As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You will fall hard for this easy Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana recipe. You can make this sausage and potato soup in the Instant Pot, crockpot, or on the stovetop. You’ll also find plant-based options in the recipe card.

zuppa toscana in an Instant Pot with bowls and a ladle.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

You’re in for a real treat with this Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana, my friends!

Made in the Instant Pot (or slow cooker OR on the stovetop. I mean, seriously, you have options) you’ll find yourself making this Olive Garden copycat soup again and again.

Ingredients

kale, potatoes, sausage, bacon, and other ingredients on a marble board.

This recipe uses:

  • Bacon – the candy of meat
  • Sausage – ground, or links with casings removed
  • Potatoes – I recommend Russet
  • Garlic, and lots of it
  • Onion
  • Chicken stock
  • Heavy cream
  • Kale – see notes about using other greens
  • Red pepper flakes if you’re feeling it. It’s your world, season as you see fit.

How to Make Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact measurements, etc. You can also click “jump to recipe” to skip down.

Start by pressing saute on your Instant Pot. Let it get hot and then add the chopped bacon to the insert and let it cook for 3-4 minutes. You’ll want to stir it occasionally so that it doesn’t burn.

When the bacon is half-cooked, add the sausage and cook, stirring often, until the sausage is cooked through. All brands of sausage can vary on how much grease they produce, so I recommend draining all but ~1-2 tsp of fat once the sausage has been fully cooked.

Add a splash of the chicken broth and let it sit in the Instant Pot for a minute. Use a wooden spoon or a wooden scraper (like this one) and deglaze (it’s a fancy word for scrape) the bottom of the Instant Pot.

two photos showing how to make Zuppa Toscana in an Instant Pot.

You don’t want to skip the deglazing step for two reasons. One, anything stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot insert can prevent it from coming up to pressure.

Two, scraping up the bits of caramelized stuck on bacon and sausage adds incredible flavor to the overall soup. Those bits are called “fond”, and now you get to be the coolest person with the nerdiest facts at your next dinner party. Congrats.

After you’ve scraped the bottom of the Instant Pot, add the onions, garlic, chicken stock, and potatoes. If you’re a fan of spice and you’re using the red pepper flakes, go ahead and add them now.

Pro tip: if you prefer that the kale is super duper soft in your zuppa toscana, go ahead and add it with the other ingredients now. Adding it later means it will be al dente. You get to choose!

two photos showing how to make Zuppa Toscana in an Instant Pot.

Lock the lid into place and set the steam release handle (valve on top) to “Sealing”. Press Manual>High Pressure>5 minutes.

When the cooking time is up, do a natural release for 10 minutes, and then flip the vent to “venting” and perform a quick release.

Remove the lid, add the heavy cream, and the kale, and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT

Storing Leftovers: Allow the Zuppa Toscana to fully cool before storing it in air-tight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheating Leftovers: You can reheat the soup in the microwave. Start with 1 minute, stir, and then add an additional 30 seconds until it is heated to your liking.

Or, reheat on the stovetop for 5-10 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring often.

Freezing: You can freeze Zuppa Toscana and store it for 2-3 months with a few recommendations. I strongly encourage you to freeze the soup before you add the heavy cream and kale. This will prevent weird textures in the soup upon reheating. You can add those items to individual portions once thawed and ready to serve.

My favorite way to freeze leftover soup is in 1-cup or 2-cup Souper Cubes. Once frozen, I remove them from the trays and transfer them to freezer-safe silicone bags for the perfect zero-waste freezer method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, but it depends on the size of the Instant Pot that you’re using. It will easily double in an 8-quart or a 6-quart.

If you’re doubling the recipe, the cooking time remains the same. It will take longer to come to pressure with more volume, but you still only need to cook it for 5 minutes.

What kind of kale should I use?

My preference is lacinto kale which is also called dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale. It’s a flatter leaf and the ribs are easier to remove. Kale also holds up really well in the soup when reheated.

Can I use something other than kale in Zuppa Toscana?

Yes, absolutely! You can sub in spinach, escarole, or swiss chard without changing the flavor of the soup.

Spinach and escarole are less hardy than kale or swiss chard and they may wilt more when added to the whole pot of soup. If that isn’t the texture you’re going for, you can also add fresh spinach to each bowl and then ladle hot soup over it.

Can I use frozen kale or spinach in this recipe?

Yes, absolutely! Throw in some frozen spinachfrozen swiss chard, or frozen kale at the end of the cooking time.

Can I make this plant-based/dairy-free?

Yes! Use your favorite plant-based sausage, like Beyond’s spicy Italian sausage and either use a plant-based bacon or leave that out.

For non-dairy milk, full-fat coconut milk, cashew milk, or oat milk are my favorite. Do make sure that any plant-based milks are unsweetened and unflavored.

You’ll also want to use vegetable broth in place of the chicken stock.

Can I use something other than heavy cream?

Heavy cream will give you the best flavor, but I have successfully used half-and-half and whole milk when needed.

If you’re using something other than heavy cream, reduce the chicken stock by 1/2 cup.

Can I leave the peels on the potatoes?

Sure thing!

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • This soup is meant to have a thin broth with a hint of creaminess. It’s delicious and so good but it is not a thick cream-based soup like a chowder. If you want to make the texture thicker, remove some of the potatoes, mash them with a bit of the broth, and stir them back into the soup.
  • I made this in an 8-quart Instant Pot. It will work in a 6 quart without issue. You would need to make adjustments to the measurements (slide the servings lever on the recipe card below) to make it in a 3 quart.
  • Need a low-carb option? Sub in cauliflower florets or radishes.
a black bowl of sausage and potato soup topped with crunchy bacon.
5 from 29 ratings

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Pressurizing/Depressurizing: 15 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
zuppa toscana in an Instant Pot with bowls and a ladle.
You will fall hard for this easy Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana recipe. You can make this sausage and potato soup in the Instant Pot, crockpot, or on the stovetop. You'll also find plant-based options in the recipe card.

Ingredients 

  • 4 strips bacon {chopped}
  • 1 lb ground sausage {casings removed if using links}
  • 1/2 cup white onion {diced}
  • 6 cloves garlic {minced}
  • 5 cups chicken stock {low sodium recommended}
  • 4 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream {non-dairy cream works well too}
  • 2 cups kale {sliced into ribbons}
  • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes {optional}
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Set the Instant Pot to saute. Add the bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring so that it doesn't burn. 
    4 strips bacon
  • Add the sausage and break it up, stirring often. Drain all but 1-2 tsp of fat. 
    1 lb ground sausage
  • Add a splash of chicken broth and use a scraper to deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot. Don’t skip this step as anything stuck to the bottom can prevent the Instant Pot from coming up to pressure.
  • Add the onion, garlic, broth, and potatoes. If using red pepper flakes, add here.
    1/2 cup white onion, 6 cloves garlic, 5 cups chicken stock, 4 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes, 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Lock the lid into place and set the steam release handle (valve on top) to “Sealing”. Press Manual>High Pressure>5 minutes.
  • When the cooking time is up, do a natural release for 10 minutes, and then flip the vent to "venting" and perform a quick release.
  • Add heavy cream and kale and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
    3/4 cup heavy cream, 2 cups kale, salt and pepper to taste

Notes

  1. If you want to make the texture thicker, remove some of the potatoes, mash them with a bit of the broth, and stir them back into the soup.
  2. You can leave the peels on the potatoes if desired.
  3. Non-dairy milk or creamer works well in place of heavy cream.
  4. If you’re doubling the recipe, the cooking time remains the same. It will take longer to come to pressure with more volume, but you still only need to cook it for 5 minutes.
  5. You can sub in spinach, escarole, or Swiss chard without changing the flavor of the soup.
Stovetop Instructions
  1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan set to medium, cook the bacon and break it up, stirring often. Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Add the onion, garlic, broth, and potatoes and cook on low for 20-35 minutes, or until the potatoes are softened. If using red pepper flakes, add here.
  3. Add cream and kale and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
Slow Cooker Instructions
  1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan set to medium, cook the bacon and break it up, stirring often. Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat. Transfer to a slow cooker.
  2. Add the onion, garlic, broth, and potatoes and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the potatoes are softened. If using red pepper flakes, add here.
  3. Add milk and kale and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 412kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 19gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 312mgPotassium: 1186mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 770IUVitamin C: 37.8mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 5.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

Shop This Post

About Sarah

Helping you serve up budget-friendly sustainable recipes with a side of balanced living.
Come for the food. Stay for the snark.

You May Also Like:

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

57 Comments

  1. Oh, delicious. I pre-cooked some yellow sulfur beans in the IP in chicken broth, wiped out the pot, and resumed the recipe, added the beans back with their broth and more broth to cover – just fabulous!5 stars

    1. I love the addition of beans Lynn! That sounds so delicious.

      Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂

  2. I was sooo sick this week that I modified this soup down to stock, (homemade frozen) chopped up potato’s and prewashed kale. Thrown into a pan till it melted the stock chunk and cooked the potatoes. I think it saved my life. 5 stars

    1. Well, farts. Looks like it disappeared when the site was transferred over. Just rewrote it and it should be visible now.

  3. I made this tonight! It took me longer to find the recipe rating button than it took to prep the soup. HA.

    Seriously though, I LOVED it. I got a little overzealous with my red pepper flakes (on top of using “hot” sausage), but it was awesome. I did the Instant Pot version, and now I have dinner for myself for the rest of the week. Thank you!!5 stars

    1. Ha! So glad you loved it Sydnie. But I contest the too much red pepper flakes comment because things can never be *too* spicy. 🙂

      Enjoy the leftovers!

      1. Oh, I didn’t think my comment posted, which is why I went to facebook to tell you how freaking awesome this was! You’re seriously helping me with my “Be a grownup and cook for your self!!” goal! Next I need to go to the grocery store so I can make your Nutella breakfast quinoa. 🙂5 stars

      2. Getting to chat with you again is twice as nice. 🙂

        Dude, rock on with your bad cooking self. Nice work! Can’t wait to hear what you think about the quinoa.

  4. I just l-o-v-e this soup!!! I’ve made it over and over, and no matter who is with us, or where I take it, everyone else just loves it too! I’ve made it with kale, with spinach, with chard, with silverbeet – anything green, could probably really finely shred cabbage in a pinch! I use Italian sausages – a few hot and a few mild. I’ve pre-prepared all the ingredients and then just dumped it all into simmering stock when we’ve been camping. It’s our family’s favourite!5 stars

  5. I will make this asap.
    If you tell me what I can substitute kale with! because kale can be found NOWHERE in Greece! I have absolutely no idea what it tastes like!
    Also ground sausage…is it sausage opened and cut very thinly? any type of sausage?
    thanks!5 stars

    1. I wonder if it is too hot to grow there? Kale is a hearty thick green that almost has a waxy flavor. I would either leave it out or sub in spinach if you can find that. Spinach is much more delicate than kale so it will wilt. But you’re still getting greens in which is part of the goal.

      My local butcher sells ground sausage like they would ground chicken, beef (hamburger), or turkey. It is meat that has been processed very finely. Most sausage comes in casings but I buy it without that.

  6. Hear! Hear! I’m all for a year-round National Soup Month. It’s the best way to clean out the fridge of questionable aged veg and I’m all for the simplicity of “dump it all in a pot” cookery. Yet, you are convincing me more and more every day that I need an Instant Pot (and an AirFryer, it would make it easier to fry tofu). 🙂5 stars

  7. We got back from a sunshine holiday to cold weather last Monday. Since then I have done BNS and sweet potato with ras el hanout and ginger, mushroom soup, pea and mint soup and now leek and potato. Using all the bits and pieces in them that I can too. Every day is Soup Day!5 stars

  8. I am a fan of soups because you can come up with a soup no matter what is in the pantry or refrigerator! It’s also a great way to use not-quite-enough of things – together, they can make magic!5 stars

      1. You might have been korean in another life… Koreans have soup at EVERY meal. no joke. if you order something that isn’t soupy, it often comes WITH a soup!5 stars

      2. I was a waitress at a Korean restaurant when I was in high school. Not only do I love soup every day, but I loooooooove Korean food!