This easy Crockpot Zuppa Toscana is a creamy Tuscan soup full of Italian sausage, kale, potatoes, and Parmesan. It’s hearty, creamy, and perfect for the colder months! There’s a step-by-step recipe video down in the recipe card, too!
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.
Table of Contents
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
- Saute: Brown the sausage and onion in a pan.
- Add garlic: Add garlic to the pan and stir.
- Put in pot and cook: Add the sausage mixture, broth, potatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes to the Slow Cooker and cook.
- Mix in everything else: Stir in the kale, cream, and Parmesan and serve!
Zuppa Toscana Soup FAQs
Zuppa Toscana is meant to be a creamy broth but if you prefer it thicker, you can mash some of the potatoes or add a cornstarch slurry to it. Mash potatoes with a potato masher, or blend the soup a bit with an immersion blender.
For the slurry, whisk together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cold water. Once the mixture is smooth, whisk small amounts into the soup until thickened to your liking.
Store leftover Zuppa Toscana in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop until piping hot.
Freeze this soup for up to 1 month. The texture of potatoes will change with freezing and defrosting, so if that is something that bothers you, I’d advise against it. To reheat it, simply thaw in the fridge overnight and warm on the stove or in the microwave.
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
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Ingredients
- 375 grams Italian sausage meat without casings, mild or spicy (¾ lb)
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1½ lbs Russet or gold potatoes about 4 medium, peeled and diced
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes optional, for extra spice
- ¾ cup cream (10-30% will work fine)
- 2 cups chopped kale
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, brown the Italian sausage with the onion over medium-high heat (4-5 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add the sausage mixture, broth, potatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes to the Slow Cooker (4-6 quarts).
- Cook on Low for 4-5 hours or High for about 2 hours (cooking times vary by slow cooker).
- Once potatoes are tender, stir in kale, cream, and Parmesan.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Carol G says
Potato soup sounds good right about now or maybe clam chowder soup!! Hard to decide.
Ashley Fehr says
Both would be fantastic!
Darrah Bailey says
Bacon potato soup and also my fave Au Gratin potatoes would be GREAT with these..
Ashley Fehr says
Absolutely, two of my favorite things to make with potatoes!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
My daughter loves to go to Olive Garden but I’ve never tried this soup. Totally going to try your hoemade version! Love that it’s made in a crock pot!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Christin! I can never resist a big bowl of soup with those fresh breadsticks!
Darlene Schuller says
I’d have to whip up a batch of cheesy scalloped potatoes.. always have been my favourite way to have taters!
Ashley Fehr says
Absolutely one of mine too!
Brenda Penton says
I would make Loaded Potato And Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Ashley Fehr says
That sounds awesome!
Courtney says
I’m always looking for new soup recipes, so if I won, I’d make your soup!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Courtney!
Pat says
I would be making this soup……….I make it all winter long and my recipe is very similar to yours, but I sometimes add chopped carrots to mine that we’ve grown in the garden…..a nice healthy soup….I always use Italian sausage in mine……have a nice day……………
Ashley Fehr says
I love carrots in my soup — that’s a great idea!
Francine says
I’ve bookmarked this soup to make, and I’d also make Greek style lemon roasted potatoes.
Ashley Fehr says
That sounds like something I’ll have to try!
sarah sar says
I would like to try making scalloped potatoes!
Ashley Fehr says
One of our faves 😀
MaryB says
I’d make clam chowder and also this soup – sounds delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Mary!
Anne Taylor says
I’d make a delish fried potato omelette!
Ashley Fehr says
That sounds amazing! Breakfast food is my favorite 🙂
ivy pluchinsky says
I would make potato leek soup
Ashley Fehr says
Soup is so perfect for fall!
Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard says
I think the first thing we would make is potato soup – so yummy
Judy Cowan says
Since it is comfort food time of I would love to roast some little potatoes around a beef roast along with some carrot, parsnips, and onion.
suki says
I would like to make some potato paratha and potato yogurt curry!
Ashley Fehr says
Those are great choices!
Steph says
I would make potato leek soup
Ashley Fehr says
Perfect for this chilly weather!
paige c says
I would make my boyfriend some irish shepards pie with the potatoes
Ashley Fehr says
That’s one of our favorites!
Kimberley Knull says
I would make loaded Potato Soup with those yummy potatoes. It’s a perfect meal for the cooler weather that is soon to come! And I also love them baked in the oven with herbs! Yum.
Love your blog! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Potato soup is definitely my favorite kind! Thanks Kimberley!
Izzy says
I finally live in a town with an Olive Garden and I haven’t eaten there once lol. I love the name of this soup though and I’m all for any soup that has potatoes in it!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, really?! Potato soup of any kind is definitely my favorite!
Michelle | A Latte Food says
You can’t beat Olive Garden’s breadstick, soup, and salad combo! Unless it’s homemade. This soup looks way delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Michelle!