Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana – The Stay At Home Chef

This creamy Zuppa Toscana is one of our favorites and throwing it in the slow cooker? Even easier. This iconic soup has a creamy base with a little spicy kick from the Italian sausage, but what we love about this recipe is that it’s warm and cozy without being too heavy. The crispy bacon pieces give this soup great flavor and the potatoes and kale give it some substance. Plus, getting in that kale makes us feel like we’re doing something right!

Pair this soup with our Homemade Dinner Rolls or our Rustic Garlic Parmesan Herb Bread.

We love this Olive Garden copycat recipe and what’s even better, we’ve customized it to make it our own and in the slow cooker! This creamy soup is just the right amount of hearty comfort without being too thick. The base of this soup is a combination of heavy cream and chicken broth, rather than a thick roux made from flour and butter. We love a roux, but sometimes we want something a little lighter with just a touch of creamy goodness. Crispy bacon and spicy Italian sausage gives the soup a great, savory flavor with a little kick. The creamy base pairs well with that little bit of heat and can easily turn the heat up or down depending on you spice tolerance and preference.

Ingredient Notes

• Russet Potatoes: Higher in starch content, this naturally thickens the stew giving it a velvety consistency.
• Onion: Use a yellow or white onion. Dice it into small pieces.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides the best flavor, but jarred minced garlic works in a pinch.
• Chicken Broth: Using a low-sodium option allows you to best control the flavor. It’s a great chef tip.
• Hot Italian Sausage: We use sausage with the casing to hold it’s shape in the slow cooker for the perfect bite. You can substitute with mild sausage for less heat.
• Kale: Rich in nutrients and fiber, curly or flat-leaf varieties both work well.
• Heavy Cream: You can substitute with half-and-half, though the dish may be less creamy and thick.

Sausage Options

Browning the Sausage: For a little texture and flavor, you can quickly brown the sausage links in a skillet on medium-high heat for about 1-2 minutes on each side before chopping up and adding to the slow cooker. This is an optional, extra step if you have the time.

Ground Sausage: We use sausage with the casing to hold the pieces of sausage together while in the slow cooker. However, if you like the texture and ease of ground sausage, you can quickly throw it in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker.

Turkey or Chicken Sausage: These are both great options for a leaner protein or if you don’t want to use pork.

Adjust the Heat

For less heat: If you don’t tolerate spice well, swap out the hot Italian sausage for mild sausage and leave out the garnish of red pepper flakes.

For more heat: Add a pinch or more of red pepper flakes with the hot Italian sausage for double the spice.