• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure
    • Press and Recognition
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Roundups
    • Top 10
    • Holiday
  • Travel
    • Tips
    • Things To Do
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
  • Fun
    • Gift Ideas
    • Pets
    • Military
    • Parties
    • Disney
    • Crafts
    • Printables
  • Parenting
    • Ava and Stella
    • Breastfeeding
    • Pregnancy
  • Cooking Videos
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

For the Love of Food

Engagement Dinner & Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana Soup

September 23, 2012 6 Comments

7.7K shares
  • 471
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
It’s soup night and I’m making a classic: Zuppa Toscana!
We love this hearty soup at Olive Garden when we eat out and it brings back wonderful memories including our engagement dinner!
When we can’t make it to OG I make a big ol’ pot at home of Zuppa Toscana, filled with creamy broth and potatoes, sausage, and kale.
The ultimate winter meal, this soup will warm you up and fill your belly!
In February we had an Engagement Dinner! Time to celebrate our upcoming March wedding with our favorite people.
And the perfect place for a lively celebration dinner….Olive Garden of course! 
My best friend and maid of honor, Connie
 My parents, Gma, good friends Nathan and Vince, Ashton and I, and Connie and Michael.
Now I’ve been eating at Olive Garden since waaaay back in the day when it opened in my hometown of Fort Walton Beach, FL. I’m a big fan of their Italian Margaritas, Tiramisu, Steamed Mussels, and Seafood Portofino. But my all time favorite is their Soup and Salad Combo. You get unlimited salad, breadsticks, and their amazing soup are my jam!
My top choice: Zuppa Toscana soup- potatoes, kale, and sausage! Oh my!
Check out my recipe version of this hearty soup below.
 
Print Recipe

Zuppa Toscana Soup

Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz breakfast sausage crumbled (I like Spicy Italian flavored)
  • 1 Vidalia onion Diced
  • 2 slices Bacon Diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 3 whole Medium Potatoes skin on and cubed
  • 4 1/2 cups Chicken Stock
  • 1/2 bunch Kale Chopped
  • 1/2 cup Half and Half
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Crumble sausage into a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain on a plate and set the sausage aside.
  • Add onions and bacon to the pot. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are softened.
  • Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add chicken stock and potatoes to the pot and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are almost done.
  • Add remaining ingredients as well as the sausage and simmer for 5 more minutes.
  • Serve hot with salad and crusty garlic bread!
Did you make this Recipe?Tag @flchefnicole or hashtag #fortheloveoffoodblog
 
 
Crumble sausage into a pot and cook over medium-high heat until browned.. Drain on a plate and set aside.
 
Add onions and bacon to the pot. Cook on medium until onions are softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
I use 3 good size potatoes for this soup. Leave the skin on and cut into cubes.
Add chicken stock and potatoes to the pot and simmer for 15
to 20 minutes until potatoes are almost done.
Add half and half and sausage to the pot.
Roughly chop half a bunch of kale, removing the stems. 
Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 more minutes.
Serve hot with a salad and crusty garlic bread, just like Olive Garden!
Dinner’s served! 
Just like Olive Garden…or better?

 

7.7K shares
  • 471

Filed Under: Appetizers, Restaurant Copycat, Soup

Previous Post: « Copeland’s of New Orleans Chop Salad
Next Post: Southern Pecan Pie with Bourbon Whipped Cream »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    January 30, 2013 at 12:36 am

    I love Olive Garden. There is a recipe floating around on Pinterest for a copy cat Olive Garden vinegrette! Zuppa Toscana is my absolute favorite soup as well. My 2nd is the chicken gnocci.

    I really like this blog, I am a huge foodie myself. I look forward to seeing more of your creations!

    Reply
    • Nicole Hood

      January 31, 2013 at 11:59 pm

      Thanks so much! Also check out my post here on my version of the Olive Garden Salad https://www.4theloveoffoodblog.com/2013/01/olive-garden-salad-dressing-and-italian.html

      Reply
  2. Anonymous

    March 2, 2013 at 12:48 am

    Copycat mints: Andes creme de menthe candies. That's what they use, just in a special wrapper:)

    Reply
  3. Priscilla

    April 6, 2017 at 11:36 pm

    This is probably the 30th time I made your recipe. Over the years. My family and neighbors love it! I'm currently waiting to add in the remaining ingredients. We need a hearty warm meal tonight. Because we are going to have a long road trip tomorrow. Thank you

    Reply
    • Nicole Hood

      April 15, 2017 at 6:56 am

      Priscilla,
      This made my day. So glad you like my recipe! I shared your comment on my Facebook page also.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Photobucket

My Family


Nicole with her husband Ashton and daughters Ava and Stella

Search My Blog!

Fun On Instagram

Open
Happy #NationalHotChocolateDay ! Our family loves sipping on hot cocoa together so this day is our favorite! Today during day 2 of the ice storm here in Fayetteville we needed extra big mugs each (with marshmallows on top, of course!). #hotcocoa #throwback #fam 
📸 : flashback photos by @ashliemphoto
Open
Happy birthday beagle boy. You are always missed. 💔🐾 #Charliethebeagle #dogheaven #dogsofinstagram #rip #dogbirthday #beagle #memories #doglove
Open
It's another cold snow day here in Arkansas so it's the perfect time for me to share my layest recipe roundup on the blog: 130+ Snow Day Comfort Food Recipes To Warm You Up! I've included all the soups and casseroles my family loves and also delicious drinks and decadent desserts to enjoy on even the coldest of winter nights! #fortheloveoffoodblog #snowday #comfortfood #snowdayfood #winter 
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
https://www.4theloveoffoodblog.com/130-snow-day-comfort-food-recipes-to-warm-you-up/
Open
Here comes the snow 🌨❄️
Excited for our first real snow day in Arkansas! #snow #winter #snowday #arkansas #fayetteville #doglife #snowdog
Open
🍜 We had so much fun celebrating Lunar New Year last weekend with dinner at @pho_85_noodle_house_llc in Bentonville, AR! The Banh Mi sandwich and Beef and Seafood Pho soups were filled with fresh ingredients and flavor packed. As you can see their portions were huge so it's a great place to share! We also tried an appetizer sampler, Thai Tea, Coconut Boba Smoothie (my girls' favorite) and macarons for dessert. Everything was made to order and delicious. The staff was kind and helpful. If you live near by, check them out and #eatlocall ! ❤️ @visitbentonville #Bentonville  #pho85noodlehouse #arkansasfoodie #whatsfordinner #arkansasblogger #supportlocal #bentonvillearkansas #lunarnewyear #chinesenewyear
Open
In honor of the great @dollyparton 's birthday this week check out my new single: "Caffeine" inspired, of course, by her classic "Jolene". 🎶🎵 ☕️
#dollyparton #Jolene #caffeine #singit #coffeebreak
Open
I will always love you Dolly! Happy birthday to an icon and my forever inspiration @dollyparton ! 🎤🦋
#dollyparton #dolly #dollypartonchallenge #inspire  #happybirthdaydolly #birthdaygirl #dollypartonquotes
Open
🌲Please tell me I'm not the only one with my Christmas tree and decorations still up... my kids want me to make it a Valentine's tree and I'm not opposed 🤷‍♀️
#stillunpackingtoo #Christmasdecor #ohchristmastree #decorationsstillup #dontjudge #Januaryslump #momlife
Open
📝 Start the year off right with this fun and encouraging printable goal planner! Have fun, try new things, and stay motivated! Free on the blog! 🌟
#newyear #goalplanning #printable #fortheloveoffoodblog
Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham for the Holidays

Chef Salad on a Stick

Crock-Pot Rotisserie Chicken

Crock-Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken

Biscuit and Gravy Casserole

Biscuit and Sausage Gravy Casserole

Duck Dynasty Potatoes

Duck Dynasty Mashed Potato Casserole

Manwich Turkey Sloppy Joe and Cheesy Cornbread Casserole

Subscribe via Email

Proud Military Wife

Archives

Footer

Souper Soups

Communities

 

© 2023 NICOLE HOOD FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD " Privacy Policy

DMCA.com Protection Status