This Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana recipe is sure to become a family favorite! The classic Olive Garden soup with sausage, bacon, potatoes, kale, and cream is easily made in the electric pressure cooker.
Back in 2015 I posted my version of the stove-top Zuppa Toscana, and I recently re-published the post with updated photos. I figured why not hop on the Instant Pot wagon and make it in there? We had a lot of leftovers since I made the soups on the same day, but my husband was definitely happy since this is his favorite soup. ๐
This recipe is pretty similar to the regular version (tastes practically the same), but sometimes people prefer making things in their electric pressure cooker. And why not? It frees up your stove.
If you haven't tried Zuppa Toscana (or seen the millions of copycat recipes on Pinterest), I would suggest that it's definitely worth making. I don't often do copycat recipes (like why not just go get a Big Mac instead of putting in all the effort to make one at home?), but this soup is easy and fairly quick to make.
This soup isn't particularly thick (it's meant to be quite brothy), but you could always whisk in a cornstarch slurry if you want to thicken it up a little bit or even mash some of the potatoes to give it more of a chunky texture. I like it as-is, though.
How to make Zuppa Toscana in the Instant Pot
- Sauté the bacon + sausage in your Instant Pot until crispy;
- Add in everything except for the kale and cream and cook it on high pressure for 8 minutes;
- Add the kale and cream and close the Instant Pot's lid (keep it turned off or on "keep warm"). Let the kale wilt.
- Season to taste and enjoy!
Love Instant Pot soups? Try my Instant Pot chicken tortilla soup, my Instant Pot hamburger soup, this Instant Pot ham and potato soup, or my Instant Pot taco soup.
If you like Zuppa Toscana, you may also like my sausage, kale, and gnocchi soup - it has similar flavors.
Will you try making Zuppa Toscana in your Instant Pot?
Questions? Ask me in the comments below. ๐
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
This Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana recipe is sure to become a family favorite! The classic Olive Garden soup with sausage, bacon, potatoes, kale, and cream is easily made in the electric pressure cooker.
Ingredients
- 1 (17.6 ounce) pack Italian sausages
- 5 strips of bacon (thick cut works best)
- 2 cups chicken broth (beef works too)
- 4 cups water
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 4 medium-to-large red potatoes roughly cubed (leave skins on)
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 dash Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 small bunch of kale torn into bite-size pieces (remove stems)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Using kitchen shears (or a knife), cut the bacon into small pieces and add them to your Instant Pot.
-
Take the sausages out of their casings. I lightly slice the sausages length-wise with a sharp knife to make a slit in the casings, and then it's really easy to get them out. I then use my fingers to break the meat into bite-size pieces and add them to the Instant Pot as I go. Press the sauté button and cook the sausages and bacon until they're crispy and browned.
- While the sausages and bacon cook, I chop the onion and potatoes, making sure to stir the bacon and sausages occasionally.
- When the sausages and bacon are nicely browned and crispy, add in your chicken stock and water.
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Add the onion, potatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
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Give the soup and stir and close the Instant Pot's lid. Make sure the valve is set to "sealing".
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Cook for 8 minutes on high pressure. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes or so to come up to pressure.
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Carefully do a quick pressure release and take off the lid.
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Add the cream and kale. Close the lid again and let the soup sit for another 5 minutes or so until the kale wilts (keep the Instant Pot off or on "keep warm").
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Season with salt & pepper as needed and enjoy immediately.
Recipe Notes
- If you're worried about calories, you could probably use fewer sausages than I do without changing the taste of the soup too much. You can drain some of the fat too if you wish.
- I use a 5-pack of Johnsonville Mild Italian sausages in this recipe.
- You can use Russet or a different variety of potatoes if you prefer.
- I use this 6-quart Instant Pot.
- Inactive time indicates the time it takes the Instant Pot to get up to pressure.
Julianne says
Could I make this soup in my crockpot?
Natasha says
Hi! You could... I would do the initial browning steps in a skillet, then transfer it to a Crockpot. Add the cream about 30 minutes prior to serving. It's probably easier to just do it on the stove unless you want it to cook while you're at work all day. The stove top recipe is linked within the post in case you didn't see it.
paul callicoat says
I believe that OG uses red pepper flakes if you don't have hot Italian Sausage.I added 1/2 tsp. with the broth.Came out great.
Natasha says
That makes sense! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Paul!
Kristin says
I used russet potatoes and half and half. This was amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Natasha says
Yay so glad you liked it!!
Margot says
OMG!!! So good!!!
Used Russet potato since didnโt have red potatoes. Made Hatch chili cornbread to go with it. Iโm in love!!!!! Thank you!!!!!
Natasha says
So happy you enjoyed it, Margot! Thanks for letting me know!
Lindsay says
Can I use half & half instead of heavy cream? Planning to make this tonight, and I don't have heavy cream on hand....
Natasha says
Hi! I think that should work!
Jen says
Am making this right now and cannot wait to try it! Noticed, tho, that the directions do not state when to add the dash of Italian? I am hoping itโs along with the cream and kale? Either way, this smells delicious!
Natasha says
Whoops... just updated the recipe - thanks for pointing it out! I usually add it earlier, but what you did works too! ๐ How did you like the soup?
Jen says
LOVED it!! Will definitely be making this again!
Natasha says
That's what I like to hear! Thanks, Jen! ๐
Bailey-Ann says
So good! Recipe was super easy, took less than an hour from thought to finish, and used up all the random things I had in my fridge I didn't know how to really put together. Thank you!
Natasha says
I am so pleased to hear you liked it! thanks for letting me know ๐
Marianne says
Very tasty!
Natasha says
Great! ๐