Better than Zuppa Toscana

Name: Better than Zuppa Toscana
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: ½ pound bacon; 1 pound mild pork sausage; 1 onion, finely diced; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 6 cups chicken broth; 6 large red potatoes, sliced; 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 4 cups chopped fresh kale; 1 cup sour cream; ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnishing

Rating: 4.74 stars

54 Ratings
47 Reviews
31 Photos

After many attempts and revisions I think my version of this hearty soup is much better and lower in fat than the restaurant dish that inspired it. Enjoy! For a healthier option, use turkey sausage and low-fat sour cream.

By Jeanne Garber

Gallery

Recipe Summary

prep:

15 mins

cook:

35 mins

total:

50 mins

Servings:

Yield:

8 servings

Nutrition Info

Directions

Step 1

Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels.

Advertisement
Step 2

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir pork sausage, onion, and garlic in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.
Step 3

Crumble bacon into a large soup pot; add sausage mixture, chicken broth, potatoes, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the potatoes are soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4

Stir kale, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese into the soup; cook until the kale wilts, about 5 minutes. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

508 calories; protein 21.3g; carbohydrates 51.9g; fat 24.6g; cholesterol 63.4mg; sodium 1563.5mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (47)

Most helpful positive review

Kathy Kuehn

09/05/2014

I make it using Italian sausage half mild half spicy heavy cream and chicken bouillon (5 added to 10 cups of water). No cheese needed. Mine is a favorite with my family. Read More

Helpful

(5)

Most helpful critical review

Rich Loeffler

01/04/2019

Looks like all the Zuppa recipes I've seen Read More

54 Ratings

5 star values: 43
4 star values: 8
3 star values: 3
2 star values: 0
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Christina

Allstar

10/30/2013

Fantastic! I used spinach instead of kale b/c the family prefers it and cubed my potatoes instead of slicing them. Great flavor, and if you cook off the sausage mixture and bacon a head of time, this is a snap to put together. This is a definite keeper~YUM! Thanks for sharing. :) Read More

Helpful

(6)

Kevin Fisher

02/27/2014

GREAT recipe! Used recipe pretty much as it's listed. Only change I made was I used hot sausage and I used more kale than what it called for. Will definitely be making this one again and won't change a thing. Read More

Helpful

(6)

Kathy Kuehn

09/05/2014

I make it using Italian sausage half mild half spicy heavy cream and chicken bouillon (5 added to 10 cups of water). No cheese needed. Mine is a favorite with my family. Read More

Helpful

(5)

Sarah Watchers

09/17/2015

OMG even my four year old ate this and asked for more! We wanted ours a bit thicker (just preference) so I cut the water to four cups and actually added one can of cream of mushroom soup. I did not have any sausage so we used chicken...I understand what the other reviewers said about flavor- ours was really good but I will go with sausage next time for that extra kick. This is definitely going in the rotation :) Read More

Helpful

(3)

Molly

02/05/2015

Very good version of this recipe. We had not tried it with the sour cream instead of heavy cream.....and the sour cream worked nicely. I think you could also make it with plain yogurt and get the same wonderful results. I had a lot of baked potatoes in the fridge, so I used those rather than raw potatoes and subbed spinach for the kale, because I had it on hand. This soup was so good and filling on a very cold, snowy, and blowing Indiana winter night. We enjoyed 'Pickle-Juice Bread-Machine Bread' from AR with this soup. Read More

Helpful

(3)

Melissa Young-Moreno

02/17/2015

Great recipe! Simple and delicious! Recommend using spicy Italian sausage to add a little more flavor. Read More

Helpful

(2)

Glen MG Massman

03/16/2015

AWESOME! No need to go to Olive Garden:D Read More

Helpful

(2)

Holly Hill

04/23/2014

This is one of our favorite recipes! The prep work is well work the end result. I have used both sour cream and heavy whipping cream and have omitted the bacon at times. Any way you check a neg it up it's fabulous!! Read More

Helpful

(1)

Netski

11/02/2018

Loved this. Used with kielbasa and spinach. The boys love this. Its a keeper!! Read More

Helpful

(1)

Rich Loeffler

01/04/2019

Looks like all the Zuppa recipes I've seen Read More

More Reviews

Back to Better than Zuppa Toscana

All Reviews for Better than Zuppa Toscana

- of Reviews

Better than Zuppa Toscana

Servings Per Recipe: 8
Calories: 507.5

% Daily Value *

protein: 43 %

carbohydrates: 17 %

dietary fiber: 23 %

sugars:

fat: 38 %

saturated fat: 51 %

cholesterol: 21 %

vitamin a iu: 111 %

niacin equivalents: 74 %

vitamin b6: 48 %

vitamin c: 111 %

folate: 17 %

calcium: 18 %

iron: 19 %

magnesium: 32 %

potassium: 47 %

sodium: 63 %

thiamin: 55 %

calories from fat:

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Reviews for: Photos of Better than Zuppa Toscana

1 of 47

All Reviews

Christina

Allstar

10/30/2013

Helpful

(6)

Kevin Fisher

02/27/2014

Helpful

(6)

Kathy Kuehn

09/05/2014

I make it using Italian sausage half mild half spicy heavy cream and chicken bouillon (5 added to 10 cups of water). No cheese needed. Mine is a favorite with my family.

Helpful

(5)

Sarah Watchers