavor.
- Kale – Make sure the stems and ribs are removed before adding the kale to the soup. They aren’t pleasant to eat!
- Half and Half – This is the secret to achieving a rich, creamy consistency.
How to Make This Healthy Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe
- Cook the protein. Add the chopped bacon to a large pot over medium heat, and cook until it’s browned and crispy. Then, transfer the bacon pieces to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the sausage, and cook until browned, breaking it into pieces. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate.
2. Sauté. In the same pot, add the onion and potatoes, and sauté over medium-high heat to soften the veggies. TIP: If there isn’t any bacon grease or oil from the sausage, give the pot a quick spray of cooking oil before adding the veggies.
3. Boil. Pour in the broth, water, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, and simmer until the potatoes are tender.
4. Combine. Turn off the burner, and stir in the chopped kale, half and half, salt, black pepper, and cooked bacon and sausage. Cover the pot, and let the soup sit to soften the kale.
5. Serve. Adjust the seasonings to taste, and serve your soup warm topped with parmesan!
Tips and Tricks
- Leave the skin on the potatoes. It doesn’t impact the texture and adds lots of nutrients and fiber to the dish!
- Adjust the consistency. If your soup is too thin for your liking, mash up some of the potatoes to thicken it. Or, add an extra splash of broth to thin it out a bit.
- Double or triple the recipe to keep on hand for meal prep!
Possible Variations
- Potatoes – Feel free to use chopped cauliflower florets in place of potatoes for an even lighter recipe.
- Half and Half – Use heavy cream for an even richer taste. Or, opt for canned full-fat coconut milk to keep this recipe dairy-free.
- Spice – Use mild sausage for a tamer flavor. Or, add a dash of red pepper flakes to kick the heat up a notch!
- Kale – Not a fan of kale? Use spinach or Swiss chard instead!
- Veggies – Sauté celery, mushrooms, or carrots with the onions to add even more nutrients and bulk to this healthy soup.
Common Questions
Try pairing this recipe with a side of crusty bread, garlic bread, or a side salad.
We don’t recommend it! The dairy is likely to separate and the potatoes tend to become too mushy once thawed.
More Tasty Soup Recipes
Healthy Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe (Olive Garden Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 pound ground turkey sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 red potatoes, chopped into 1/2-3/4" pieces
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 4 cups water
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cups kale, chopped or torn into small pieces
- 1/2 cup half & half
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, add the chopped bacon and cook until browned/crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and let drain on a paper towel lined plate.4 slices bacon, chopped
- To that same pot over medium-high heat, add the raw turkey sausage and cook until browned. Remove the browned sausage and place on the plate of bacon.1 pound ground turkey sausage
- To the soup pot, add the chopped onion and potatoes to the rest of the bacon drippings (if none left, spray the bottom of the pot with non-stick cooking spray) and sauté on medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes.1 onion, diced, 4 red potatoes, chopped into 1/2-3/4" pieces
- Pour in the broth, water, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.4 cups vegetable or chicken broth, 4 cups water, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Turn the burner off and stir in the kale, half & half, salt, black pepper, cooked bacon and browned sausage. Let the soup sit, covered, for 15 minutes to allow the kale to soften and the flavors to infuse.4 cups kale, chopped or torn into small pieces, 1/2 cup half & half, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Taste and add more seasonings, if desired. Top each bowl with a few shavings of fresh Parmesan!
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you enjoy this Healthy Zuppa Toscana Recipe? We’d love it if you left a rating and review to let us know, and don’t forget to tag us in your recreations on Instagram!
Just like the Olive Garden version…only better!
There’s really nothing better than home-cooked meals. It’s always nice to have control over what goes into your food. This soup looks yummy!
Thanks for sharing it over at Food Friday. Hope to see you again! 🙂
I couldn’t agree more! My daughter just told me that her favorite restaurant is home. I have to say it melted my heart a little bit. <3 Thanks for hosting such a fun party, Kriska. "See" you soon 🙂
Yum! I love a good soup in the winter! Thanks for sharing at Homestead Blog Hop!
Oh me too, Liz! Is there anything better on a cold day? Thanks for swinging by and stay warm this winter 🙂
Your Skinny Zuppa Tuscana Soup looks amazing! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I appreciate your kind words, Miz Helen. 🙂 I hope you are able to enjoy a big bowl of this hearty soup during these cold winter days!
This is my favorite soup! My husband makes a version at home, but I can’t wait to try this lighter version. Thanks for linking up at Sunday Fitness & Food 🙂
Yum! You will have to see how this one compares to your husband’s version 🙂 Thanks for hanging out, Angela!
I love how you’ve made this hearty and satisfying soup skinny, Sammi. It looks so delicious. Tweeted and pinned. Thank you for sharing it with us at Hearth and Soul.
Thanks April! I love both versions and thought others would too 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by and sharing this recipe with your followers!
This looks amazing! May I share this on a clean eating collection post on my blog? Set to publish on Tuesday
Hey girl! Absolutely! Share all you want as long as you link back to my site. Thanks, Ashley! I wish you a blessed 2017 🙂
oh, of course a link back! I’ll let you know when it goes live 🙂
Well ….I know what we’re having for dinner tonight! Serendipitously, I even have fresh kale! Thanks for a beautiful recipe.
It was meant to be! Don’t you just love kale? Mmmmm, it is fabulous is this recipe. Thanks for stopping by and I can’t wait for you to enjoy this hearty soup. 🙂