Keto Zuppa Toscana
Keto Zuppa Toscana Soup is a copycat version of the Olive Garden soup that is perfect for a chilly night. Made with sausage, bacon, cauliflower, and spinach…this Keto Zuppa Toscana copycat is a low-carb hearty soup that is perfect for dinner.
I may earn commissions for purchases made through links on this post.
KETO ZUPPA TOSCANA SOUP RECIPE
In Florida it’s drop down to the 60’s which is practically freezing here. I started making this Zuppa Toscana Soup and realized that with a few easy swaps it could be transformed into a low-carb Keto version of the soup.
HOW IS THIS KETO?
The biggest Keto offender in the original soup ingredients is potatoes. Traditionally potatoes are boiled in the soup to give it a thick texture. Swapping out potatoes with cauliflower is an easy switch and the flavor is still similar.
The ground sausage stays the same. You can use a hot sausage which has lots of spices if you want.
Also swapping out the kale. Kale is surprising high in carbs so swap it out for spinach.
If you’ve ever been to Olive Garden you’ll recognize this soup. It’s a Zuppa Toscana copycat. It’s spicy, filling, and full of flavor. Forget the restaurant soup, this is just as good comfort food if not better.
A little grated Parmesan cheese adds a bit of salt and flavor. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
HOW MANY CARBS IN THIS SOUP?
There are 10 servings of this soup and in each serving there are 4 carbs and 1 gram of fiber which equals 3 net carbs per serving.
KETO THICKENER
Traditional Zuppa Toscana is not a thick soup and has a thinner chicken broth base. If you want a thicker soup, try adding 1/2 to 1 teaspoon xanthan gum which is a very common Keto-friendly thickening agent that is permitted on the Keto diet.
OTHER KETO RECIPES:
- Keto Biscuits
- Egg Roll In a Bowl
- Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms
- Warm Bacon Cheese Dip
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Cloud Bread
- Pressure Cooker Corned Beef
- Bacon Asparagus Frittata Recipe
- Keto Broccoli Salad
- Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs
- Cinnamon Keto Pork Rinds
- Lasagna in a Bowl
- Egg Drop Soup
If you’re looking for the non-Keto version of this soup, here is the original Zuppa Toscana.
Keto Zuppa Toscana
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, (more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 6 slices bacon, cut into pieces
- 8 cups chicken broth, (I like better than Bouillon chicken base. Beef bone broth would be a good keto option too but is a lot higher in calories)
- 4 cups cauliflower florets
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 cups spinach, coarsley chopped
- (optional) 1/2 to 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Cook the Italian sausage, onion, and red pepper flakes in a Dutch oven (or large pot with a lid) over medium-high heat until crumbly, browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Drain, remove from pan, and set aside. The purpose of removing the sausage is so that you aren't boiling it in broth.
- Add the bacon and cook until crispy. Remove from pan.
- Pour the chicken broth into the Dutch oven; bring to a boil over high heat. Add the cauliflower, and boil until fork tender, about 15 minutes. If you want a creamy soup mash some of the cauliflower in the pot. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream and the cooked sausage and onion mixture; heat through. Mix the spinach and bacon into the soup a couple of minutes before serving. If you want a thicker soup, sprinkle the xanthan gum over the soup and quickly whisk in to combine and simmer until thickened. You can top with grated Parmesan if desired.
Notes
You need to note serving size when posting recipes! I’ve NEVER seen a recipe where the serving SIZE isn’t noted!
To accurately do this you can weigh the entire dish and divide it by the servings. It will vary for what you use
The secret to making it taste like the restaurant is fennel seeds! Great recipe, thank you!
Good to know!
I ended up boiling the chicken broth alone and then adding the sausage and onion to that after the boil. It worked perfectly! (I chose that method since it said to add it, but then said don’t so you dont’ boil the sausage, and then it said add it again later. Very confusing. 🙂 Just add at the end when it says to add it on the second round.
So declious! I used hot ground italian sasuage and spinach (not kale, since it kept swapping between the two words). I also added the onion/sausage mixture after boiling the chicken stock (confusing wording in the recipe has it added twice). Even though I used hot sausage, I also added the crushed red pepper and man was it delcious! It was nice for a cold day and hot/spicy but not too much. It was absolutely divine. My husband loved it and he’s not big on soups being a meal… but it was very hearty with the cauliflower and everything. This is most definitely a keeper!!!!
I love zuppa soup. I always for more flavor as a little dejon mustard. It adds a good flavor. Been making this for years. I also too with a little parmesan cheese.
thank you!
I’ve been making this recipe for almost 4 years, and it’s a staple in my house all winter. I live in the Pacific Northwest and this soup helps to put a smile on my face through cold, wet winters.
Thank you for giving us this recipe- it’s a winner!
You’re welcome!
This keto version was the perfect match for Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana Soup. I loved every bite! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Summer!
This was really delicious. Made it exactly as listed in recipe. Next time more spinach.
Why does the recipe say to add the garlic and onion WITH the sausage and then AGAIN after removing the bacon? Are you supposed to use half up front and the other half after?
same quesiton here (UGH!)
This soup is absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for a fabulous recipe!
I prefer thicker soup, so I added more cauliflower, plus salt and pepper to taste. Blended with an immersion blender before adding sausage and spinach. My husband loved it too!
Thank you!
This soup is beyond amazing. If I didn’t make it, I would think it had potatoes in it instead of cauliflower. This will be on rotation in my household all winter as it is filling, comforting and delicious. CAN’T BELIEVE IT IS KETO!! It was so good I submitted it to the Carb Manager App so that others can get to the recipe and make it for themselves.
Yay! Thank you!
But, how much is one serving? It doesn’t say serving size or how many servings it makes so I can’t figure out how much to eat
It says 10 servings on the top of the recipe card.
Something seems to be off in the nutrition details. Serving size is listed at 1 g. How can this be? Fat, carbs, fiber and protein add up to 41g! Calories can’t possibly be 247, since 9cal/fat gram is 9. Just the calories in 24.7g of fat is 222!
Yeah, I’m lost on this as well…
Did you factor in the whole recipe is for 10 servings? When I put it in Carb Manager, I forgot to put in how many servings and it came up with approx what you wrote. Once I put in 10 servings, it dropped down to 4g carbs.
Sorry I converted the recipe cards to a different card and the serving size was gliched, now it is fixed
This is still showing a serving to be 1 gram for me.
Sorry. Maybe clear your cache?
Absolutely delicious and will definitely be in the rotation through fall. I did add some rosemary and basil to mine which just gave it a bit more flavor! Nicely done!
Awesome!
I just made this and it was AMAZINGLY GOOD!! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
will it still be keto if you sub coconut milk instead?
Yes absolutely!
Going to make this, as I love the original recipe @ OG. You mentioned kale is high in carbs, but that is not the case. I prefer the kale over spinach in this recipe and kale is keto friendly. Cauliflower is the perfect substitute for the potatoes. Yum!
Your recipe says spinach but description says Kale?
Sorry. I keto-fied the original Zuppa which has kale.
Wow this is absolutely delicious! I don’t even miss the potatoes!!! Better than Olive Garden if you ask me! Even added it to my carb manager app as a recipe (shared this link, hope that’s ok!)
So happy to hear that!
This soup is the bomb! I don’t miss the potatoes at all. I even made it vegetarian by using veggie sausage and left out the bacon. Super delicious!
So happy to hear that!
Does this freeze well?
Yes absolutely!
Does this freeze well?
Yes!
This recipe was great! My hubby loved it also.
I actually doubled the recipe because I knew the family would likely eat more than one bowl and want leftovers .
My only change was I added: salt, pepper and onion powder.
Glad you liked it!
I’m eating this soup right now. It is delicious. Great recipe. I will definitely make it again.
So happy to hear that!
I’m trying to understand the amount per serving?
It says (1 g) which is less than 1 oz, I know that isn’t correct. So does anyone know what else 1g could be besides 1 gram. I have googled and can’t find anything other measurements besides the g=gram. Surely 1g of this soup isn’t a serving bc that would be like a tsp. I know I missing something I just don’t know what.
The recipe yields 10 servings as listed on the top left of the recipe. So each serving is 1/10 of the recipe. You can weigh the whole recipe and divide it by 10 to see your serving size.
This is seriously good soup! That it fits my keto lifestyle is a bonus. This ends up on our dinner table at least once a month and goes to work with me for lunch even more often.
Thank you for sharing a fabulous recipe!
That makes me so happy!
Made this on a cold, wet and windy New England winter day, it was perfect! Soup was even better the next day, honestly couldn’t tell it was cauliflower instead of potatoes!
Thank you! We love this one!
Oh this is wonderful! Just as good as Olive Garden or better! I added a few potatoes along with cauliflower just to appease my teens – we are not on a keto diet. A winner! Thanks so much!
Deeelicious! My whole family loved it!!
Oh also I used half Mild, half hot Italian sausage, and a whole onion, and left the bacon as a topping 😋😋. Definately going to be a regular menu dish🤩🤩
Thank you Sally!
Holy Crap this was SO GOOD!! Even my non-Keto family devoured it. I added garlic powder and salt. This will be my new go-to rainy day comfort food. Thank you!
Yay! So glad you liked it.
I followed the recipe exactly as it’s written save for the red pepper flakes as the sausage I use is plenty hot, and I have to say, it’s delicious.
I didn’t have the xantham gum and the grocery store was out, so I didn’t think I’d love it without it being a thick soup, but the flavor is so good! I added grated Locatelli cheese to my bowl and it’s perfect!
I find eating hearty soups on a low carb diet really satisfying and this is one I’ll definitely make again – so easy!
So happy to hear that.
In case anyone else wanted the serving size clarified, I calculated out all the ingredients and divided it by 10 servings, each serving being
1 and 1/3cups.
7.1g carbs;
1.9g fiber
5.2 net carbs per serving
19.6g fat
13g protein
Thanks!!! Needed this
Thank you for this! Did you happen to have the calorie value as well?
I get more compliments with this keto version then when I used potatoes, love how the xanthum gun thickens this making it so hearty. We use kale and lots of it. But we needed more flavor, so had to add a lot of seasonings – Mrs. Dash and italian seasonings.
Still a winner in this house.
Thank you!
Quick question. Had anyone topped this with Parmesan?
Thanks!
Yes, it’s great!
Christmas. In the instructions, it says to add the onion mixture twice. The only onion mixture I saw was when you cooked the sausage with the onion. Can you clarify?
This soup is absolutely delicious!
Thank you!
Can frozen cauliflower be used?
Yes, absolutely!
We are making this now. We already had all of the ingredients on hand. The directions have been very easy to follow. The house already smells warm and inviting.
Awesome! Are we related? I’m a Denney too!
Christy I’m with you on the cold thing, Phoenix gets the chills too. Only thing that combats it is this amazing Zuppa! I did have to add more Turkey Italian Sausage and balanced it with extra Kale 😋
OOh yum!
Do you drain the sausage and bacon grease?
No. I didn’t have a ton of it though. If you have a lot you can drain it.
I rarely ever comment on recipes but had to on this one. Delicious!! Was skeptical of the cauliflower but hardly notice. Perfect soup!!! Thank you!!
Yay!! Awesome!
So yummy!! 🙂
THank you!
I just made this soup and I’m having a hard time keeping out of it. It’s for dinner, but it’s so delicious I keep “taste testing”..lol. It tastes so much like the Olive Garden soup that I’m amazed. And the cauliflour tastes and reminds me of potatoes. I don’t feel like I’m missing a thing. This will be a winter staple!! Thank you!!!
You are welcome!
I am not one to comment on these things but I just have to … This was AMAZING. Thank you so much for the recipe.
You are welcome!
So good!! I made this for me and my boyfriend (who isn’t on keto) and we both loved it!! The cauliflower is a great substitute for the potato. Thanks for the great recipe!!
you’re welcome!
The flavor is so incredible!! I was skeptical about the cauliflower but it adds the potato texture that would otherwise be missing. I will be making this a lot!
Thank you!
I read this and it says there’s 10 servings but what is the exact servings of it? 1 cup? 1 1/2 cups. I’m new to keto and very confused
Sorry. You just divide it by 10. It’s really hard for me to give an exact measurement because depending on what you have in your bowl it could be different.
Looks delicious!
How do you determine accurately how many calories are in one serving without knowing the exact size of the serving?
Emily’s asking so that what she has in her bowl isn’t different from 1/10 of the recipe. It’s hard to eyeball 1/10th of the entire pot of soup.
Just thought I’d help clarify. I’m also curious what 1/10th of the recipe is equivalent to.
I calculate the info for the whole soup and divide it by the number of servings.
So I have to use the cauliflower? I just hate the cooked taste of it
You can’t even taste it. You can leave it out but it will not be as thick.
You don’t taste the cauliflower at all. I use an immersion blender to make it creamier & it thickens the soup, just like the potatoes do in the original recipe.
This soup was delicious! I substituted cauliflower with broccoli and added salt and pepper to taste, but overall this recipe is a winner!
You are welcome!
Was nervous to make this because I am NOT a cauliflower fan, but I took the chance and I was not disappointed! So delicious 🙂 thanks so much for sharing!
You are welcome!
Absolutely delicious!
Thank you! I’m glad you agree.
can this soup be frozen?
Sure. I don’t see why not.
This was delicious! I ended up using scallions instead of the onions because I didn’t have any but it turned out great. I will definitely make it again!
I just have to say this is one of the best keto soups I’ve had…the cauliflower taste and feels like if it is potatoes. So hearty and filling. I just love this soup. I will be making this a lot! Thank you for the recipe!
This soup is AMAZING!! I cannot believe you can’t tell the difference from the potatoes missing but it is so true…I used kale instead of spinach and also used 4 cups chicken bone broth and 4 cups beef bone broth instead of the regular chicken broth (keeps the carbs down and the protein up). This is just crazy how good it tastes and how much it tastes like the real deal from Olive Garden!! Make this soup…like now!!! 😉
Aww Brandy, the best compliment ever! Thank you!