This easy Keto Zuppa Toscana is a rich, creamy, and comforting soup made in one-pot. It’s loaded with smoky bacon, savory sausage, and tender cauliflower for a satisfying, restaurant-style dish without the extra carbs!
Hearty enough to serve it on its own, it’s also perfect as a starter with creamy Tuscan chicken skillet or skillet chicken thighs.
Recipe Highlights: Keto Zuppa Toscana
- Why Make It: This creamy, restaurant-style copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana soup is a family favorite made in one-pot and stays low carb with potatoes swapped for cauliflower.
- Flavor: This soup has rich, savory flavor with creamy chicken broth and seasonings, sausage, vegetables, a hint of garlic, and optional red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
- Tools: A Dutch oven is perfect to cook a hearty soup like this in. It can be stashed in a low oven with the lid on to keep the soup warm.
- Serving: Serve it warm from a Crockpot or top a steaming bowl with keto crackers. Serve a kale Caesar salad alongside for a complete meal.
Total Time: 40 Mins Servings: 6 Cooking Method: Stovetop
Ingredients Notes
- Meat: Italian sausage and bacon are yummy additions to any soup, and they make this soup high-protein and loaded with flavor.
- Vegetables:
- Kale makes for the best veggie for Zuppa Toscana because it stays firm during cooking.
- Cauliflower replaces the potatoes, keeping this soup totally keto.
- Broth:
- Low sodium chicken broth makes it easier to control the seasoning.
- Heavy whipping cream added toward the end gives this soup its rich, velvety broth.
- While red pepper flakes are optional, they add delicious flavor. You can leave them out for a more mild soup.
Variations
- Use hot or mild Italian sausage depending on heat preference.
- Pre-cooked bacon bits, frozen cauliflower florets, and frozen kale or spinach can be used if time is short. Just toss them in and add extra simmering time.
- Spinach makes a great substitute, just add at the end of cooking because it wilts quickly. You could use collard greens or even cabbage.
- Add broccoli, zucchini, or mushrooms for extra color, texture, and nutrition.
- To create a thicker soup, mash a few tender cauliflower florets against the side of the pot and stir them into the broth.
- You could add a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt before serving to make the soup extra creamy.
How to Make Keto Zuppa Toscana
- Cook sausage, bacon, and onion. Drain fat.
- Add remaining ingredients except for heavy cream.
- Boil, then reduce to a simmer until vegetables are tender. (Full recipe below.)
- Stir in heavy cream, simmer, then garnish with bacon and serve.
Leftovers Worth Saving
- Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring as needed. Do not boil, as the cream may separate and the cauliflower can become mushy.
- To freeze, leave out the cream and store cooled soup in airtight containers. Thaw overnight, reheat gently, then stir in fresh cream. Add cooked bacon after reheating for the best texture.
More Italian-Inspired Comfort Food
Did you make this Keto Zuppa Toscana? Leave a comment and rating below.
Keto Zuppa Toscana
Keto Zuppa Toscana is a rich and creamy low carb soup filled with Italian sausage, bacon, tender cauliflower, and kale. It is hearty, savory, and ready in just 40 minutes.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 large onion diced
- 6 slices bacon diced
- 4 cups cauliflower chopped
- 1½ cups kale chopped, or fresh spinach
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 cup heavy cream
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook sausage and onion until no pink remains. Drain and set aside.
- Cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Drain on a paper towel and drain fat from the pan.
- Add in cauliflower, kale, garlic, chicken broth, crushed peppers (if using), and sausage. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 6 to 7 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.
- Stir in heavy cream and pepper and let simmer 2 minutes.
- Garnish with bacon and parsley.
Video
Notes
Because sausage and bacon are salty, this recipe doesn’t call for salt. If needed, feel free to add salt to taste at the end of cooking.
Keep it warm in a Crockpot and let guests help themselves.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 669mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1158IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
©Easy Low Carb. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
REPIN this Keto Zuppa Toscana Recipe!
Yummy, as usual!! Another great, flavorful, easy keto soup. Thanks, Holly.
I am so glad you enjoyed this soup Cioci!
What can I use as a non-dairy substitute for heavy cream? Thanks! 🙂
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Brenna. You could try coconut cream or another non-dairy milk. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Brenna just so you know, this soup is also delicious without the heavy whipping cream. You do not need to put the cream in this soup but it will be a brothy soup verses a creamy soup.
Very true Shirley!
I’m writing next week’s shopping list, including what I need to make this soup. From the photo, I can’t tell for sure, so I’ll ask. Is the Italian sausage uncased? Did you take it out of the case or did you buy it uncased? Can I use sliced cased Italian sausage?
I used uncased Italian sausage. You can either buy it uncased or take it out depending on what you can find in the store! I hope this helps Candy.
I’ve been making this soup for years! It wasn’t until I went on my carb diet that I realized that all I needed to do was substitute the potatoes for the cauliflower. My family wants their soup every time they come home now. One granddaughter is obsessed and will call me from college and say I’m coming home will you make my soup!
I use hot Italian sausage in mine as it really gives it the best flavor and a bit of a zing as well! Occasionally I have to eat the one with potatoes because I’m just craving my soup..lol.
If made with potatoes, this does not freeze well, the cauliflower does freeze well but not meant for long term freezing. I would say no longer than 2 weeks.
HI Shirley. I am glad that you found this low carb Toscana soup a recipe that you and your family can enjoy together. Have a great rest of your day!