The Coziest Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe for Home Comfort
Comfort arrives in a steaming bowl of hearty olive garden copycat soup that wraps you in warmth from the first spoonful.
Creamy textures and rich flavors dance together, creating a symphony of comfort that rivals any restaurant experience.
Weeknight dinners become extraordinary with this simple yet delectable recipe.
Home cooks can effortlessly recreate the beloved restaurant classic in their own kitchen.
Each ingredient tells a story of tradition and flavor, bringing a touch of Italian-inspired magic to your table.
The aroma alone will draw everyone closer, promising a meal that satisfies both hunger and soul.
Prepare to savor every delicious bite of this restaurant-worthy soup that feels like a culinary hug.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 485 kcal
Servings: 7
Ingredients List For Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe
For Protein and Flavor:
Italian Sausage: Brings rich, spicy depth and hearty protein to the soup, choose fresh ground sausage with balanced fat content for maximum flavor.
Chicken Broth: Creates the liquid base with savory undertones, opt for low-sodium varieties to control salt levels.
For Aromatic Base:
Onion: Provides sweet, foundational flavor and creates depth in the soup, select firm, glossy onions without soft spots.
Garlic: Adds robust, pungent notes that complement the sausage, choose fresh cloves with tight, unblemished skin.
For Texture and Nutrition:
Potatoes: Offer creamy, substantial texture and absorb surrounding flavors, pick starchy varieties like Russet for ideal consistency.
Kale: Introduces earthy green nutrients and slight bitterness, choose crisp leaves with vibrant color and no wilting.
For Creaminess and Finishing:
Heavy Cream: Delivers luxurious, silky mouthfeel and balances spicy elements, select high-quality cream with rich consistency.
Red Pepper Flakes: Provides optional subtle heat and complexity, adjust quantity based on personal spice preference.
For Seasoning:
Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile, use sparingly and taste as you season.
Black Pepper: Adds gentle warmth and aromatic sharpness, freshly ground provides superior taste.
Optional Garnish:
Parmesan Cheese: Offers tangy, salty finish with nutty undertones.
Bacon Bits: Introduces crispy, smoky accent for extra indulgence.
Tools To Cook Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe
Large Pot or Dutch Oven: Essential for cooking the entire soup, allows even heat distribution and enough space for all ingredients.
Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Perfect for breaking up sausage and stirring ingredients without scratching the pot.
Sharp Knife: Needed for dicing onions, chopping kale, and slicing potatoes with precision.
Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for chopping ingredients safely.
Measuring Cups: Helps accurately measure chicken broth and water for consistent recipe results.
Ladle: Great for serving hot soup into bowls without mess.
Steps To Make Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe
Brown the Sausage Heat a large pot over medium and sizzle the Italian sausage until golden and crumbly. Set the meat aside for later.
Saute Aromatics Toss diced onions and minced garlic into the same pot, letting them soften and release their delicious fragrance for about 3 minutes.
Create the Soup Base Pour in chicken broth and water, then slide in potato slices. Let everything bubble gently until potatoes become tender, roughly 15 minutes.
Build Layers of Flavor Return the sausage to the pot and add chopped kale. Allow the ingredients to mingle and dance together for 5 minutes.
Finish with Creaminess Swirl in heavy cream and sprinkle red pepper flakes. Season with salt and black pepper. Let the soup warm through for a final 2-3 minutes.
Serve and Enjoy Ladle the steaming soup into bowls. Top with a sprinkle of Parmesan or crispy bacon bits if you're feeling extra indulgent.
Flavor Boosts For Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe
Cream Consistency Trick: Add heavy cream slowly and stir continuously to prevent curdling and maintain a silky smooth texture.
Kale Preparation Hack: Remove tough stems from kale before chopping to ensure tender, more enjoyable bites throughout the soup.
Spice Level Control: Adjust red pepper flakes based on personal heat preference – start with a pinch and gradually increase for desired kick.
Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free chicken broth and confirm sausage is gluten-free.
Low-Carb Alternative: Replace potatoes with cauliflower chunks for reduced carbohydrate content.
Vegetarian Swap: Substitute Italian sausage with plant-based sausage or mushrooms for similar hearty texture.
Dairy-Free Modification: Replace heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for creamy consistency without dairy.
Serve Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe Like The Original
Cozy Comfort Bowl: Pair this hearty soup with a slice of crusty garlic bread to soak up all the delicious broth and add a satisfying crunch.
Hearty Meal Companion: Serve alongside a crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the soup's rich and creamy texture.
Italian-Inspired Spread: Top each bowl with extra Parmesan cheese and some fresh chopped parsley for a burst of color and added freshness.
Protein Power Boost: Sprinkle some crispy bacon bits or croutons on top to provide an extra layer of texture and enhance the overall flavor profile.
Tips To Store Olive Garden Copycat Soup Recipe
Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare double the recipe and divide into portion-sized containers for quick weekday lunches or dinners. Each container can be refrigerated for 3-4 days, offering convenient meal solutions.
Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Cool the soup completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Seal tightly and freeze up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on stovetop, stirring occasionally to restore creamy texture.
Cream Separation Prevention: When reheating, warm the soup over low heat and stir frequently. If slight separation occurs, whisk briskly or use an immersion blender to restore smooth consistency.
Ingredient Freshness Tip: Store kale and potatoes separately from soup base if planning to make components ahead. Add fresh chopped kale and potato slices during final reheating to maintain crisp texture and vibrant color.
Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana dazzles with creamy potato and spicy sausage flavors, crafted from simple ingredients. Home cooks can easily recreate this comforting Italian-inspired soup, enjoying restaurant-quality warmth in their own kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb (1 pound) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
4 cups (32 fl oz) chicken broth
1 cup (8 fl oz) water
1 cup (8 fl oz) heavy cream
4 russet potatoes, medium, sliced thin
1 onion, small, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups kale, chopped
2 tbsps (tablespoons) butter or olive oil
½ tsp (teaspoon) red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Sausage Searing: Heat butter or olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, brown Italian sausage while breaking it into crumbles, then set aside on a separate plate.
Aromatic Foundation: In the same pot, sauté onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant, creating a robust flavor base for the soup.
Potato Poaching: Pour chicken broth and water into the pot, add sliced potatoes, and simmer until tender, approximately 15 minutes, allowing the potatoes to absorb the savory liquid.
Hearty Integration: Return sausage to the pot, fold in kale leaves, and let the ingredients meld together, developing deep, complementary flavors for an additional 5 minutes.
Creamy Elevation: Stir in heavy cream to create a velvety texture, sprinkle red pepper flakes for a gentle kick, and season with salt and black pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
Final Harmonization: Allow the soup to simmer briefly, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly heated and flavors are perfectly balanced.
Serving Presentation: Ladle the soup into bowls, garnishing with optional Parmesan cheese or crispy bacon bits to add textural contrast and gourmet flair.
Notes
Choose Quality Sausage: Select high-grade Italian sausage for robust, authentic flavor that elevates the entire soup’s taste profile.
Control Meat Browning: Ensure sausage develops deep caramelization without burning by maintaining medium heat and stirring frequently during initial cooking stage.
Manage Kale Texture: Add kale leaves towards end of cooking to preserve vibrant green color and prevent overcooking, maintaining ideal tender-crisp consistency.
Cream Integration Technique: Pour heavy cream slowly and stir gently to prevent separation, creating smooth, luxurious soup texture without curdling.
Nutritional Analysis, Dietary Accommodations, Food Writing and Blogging,
Education
University of Texas at Austin
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
Focus: Emphasis on dietary planning, food science, and the relationship between nutrition and health.
Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY
Program: Plant-Based Culinary Arts Certificate
Focus: Specialized training in vegetarian and vegan cooking techniques, emphasizing whole foods and sustainability.
Olivia Bennett is Cooking Crusade’s go-to expert for nutritious, feel-good food. Based in Austin, she blends her degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas with plant-based culinary training from the Institute of Culinary Education.
Olivia’s recipes are all about balance: vibrant, wholesome, and easy-to-love dishes that work for all kinds of eaters. Her mission is simple: to make healthy eating approachable and genuinely tasty, with tips that support your lifestyle, not complicate it.
Olivia Bennett
Co-Founder & Content Creator
Expertise
Nutritional Analysis, Dietary Accommodations, Food Writing and Blogging,
Education
University of Texas at Austin
Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY
Olivia Bennett is Cooking Crusade’s go-to expert for nutritious, feel-good food. Based in Austin, she blends her degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas with plant-based culinary training from the Institute of Culinary Education.
Olivia’s recipes are all about balance: vibrant, wholesome, and easy-to-love dishes that work for all kinds of eaters. Her mission is simple: to make healthy eating approachable and genuinely tasty, with tips that support your lifestyle, not complicate it.