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Instant Pot

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Recipe

  • Instant Pot
  • Side Dishes
  • Soups & Stews
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 32 mins
Servings 6 servings
Calories 190 kcal
instant pot zuppa toscana recipe
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This Instant Pot zuppa toscana recipe only takes a few ingredients and hardly any effort to make from scratch. Using the Instant Pot means it requires even fewer utensils than normal and makes the cleaning afterwards easier.

Before we start cooking, here are a few interesting facts you may want to know about today’s recipe.

What Is Zuppa Toscana?

Originally from Italy, zuppa toscana, literally translated as “Tuscan soup,” has been popularized by the Italian-American restaurant chain, Olive Garden.

A classic Tuscan soup consists of olive oil, water, potatoes, kale, onions, carrots, celery, cannellini beans, tomatoes, and sometimes zucchini. A type of Tuscan cured bacon is added to give the soup a more savory flavor.

At restaurants, you will find a few slices of toasted Tuscan bread next to your bowl of warm zuppa toscana.

The Olive Garden version of this soup is much richer due to an addition of heavy cream and garlic purée. Italian sausages also replace Tuscan bacon because they’re easier to find in the US.

Tuscan soup tends to have large amounts of calories, fat, and sodium due to its rich ingredients. But that won’t be the case for today’s recipe.

what is zuppa toscana

Is Zuppa Toscana Healthy?

Yes! We had to alter a few things about the recipe to fit within our health guidelines, but it came out great. Here’s what we did to make it healthy:

We only used a touch of heavy cream to cut down on saturated fat. We replaced some of it with milk because it’s lower in calories and fat, but still creates a rich and delicious soup.

Our zuppa toscana recipe also contains sausages so we had to pay close attention to the sodium content.

We cooked the sausages in unsalted chicken broth to let them season the soup. By doing so, we were able to cut down on salt — we only needed to add ¼ teaspoon for the entire 4 servings of soup.

To learn more about your recommended saturated fat and sodium intake, check out our healthy eating guidelines.

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Ingredients 

Here is a quick look at the ingredients for today’s zuppa toscana recipe:

ingredients fo instant pot zuppa toscana
  • Olive oil: We recommend using extra virgin olive oil as it is more fragrant and adds flavor to your soup.
  • Sausage: We’re using smoked sausage, but you can use Italian sausage or even bacon if you want.
  • Flavorants: We’re using both raw and powdered garlic and onion to give the dish a more savory aroma and taste.
  • Vegetables: Carrots, potatoes, and kale are full of carbs and fiber. They make the soup more filling and can keep you full longer.
  • Liquids: As mentioned, we’re using unsalted chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream. You can replace chicken broth with water or vegetable stock if you want.
  • Herbs: We’re using freshly chopped parsley but thyme would also be a great fit to this recipe.
  • Salt and pepper: These enhance the flavor of the soup.

How to Make Zuppa Toscana in an Instant Pot

Here is an overview of our Instant Pot zuppa toscana recipe:

step 1: sear the sausage

Sear the sausage.

step 2: sweat the vegetables

Sweat the vegetables.

step 3: toast the spices

Toast the spices.

step 4: add liquid and cook

Add liquid and cook.

step 5: add kale

Add kale.

step 6: garnish and serve

Garnish and serve.

Check out the recipe below for full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions.

Tips for Making Perfect Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

Since today’s zuppa toscana is so simple, we only have one tip for you, and that is soaking the potatoes.

Once you’ve cut potatoes into cubes, put them into a tub of tap water. Potatoes tend to oxidize quickly when exposed to air. Soaking them can prevent them from browning.

Although brown potatoes don’t affect the taste of your soup, they can be visually unappealing. We try to avoid letting them brown.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

We recommend letting the soup cool completely before putting it in an airtight container. It can last up to 3 days in the fridge or a month in the freezer.

Soups like instant pot minestrone and Zuppa Toscana tend to freeze exceptionally well.

how to store and reheat leftover

To reheat your zuppa toscana, transfer it to a microwavable container and put it in the microwave for 2 minutes.

With frozen soup, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight or defrost it in the microwave before you reheat.

For more easy and nutritious instant pot recipe, take a look at our healthy and delicious instant pot dinner roundup or best Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes.

What to Serve With Zuppa Toscana Soup

Zuppa toscana can be a great appetizer or soup course for any meal. Since this soup already contains carbohydrates, you don’t need to add more to your main course.

We recommend serving this soup with a simple chicken or beef dish to make a wholesome, comforting meal.

Some More Tasty Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love

These Instant Pot side dish recipes are some of our most delicious picks:

  • Instant Pot Potatoes and Carrots Recipe
  • Instant Pot Ratatouille Recipe
  • Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
instant pot zuppa toscana recipe

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Recipe

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This Instant Pot zuppa toscana recipe is our own take on Olive Garden’s iconic menu item. Let’s check the ingredients and see how to make it.
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 32 mins
Total Time 42 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 190kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 oz smoked sausages finely diced
  • 2 tsp garlic minced
  • 2 oz onions finely diced
  • 2 oz carrots finely diced
  • 20 oz potatoes cubed
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 cups unsalted chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 tbsp heavy cream
  • 3 oz kale roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • Sear the sausage: Turn on your Instant Pot, set it to “Sauté,” and wait for it to heat up. Add olive oil and diced sausages. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until lightly browned.
    step 1: sear the sausage
  • Sweat the vegetables: Add minced garlic, diced onions, and diced carrots. Cook and stir for 3 minutes.
    step 2: sweat the vegetables
  • Toast the spices: Add potatoes, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to the pot. Stir for 2 minutes to awaken the spice aroma and coat the seasonings evenly.
    step 3: toast the spices
  • Add liquid and cook: Add unsalted chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream to the pot. Stir a few times to combine. Cover with the lid and turn the valve knob to “sealing position.” Set your Instant Pot to the “Steam” program for 25 minutes.
    step 4: add liquid and cook
  • Add kale: After 25 minutes, carefully turn the valve knob to release the steam before opening the lid. Set to “Sauté” again. Add kale and cook for another 1 minute.
    step 5: add kale
  • Garnish and serve: Ladle the soup into a deep dish or bowl. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately.
    step 6: garnish and serve

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 190 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 305mg13%
Potassium 660mg19%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 3148IU63%
Vitamin C 29mg35%
Calcium 71mg7%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Luna Regina

Luna Regina

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Luna is the founder and chief recipe developer of Healthy Recipes 101. Apart from cooking, she also loves reading, programming, exploring the outdoors, and collecting useless facts about everything.

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instant pot zuppa toscana recipe
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Recipe
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Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Recipe developed by Luna Regina on August 2, 2021 Nutritionally reviewed by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD

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