For more delicious soup recipes, check out my Sausage Tortellini Soup, Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup, Ham and Potato Soup, and my Chicken Wild Rice Soup. I faintly remember those days when I used to go to Olive Garden for the Zuppa Toscana (all you can eat soup and breadsticks? Sign me up!). But life gets busier and we need all the easy meals around here! Since having kids, I’ve learned to make and enjoy more of our favorite restaurant meals at home, including this creamy soup. This easy Crock Pot Zuppa Toscana Soup is as delicious as the original recipe, if not better! It’s made with simple ingredients and minimal effort, so it’s perfect for a lazy weekend or prepping for the end of a busy day. This delicious copycat soup is one of our favorite things to dip large chunks of bread into in the fall!
Why we love this Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup:
The Italian sausage is loaded with herbs and spices, which cuts down on the extra ingredients required! It’s got just the right amount of spice and sweetness (again, thanks Italian sausage!) Aside from browning the meat, I can just dump it and go, which is perfect for busy weeknights.
Zuppa Toscana Ingredients:
Sausage: use mild or spicy Italian sausage meat without the casings. Onion & Garlic: use freshly chopped onion and freshly minced garlic. Broth: I always use a low-sodium chicken broth, as it adds a depth of flavor and allows me to control the salt content of the dish better. Potatoes: Russet or gold potatoes will work well here, but you can try other kinds of potatoes if you like. If you use smooth-skinned potatoes you can skip the peeling! Salt & Pepper: simple seasonings of salt and black pepper will give this dish a great flavor. Red Pepper Flakes: a simple way to add some extra spice to this dish. Cream: Use heavy cream or 10-30% cream for the best creamy flavor and texture. Kale: chop the kale before you add it to the soup so you don’t end up with big clumps at the end. Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese is perfect for this soup.
How to Make Crockpot Zuppa Toscana Soup
Tips and Notes
Dutch Oven. You can make this Zuppa Toscana Soup in a Dutch oven or soup pot if you prefer. Take a look at my Zuppa Toscana Soup recipe for more information. Kale texture. We prefer the texture of kale with more bite, so we stir it in near the end of the cook time. If you want, you can always add it to the slow cooker at the beginning but it will be softer.
Crock pot Zuppa Toscana Soup Variations
Bacon. Lots of recipes for Zuppa Toscana include bacon, but I find it an unnecessary addition. If that’s your thing, feel free to cook some up in the same pan you fry your sausage and add it to the slow cooker (or save your crispy bacon to sprinkle on top to garnish). Swap the kale. You can swap the kale for spinach if that’s what you have on hand, but spinach isn’t as tough as kale, so I would add it right before serving it. Cream. If you want to use a lighter dairy option, you can swap the heavy cream for evaporated milk. I don’t recommend low-fat milk, as it can curdle when added alone to hot liquid. Change the meat. Swap the Italian sausage for ground beef or even ground turkey sausage, if preferred. Bear in mind that Italian sausage is heavily seasoned, so if you use another meat, you will want to add more seasonings yourself! Add more veggies. Add more veggies to the soup for more nutrients and color. Sauté some peppers, mushrooms, or any other veggies with the onion and Italian sausage. Or you can add veggies with more structure, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots, when you add the potatoes. Low-carb. To make this soup a low-carb option, use cauliflower instead of potatoes.
Serving Suggestions
Zuppa Toscana soup is comforting and filling all on it’s own, but we love dipping some bread in there to soak up all the juices! Try these Homemade Breadsticks (Olive Garden Copycat), my No Knead Artisan Bread, or this classic Garlic Bread. You can also serve some yummy sides with the soup like these Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, or veggies like my Air Fryer Green Beans, or Roasted Carrots.
More Easy Soup Recipes To Try
Crockpot Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Creamy Vegetable Soup
Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Soup (with hidden veggies!)
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