Description
A rich, creamy, and hearty copycat version of Olive Garden’s famous soup, ready in just 20 minutes using simple ingredients like Italian sausage, red potatoes, and kale.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium red potatoes, diced into ½-inch cubes
- 4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 large bunches kale, stems removed and chopped (about 6 cups)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep vegetables: Dice onion, mince garlic, chop potatoes into ½-inch cubes, and wash/chop kale.
- Brown the sausage: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and crumbled (5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
- Sauté aromatics: Lower heat to medium. Add diced onion to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer potatoes: Pour in chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add diced potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are tender.
- Add kale and cream: Stir in chopped kale and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove pot from heat. Stir in heavy cream. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with extra red pepper flakes or Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Use red potatoes as they hold their shape better than russets. Do not add cream while the soup is boiling to prevent curdling. This soup freezes well, though the cream may separate slightly upon thawing; reheat gently and whisk to combine. For a lighter version, use turkey sausage and half-and-half.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: Zuppa Toscana, copycat recipe, Olive Garden soup, Italian sausage soup, creamy potato soup, quick weeknight dinner, one pot meal, kale soup