Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Crock Pot Recipe – Easy Slow Cooker Version

I personally love Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana, and this sausage and potato soup is one that I crave often. Many of you have asked for the Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Crock Pot version, and I want to make sure you have exactly the recipe you requested. This slow cooker adaptation brings all the creamy, hearty flavors of the restaurant favorite to your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum comfort.

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Why This Recipe Works

Sometimes we all want a recipe we can quickly toss in our slow cooker and get about our business. This version of Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana is easy to put together so you don’t have to stand at the stove. The slow cooking process allows all the flavors to meld beautifully while the potatoes become perfectly tender and the sausage infuses the broth with rich, savory flavor.

Ingredients

Protein Base:

• Italian sausage – Provides the signature spicy, herbed flavor that defines this soup (ground works best)
• Bacon – Adds smoky depth and richness (optional for authentic current version)

Hearty Foundation:

• Russet potatoes – Create the filling, starchy base that makes this soup so satisfying
• Yellow onion – Provides aromatic sweetness and savory depth to the broth base

Liquid Components:

• Chicken stock – Forms the flavorful broth foundation for the entire soup
• Heavy cream or half-and-half – Creates the signature creamy, rich texture

Fresh Finishing:

• Fresh kale or Swiss chard – Adds color, nutrition, and authentic Italian flavor
• Salt and black pepper – Essential seasonings that enhance all other flavors

How to Make Zuppa Toscana in a Crock Pot

1. Brown the sausage and bacon in a large skillet.
2. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage and bacon to a Crock Pot or slow cooker.
3. Add sliced potatoes, onions, chicken broth, salt, and pepper.
4. Cook on low for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
5. About a half-hour or so before serving, add chopped kale and heavy cream. Stir to combine.

Chef’s Notes

Browning the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker eliminates excess fat and develops deeper flavor through the Maillard reaction. The current Olive Garden recipe has evolved over the years, removing bacon and switching from sausage links to ground sausage. Adding cream and kale late in the cooking process prevents overcooking the greens and curdling the dairy.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator Storage: Store in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Cream may separate slightly when chilled
• Reheating Method: Warm gently on the stovetop or in a slow cooker on low, stirring occasionally to recombine ingredients
• Freezing: Freeze base soup without cream for up to 3 months. Add fresh cream when reheating for the best texture

Love Olive Garden? Try these copycat recipes!

• Olive Garden Bolognese
• Olive Garden Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
• Olive Garden Italian Dressing
• Olive Garden Lemon Cake
• Olive Garden Oven Baked Pasta
• Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
• Olive Garden Shrimp Scampi

Popular Crock Pot Recipes

• Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
• Crock Pot Carne Guisada
• Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
• Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes
• Crock Pot Queso

Check out my easy Crock Pot recipes and the best Olive Garden recipes here on CopyKat!

Drop me a comment below and let me know a copycat recipe you want to see made in a Crock-Pot or slow cooker. I’d love to hear what you want.