This easy Chicken Tuscan Soup with Sausage is a warm, satisfying meal for chilly evenings. Packed with Italian sausage, tender potatoes, sweet carrots, and fresh spinach in a rich, creamy chicken broth, it comes together in roughly 30 minutes for a comforting weeknight dinner.
If you enjoy Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana, this homemade version captures that same hearty, savory flavor and is simple to prepare at home. Serve with warm breadsticks for a complete meal.
Tuscan Soup with Sausage
Zuppa Toscana literally means Tuscan soup. This version is hearty, flavorful, and straightforward—an easy Olive Garden zuppa Toscana copycat that tastes like the restaurant favorite. The combination of spicy Italian sausage, aromatic onion and garlic, creamy broth, and bright spinach makes for a balanced, family-friendly soup.
Start by browning hot Italian sausage with a touch of water, then sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until softened. Add the cooked sausage, rotisserie chicken, and chicken broth, then simmer with diced potatoes and carrots until tender. Stir in milk for creaminess and thicken slightly with a cornstarch slurry. Finish with fresh spinach for color and a boost of nutrients.
For a complete meal, pair this soup with warm breadsticks or crusty bread to soak up the savory broth.
Key Ingredients
- Italian Sausage – Hot Italian sausage brings bold flavor; mild works if you prefer less heat. Substitute bacon or omit for a lighter version.
- Rotisserie Chicken – Adds tender, seasoned chicken with minimal prep.
- Olive Oil – For sautéing and a subtle Italian flavor.
- Onion – Yellow or white, diced finely for a savory base.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic for aroma and depth.
- Chicken Broth – Use store-bought or homemade chicken stock for the best flavor.
- Carrots – Peeled and cut into ½” chunks for sweetness and texture.
- Potatoes – Red, Yukon Gold, or Russet (peeled if using Russets), diced into ½” pieces.
- Spinach – Fresh baby spinach or chopped mature spinach; kale also works well.
- Milk – Whole or 2% milk provides creaminess; heavy cream can be used for a richer soup.
- Cornstarch – Mixed with cold water to create a slurry that gently thickens the broth.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated for garnish and a salty finish.
How to Make Olive Garden Tuscany Soup
- Cook the sausage. Heat a saucepan over medium, add the Italian sausage and 1/2 cup water. Break the sausage into small pieces and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté onions and garlic. In the same pan, heat olive oil over medium. Add diced onion and cook until softened and slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another 1–2 minutes.
- Combine and boil. In a large Dutch oven, add the cooked sausage, rotisserie chicken, sautéed onions and garlic, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer with vegetables. Reduce heat to a simmer, add diced carrots and potatoes, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. When the potatoes are soft, add salt, pepper, spinach, and milk, then bring briefly back to a boil.
- Thicken the soup. Whisk cornstarch with cold water until smooth and add it to the soup gradually, stirring until the broth thickens to your preference.
- Serve. Remove from heat, ladle into bowls, and garnish with shredded Parmesan. Serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Brown the sausage and sauté the onions and garlic first, then add them to the slow cooker with rotisserie chicken, potatoes, carrots, broth, and seasonings. Cook on low 5–6 hours or high 3–4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, add the cornstarch slurry and spinach, cover, and cook until thickened.
Any sausage variety works—mild or hot Italian, smoked sausage, or even crumbled breakfast sausage. Bacon or extra shredded chicken also make good substitutes. For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use vegetable broth.
Yes. Cool completely, transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Yes. Tuscan, Toscan, and Tuscany soup are different spellings referring to the same regional style of soup, commonly known in Italian as Zuppa Toscana.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in bags or containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- To reheat: Warm in a Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
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Chicken Tuscan Soup with Sausage
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups carrots, cut into 1/2″ chunks
- 5 cups red potatoes, cut into 1/2″ chunks
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups spinach, fresh, chopped
- 2 cups milk
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 6 tablespoons cold water
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and 1/2 cup water. Break the sausage into small pieces and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In the same saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the diced onion. Sauté until softened and slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 1–2 minutes more.
- In a large Dutch oven, combine the cooked sausage, rotisserie chicken, onions, garlic, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer, add diced carrots and potatoes, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. When potatoes are tender, add salt, pepper, spinach, and milk, then bring briefly to a boil.
- Whisk cornstarch with cold water until smooth. Add the slurry slowly to the soup, stirring until it thickens.
- When the soup reaches the desired thickness and is heated through, remove from heat and serve with grated Parmesan.
Notes
Storing leftovers: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheating: Warm the soup in a Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional values are estimates.
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This robust Tuscan soup combines Italian sausage, potatoes, carrots, and spinach in a creamy chicken broth. It’s easy to prepare and makes a cozy, crowd-pleasing meal in under 30 minutes.