Satisfy your Italian cravings without having to travel to Italy with this delicious zuppa toscana recipe! This easy-to-replicate dish is savory, flavorful, and sure to please the whole family. With just a few ingredients, you can make Olive Garden's classic dish right in your own kitchen - no reservations required!
In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 8 minutes. Once cooked, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels. Drain any excess bacon grease from the pot, reserving about 1 Tablespoon in the pot.
Add the Italian sausage to the same pot and cook, breaking it up into small pieces as you go, until it’s browned and fully cooked through.
Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook until softened, about 2 minutes.
Pour in the chicken broth, water, and chopped potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat to low-medium and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes.
Add in the kale and heavy cream and simmer for an additional 2 minutes, or until the kale is just wilted.
Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place in serving bowls and top with bacon. Serve warm. Enjoy!
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Notes
Feel free to sub swiss chard, spinach, or other greens in place of kale
For a thicker soup, reduce the amount of chicken broth by 1 cup.
For a spicy soup, use spicy Italian ground sausage.
Feel free to top with parmesan cheese if you like cheese on your soup.