Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup is better then the restaurant and on your table in less than 30 minutes. Use Radishes instead of Potatoes to make it Low Carb and Keto!
Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup
Using your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker, Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup can be on your table in less than 30 minutes!
In 1990, I taught aerobics at Slimmons, Richard Simmons studio in Beverly Hills and after Sunday’s class, some of us would go to lunch and a movie or shopping. At least once a month we would land at The Olive Garden. Soup, salad and breadsticks. I always ordered minestrone and others got the Zuppa Toscana.
This recipe is like the Olive Garden Garden Zuppa Toscana on steroids!
Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup
I’ve never enjoyed the food at Olive Garden, other than what I have mentioned above. Frankly, I am not sure how that chain stays in business. (OMG, did I say that?) That being said, my Instant Pot Italian Chicken Olive Garden recipe is fantastic. Clearly, because of the dressing and everyone loves an Olive Garden salad.
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
- Bacon
- Onion
- Hot Sausage
- Garlic
- Red or Russet Potatoes
- Heavy Cream
- Chicken Broth
- Kale
The original Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup uses mild sausage and red pepper flakes, but you can get the same effect using hot sausage only.
Sausage Cooks with Onions
There are two ways to cook the bacon.
How to Cook Bacon for Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
- Use a Mealthy Crisplid and cook the bacon in the basket.
- The bacon can be sautéed right in the pressure cooker cooking pot.
I’ve explained both processes in detail on the recipe card below.
The original Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup uses mild sausage and red pepper flakes, but you can get the same effect using hot sausage only.
Add UNpeeled Potatoes
Pretend the potatoes are not peeled. Just close your eyes for a second and try to get this photo out of your mind. My husband was trying to be helpful and peeled the potatoes when I wasn’t looking.
What Type of Potatoes for Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana?
- The Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup uses unpeeled red potatoes.
- Russet potatoes are nice to use as well.
Whichever potato you choose, don’t peel off the skins. The peels give good flavor, so don’t peel them.
I think I like the Zuppa a bit better with Russet Potatoes, rather than red potatoes, but use whatever you like or have in the house.
Make Low Carb Zuppa Toscana
- Instead of potatoes use radishes instead.
- The radishes will take on the taste of the soup and have a nice texture.
Cut the Kale into a Chiffonade
After removing the veins from the kale, I like to use a cutting technique called, Chiffonade.
How to Chiffonade
- Chiffonade is a fancy French word that means made of rags.
- You roll up the leaves tightly and then and slice them lengthwise into strips.
If you don’t like kale and many people don’t, just use spinach instead. You will still get that nice and spicy yummy taste from the soup.
Add Fresh Kale after cooking
There is only a five minute cook time, but this Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana tastes like you have been cooking all day.
If you keep the ingredients in your freezer, you can whip up a batch on a moments notice.
If you love soup and need a very simple recipe for a delicious soup, check out my Pressure Cooker Nordstrom Tomato Basil Soup recipe.
My Pressure Cooker Seafood Corn Chowder {Shrimp Gumbo} is a meal in itself, with spices you probably already have in your pantry.
Add Cream and Simmer until Hot
Some people want to save calories and use substitutes for the heavy cream.
Lower Calorie Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
- Turkey bacon can be used.
- Swap out the pork sausage for turkey sausage.
- Half & Half can be used in place of heavy cream.
It won’t be as satisfying, so I suggest using the full fat and having a smaller portion.
Note that if you do use Half & Half instead of heavy cream, you will want to add the Half & Half to the soup before adding the kale. Otherwise, the heavy cream will cook with the soup.
Pro Tip: Heavy cream does well under pressure and can be added to the raw ingredients. Half & Half and milk would be added after the food has finished cooking and after pressure has been released.
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
Don’t forget to serve with Breadsticks or a Crusty Loaf of Bread or with some Nordstrom Parmesan Garlic Crostini.
Another soup you may like is my Pressure Cooker Nordstrom Tomato Basil Soup.
Dorinda, one of the members of my This Old Gal Facebook Group, purchased my This Old Gal Pressure Cooker Cookbook and made the soup from the book. It is slightly different. Dorinda is a much better photographer than me. Plus, don’t you love the chicken hot pad?
More Instant Pot Soup Recipes to Make.
- Pressure Cooker Chicken Marsala Mushroom Soup
- Pressure Cooker Armenian Lentil Soup
- Pressure Cooker Low Carb Manhattan Clam Chowder Soup
- Pressure Cooker Chicken Jalapeno Popper Soup Low Carb
- Pressure Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup ~Low Carb Keto
Equipment Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- OXO Good Grips Cutting Board
- Reditainer Extreme Freezer Containers
- Freezer Labels
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Here is your handy printable recipe:
Instant Pot Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana (Italian Soup)
Print Pin Save RateIngredients
- 4 slices Bacon rough chopped
- 1 medium Yellow/Brown Onion chopped
- 1 pound Hot Italian Sausage casing removed
- 4 cloves Fresh Garlic minced
- 6.25 cups Chicken Stock/Broth (or 6.25 cups water + 2 TBL Better than Bouillon Chicken Base)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 3 Large Red or Russet Potatoes UNpeeled and sliced 1/4" thick
- 2 cups Fresh Kale (Chiffonade)
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Chop bacon into 1/2 inch pieces.
Cook Bacon - Using the Crisping Lid
- Place trivet and basket inside pressure cooker cooking pot.
- Place bacon into the crisping basket. Place lid on Instant Pot and cook at 400 degrees until bacon is crisp.
- Remove bacon to paper towel lined plate and set aside.
Cook Bacon - In the Instant Pot Cooking Pot
- Select the Sauté or Browning function on your pressure cooker and allow to heat. Add bacon to the cooking pot and cook until crisp
- Remove bacon to paper towel lined plate and set aside.
Preparing the Soup
- Add onions to the cooking pot and sauté in the left behind bacon grease, for about 3 minutes.
- Add sausage, breaking up into pieces and sauté until browned, about 2 minutes.
- Add garlic to cooking pot and give it a good mix through.
- Turn off Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker.
- Add chicken broth, heavy cream and unpeeled, potato slices.
- Lock on lid and close pressure valve. Cook at high pressure (most machines default to high) for 5 minutes.
- Wash and dry kale. Roll kale up tightly from one end to the other. Using a very sharp knife, cut the kale vertically from end to end about 1/4" in between each slice. When you unroll the kale, it will be in ribbons.
- When beep sounds, wait 10 minutes and then release the rest of the pressure.
- Add kale chiffonade to the cooking pot and stir until wilted.
- Place in serving bowls and top with bacon.
Notes
Lower Calorie Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
- Turkey bacon can be used in place or pork bacon.
- Swap out the pork sausage for turkey sausage.
- Half & Half can be used in place of heavy cream.
Low Carb and Keto Option
- Use radishes instead of potatoes.
- No one will know!
Crisping Lid - Which to Use
- Mealthy Crisplid will fit on all 6 and 8 quart pressure cookers regardless of brand.
- Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid will only fit on specific Instant Pot models, so please check my article Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid to see if this brand will fit your model.
- Each lid can be purchased from Amazon, which I have linked below.
- Mealthy CrispLid (buy from Amazon)
- Instant Pot Crisping Lid (buy from Amazon)
Nutrition
PIN this Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup!
I found your page on Facebook IP Community. I’m new to pressure cooking and looking for easy recipes. With it being winter comfort food comes to mind. I always order the Zuppa Toscana at Olive Garden and was delighted to find it in your recipe section. I prepared it for dinner tonight and could not have been happier. Easy to make and my heart and tummy are now happy.
I have sent your link to my sister who is a PC veteran and she too was happy to find your page.
Love this recipe! Thank you for the idea to substitute spinach it was delicious! Any chance you would know if this soup freezes well?
Thank you! I love your site!
Can’t wait to get started using mine
I have a large family of 7. How much does this serve? Should I double the batch and is it safe to?I am new to the Instant Pot so not sure how much is too much is too much when doubling recipes.
I made this recipe as a last minute meal and it was delicious. I used chicken sausage. I look forward to trying the coconut milk as an alternative.
I just followed this recipe and so far it has been in the “on” mode for over 40 min before actually starting the 5 min cook time…NOT turning out to be a quick recipe at all!
Wow. Thank you so much for this recipe. It was the bast thing I’ve ever made in my instant pot!
Jen, thank you so much!
Jill
How about subbing coconut cream for the dairy?
Oops I see Abby said the same thing couple days ago. I’ll try it too.
I used coconut milk as a dairy free alternative. Very delicious!
Hi Abby~
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed the soup.
Jill
So far, this is the best pressure cooker recipe I have tried.
Hi Jill! This Zuppa Toscana was incredible!! But It made soooooo much and I’m the only one eating it. Does it freeze and reheat well?
Did you ever get an answer to this? I’m wondering the same thing…
I have made this soup dozens of times using bouillon cubes instead of canned broth Never even need the recipe anymore. I often use Jennie O Italian turkey sausage, half mild, half hot. I also like being able to use either heavy cream or half and half and it still tastes amazing. Have yet to try it in my Pressure Cooker as I have only had one for a few months. I rarely use kale unless I am making a quadruple batch for my son in law because the rest just goes to waste, I have never used kale in my cooking before and would not know what to do with it. Thanks for the recipe and cooking times
Kale is great in morning smoothies. Scoop of protein powder, frozen berries, kale, ice, water and whatever else you want to add.
Which instapot setting did you use and for how long. #newbie
If I double the recipe, does the cook time change?
Made the soup today for lunch. Fast and delicious, my husband really liked it and he’s a picky eater. Thanks.
Yumm yumm making this now I added fresh herbs 3 springs thyme, 1 rosemary and 1 oregano. Along with a tri bean blend. Kidney, pinto and black 15oz.
I’ve always made this soup on the stove, but was pressed for time tonight and just had to use my IP! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Mary~
Glad your soup worked out for you.
Jill
I just found your recipe and I am so grateful it turned out amazing (even my kids and husband who anti-soap)
Hi Dawnn~
So glad it was a hit. 🙂
Jill
I’ve tried many versions of this popular soup and this is by far the best one yet! Thank you so much for sharing:)
Hi Rebecca~
Thank you so much for your nice comments. I am thrilled that you enjoyed the soup. 🙂
Jill
Oh my gosh, Jill, I can’t get enough of your recipes! They all look so great and Yummy!
Find myself wanting to cook all the time now!
And thanks so much for all the detailed instructions along with the recipes!
Hi Jutta~
Thank you for visiting and thank you for the lovely compliments I am glad you want to cook more now. It is fun to cook.
Jill