This creamy Zuppa Toscana is considered one of our favorites and throwing it within the sluggish cooker? Even simpler. This iconic soup has a creamy base with somewhat spicy kick from the Italian sausage, however what we love about this recipe is that it’s heat and comfortable with out being too heavy. The crispy bacon items give this soup nice taste and the potatoes and kale give it some substance. Plus, getting in that kale makes us really feel like we’re doing one thing proper!
Pair this soup with our Homemade Dinner Rolls or our Rustic Garlic Parmesan Herb Bread.
Why Our Recipe
- This Olive Backyard copycat recipe is considered one of our favorites and really easy to make!
- This recipe has fast prep time and the remaining takes care of itself within the sluggish cooker.
- We use russet potatoes to offer this soup a velvety easy texture.

We love this Olive Backyard copycat recipe and what’s even higher, we’ve personalized it to make it our personal and within the sluggish cooker! This creamy soup is simply the correct amount of hearty consolation with out being too thick. The bottom of this soup is a mixture of heavy cream and rooster broth, somewhat than a thick roux produced from flour and butter. We love a roux, however typically we would like one thing somewhat lighter with only a contact of creamy goodness. Crispy bacon and spicy Italian sausage offers the soup an ideal, savory taste with somewhat kick. The creamy base pairs effectively with that little bit of warmth and may simply flip the warmth up or down relying on you spice tolerance and desire.
Ingredient Notes


- Russet Potatoes: Greater in starch content material, this naturally thickens the stew giving it a velvety consistency.
- Onion: Use a yellow or white onion. Cube it into small items.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the very best taste, however jarred minced garlic works in a pinch.
- Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice lets you finest management the flavour. It’s an ideal chef tip.
- Sizzling Italian Sausage: We use sausage with the casing to carry it’s form within the sluggish cooker for the right chew. You may substitute with gentle sausage for much less warmth.
- Kale: Wealthy in vitamins and fiber, curly or flat-leaf varieties each work effectively.
- Heavy Cream: You may substitute with half-and-half, although the dish could also be much less creamy and thick.
Sausage Choices
Browning the Sausage: For somewhat texture and taste, you possibly can rapidly brown the sausage hyperlinks in a skillet on medium-high warmth for about 1-2 minutes on all sides earlier than chopping up and including to the sluggish cooker. That is an non-compulsory, additional step when you’ve got the time.
Floor Sausage: We use sausage with the casing to carry the items of sausage collectively whereas within the sluggish cooker. Nevertheless, should you like the feel and ease of floor sausage, you possibly can rapidly throw it in a skillet earlier than including to the sluggish cooker.
Turkey or Rooster Sausage: These are each nice choices for a leaner protein or should you don’t need to use pork.


Regulate the Warmth
For much less warmth: If you happen to don’t tolerate spice effectively, swap out the new Italian sausage for gentle sausage and miss the garnish of purple pepper flakes.
For extra warmth: Add a pinch or extra of purple pepper flakes with the new Italian sausage for double the spice.
Storage and Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
Freeze the cooled soup in a freezer-safe container or resealable freezer bag, leaving house on the prime for growth. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day.
Reheat on the range over medium-low warmth till warmed via.
Reheat within the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between every for even heating.
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