This luscious and creamy Vegan Zuppa Toscana recipe is even better than Olive Garden! Itโ€™s a rich and comforting soup made with vegan sausage, vegan cream, garlic, kale, and potatoes.

Vegan Zuppa Toscana soup in a white bowl.

If youโ€™ve ever had Olive Gardenโ€™s Zuppa Toscana Soup, then you know how addicting it can be. Or, if youโ€™ve heard of the infamous menu item but could never try it, nowโ€™s your chance! My Vegan Zuppa Toscana recipe is just as irresistible as the classic, with all of the rich and creamy qualities you crave.

Replicating the richness of the classic in this vegan Olive Garden copycat Zuppa Toscana was surprisingly easy. With vegan-friendly alternatives, like vegan sausage, vegan heavy cream, and plant-based chicken broth, the textures and flavors came together beautifully. You may not even notice itโ€™s vegan!

What is Zuppa Toscana?

Zuppa Toscana, meaning โ€œTuscan soupโ€ in Italian, is a creamy soup traditionally made with Italian sausage, heavy cream, chicken broth, kale, potatoes, and bacon. Itโ€™s a popular menu item at the Italian-American restaurant chain, Olive Garden. 

sauteeing onions and vegan sausage crumbles in a large grey pot.

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

  • Vegan sausage – Impossible Spicy Sausage in a tube is my go-to for this recipe. Just like in my Vegan Meatballs and Vegan Sausage Rolls, Impossible Meat gives this soup a meaty and hearty flavor thatโ€™s very similar to real sausage. However, if you canโ€™t find Impossible sausage, use tempeh sausage (sautรฉed first) or any savory store-bought savory vegan sausage (crumbled or chopped finely) thatโ€™s available.
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Vegan chicken broth – I used Better Than Bouillon no chicken broth paste mixed with water. Vegetable broth works, too.
  • Russet potatoes – White, starchy potatoes are best because they naturally thicken the soup and become deliciously soft. Yukon Gold potatoes can be used as a substitute.
  • Kale – This is the traditional choice but spinach can be used instead.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes – A pinch of these spicy pepper flakes add a touch of heat that would normally be found in Italian sausage.
  • Vegan heavy cream – You have a few options here. Iโ€™ve tested the recipe and had great results using homemade vegan heavy cream substitute, a can of full fat coconut milk or cream, and Country Crock plant cream. For a less rich option, use unsweetened soy, cashew, or almond milk.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Vegan parmesan cheese – This can be used as an optional cheesy topping, either homemade or I really like Violife brand. In addition, add crumbled tofu bacon or tempeh bacon, extra chili flakes, or shredded vegan mozzarella on top.
kale, potatoes, and broth in a large grey pot.

How to make vegan zuppa toscana

Find the complete recipe with measurements below in the recipe card.

Begin by sauteeing the vegan sausage crumbles and diced onion in a large soup pot. Cook until the sausage is lightly browned and the onion is translucent.

Next, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add the broth, potatoes, kale, and red pepper flakes to your pot. Bring the mixture up to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Simmer uncovered until the potatoes are soft.

pouring cream into a pot of zuppa toscana soup.

To finish the soup, stir in the vegan heavy cream and cook for a few more minutes. Give it a taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. 

Ladle the soup into bowls, top with vegan parmesan cheese and/or vegan bacon, and enjoy!

a soup ladle full of cooked vegan zuppa toscana soup.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use vegan sausage?

Copycat Zuppa Toscana tastes best when itโ€™s made with vegan sausage but you donโ€™t have to use it if you donโ€™t want to. Instead, you can use diced mushrooms, tempeh sausage, leftover seitan meat, lentils, or chickpeas.

How long does it last?

Leftover Zuppa Toscana will keep well for up to 5 days in the fridge. Store it in individual containers in the fridge to maintain freshness.

Can you freeze Zuppa Toscana?

Yes, it freezes well for about 2 months. Let the leftovers thaw in the fridge before reheating them in a pot on the stove or in the microwave for about 1 minute.

Vegan Zuppa Toscana in a white bowl.

Want more creamy vegan soups?

close up on Vegan Zuppa Toscana in a white bowl.
5 stars (36 ratings)

Vegan Zuppa Toscana

This luscious and creamy Vegan Zuppa Toscana recipe is even better than Olive Garden! Itโ€™s a rich and comforting soup made with vegan sausage, vegan cream, garlic, kale, and potatoes.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 
 

  • 14 ounces spicy vegan sausage crumbles I used Impossible, see Notes
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 cups vegan chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes about 4 cups
  • 3 cups chopped kale, ribs removed about 1 bunch
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup vegan heavy cream see Notes for options
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional vegan parmesan cheese, shredded

Instructions 

  • In a large soup pot, cook the vegan sausage crumbles and diced onion over medium heat until the sausage is lightly browned and the onion is translucent.
  • Add the garlic and cooked until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add the broth, potatoes, kale and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 14 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.
  • Stir in the vegan heavy cream and cook for a few minutes. Taste; add more salt and pepper as desired.
  • Serve with optional vegan parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. You could also use tempeh sausage crumbles – just cook in the pan, then add the onion and carry on with the recipe. Any savory vegan sausage will work, just chop finely or crumble it well.
  2. I have used full fat coconut milk/cream as well as Country Crock plant cream. Cashew cream also works well. Use unsweetened soy/cashew/almond milk for a less rich option.
  3. I like Better than Bouillon No Chicken Paste mixed with water for the broth.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 8 servings | Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 821mg | Potassium: 514mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2842IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 4mg
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Author: Nora Taylor
Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!

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Comments

  1. I made this soup tonight and really enjoyed it. I’ve been a vegan about one year and am always happy to find vegan recipes of my non-vegan favorites. My husband who isn’t vegan and who has refused to eat vegan tried it. I didn’t tell him it was vegan and he couldn’t even tell. Definitely one of my future repeats. Thanks so much.

  2. Another awesome recipe!! I made it exactly according to the recipe. For the cashew cream, I did use a can of cream of coconut and mixed it with water and the cashews. Oh my goodness, was it good!!! I have made many of your recipes, even for church potlucks. Everyone always wants the recipes! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes with us!

    1. You are welcome, Virginia! I’m thrilled you loved the recipe! Thank YOU for sharing your fabulous review and feedback!

  3. I used the Field Roast Italian sausage links and chopped them into small pieces. Used veggie broth, but added two of the no-chicken bullion cubes. I used cashew cream, spinach (instead of kale), subbed gnocchi for the potatoes and added a bit of chopped sun-dried tomatoes. SOOOO good and satisfying…comfort food at it’s best!

    Thanks for ALL your fabulous recipes!!

    1. I can’t believe how delicious this soup is. I followed the recipe exactly and used cashew cream. We loved it!

  4. Delicious and easy! I used rainbow collard greens as it was what I had, and the impossible sausage. I made cashew cream. If you have a ninja-type high-power blender you can soak cashews with boiling water and let sit for 15 min and that makes a nice consistency cream. I rarely have planned ahead for an overnight or three-hour soak.

  5. This was yet another hit for my family! Everyone including the 1 year old loved it. I used the sausage tempeh recipe rather than store bought faux sausage and served with it with crusty sourdough. Will be adding it to the soup rotation for sure!

    1. Your meal sounds delicious! How fantastic it is going onto your meal rotation! Thanks for your wonderful feedback and review! I’m thrilled the soup was a hit!

  6. I’ve never had the Olive Garden version, but this recipe is phenomenal. My fiance hates soup and has asked me to make it again (next day) lol. Thank you, Nora, for your beautiful recipes!

    1. You are welcome! I’m so thrilled that the soup was a hit! Thanks for sharing your terrific feedback and review! I appreciate you using my recipes!

  7. This soup recipe is truly STELLAR!!!!! Iโ€™ve made it every week for the last 3or 4 weeks and Iโ€™m not sick of it yet!!!!!

    And Noraโ€ฆ..you really can cook!!!

  8. This soup turned out amazing! So easy, so yummy! I ended up adding about 1 teaspoon of salt at the end and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. All of your recipes are so delicious! I can’t get enough!

    1. I am thrilled that you loved the soup! I appreciate you using my recipes! Thanks for your terrific feedback! Happy cooking!

  9. This soup is amazing. I honestly think it’s better than the traditional version from Olive Garden. I made my own seitan Italian sausage, but followed the rest of the recipe as written. My whole family loved this. Thanks for another fabulous recipe, Nora!

    1. Hi Terri. I am so thrilled to hear how much you and your family loved the soup! Thank you for sharing your glowing feedback!

  10. Iโ€™m writing this before I go in for my second bowl! This is DELICIOUS and I canโ€™t believe how easy it was to put together. I used Field Roast sausage and coconut cream but next time I will try the cashew cream recipe. My new favorite soup. Thank you Nora! I love every single one of your recipes that Iโ€™ve tried so far and look forward to trying more.

  11. Omg I made the Toscana soup, the best soup ever!!!!!!! Sooo delicious and very satisfying! Thank You for sharing!

  12. This soup was sooooo good. I used โ€œthe very good butcherโ€ Cajun sausage (think itโ€™s a Canadian company) and it was the perfect amount of spice. Delicious. Thanks so much.

    1. Hi Lindsay. You are welcome! I’m really glad you loved the soup! Thanks for taking time to share your terrific feedback!

  13. Made this for dinner last night. Quick, easy, and delicious. We used Impossible Italian sausage links and removed the casing to crumble them while cooking and Country Crock plant cream. Thank you for the recipe! This is a keeper.

    1. Hi Barbara. The Italian sausage sounds delicious! I love that you found the recipe easy and delicious! Thanks for your wonderful feedback and ideas! Happy cooking!

  14. Really delicious!! I very much appreciate your hard work transforming recipes into vegan dishes that are easy and tasty! Thank you!

    1. Hi Philecia. I appreciate you taking time to acknowledge the work that goes into creating my recipes! I’m so glad you loved the Toscana! Thank you for taking time to share your amazing feedback! Happy cooking!

  15. I was so excited to make this.. I was waiting for you to create this and so glad you did! My husband and I loved it! The flavors were amazing. Thank you so much for creating so many delicious recipes. You are always my go to!!

    1. Hi Cindy. You are welcome! I am so glad you are enjoying my recipes! I’m really glad to know you and your husband loved the Toscana! Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback – it makes my day! Happy cooking!

  16. Nora, thank you for a wonderful recipe. It was quick and easy to make. I did not have the sausage so I used field roast sausage links and chopped them up. My vegan daughter loves your creations.
    Delicious! I also modify the vegan version to accommodate my non-vegan family members. They loved it!

  17. I confess I was a bit skeptical of this recipe because as a lover of every type of vegetable soup, I am not a fan of meatless “meat” in soups. But I had all the ingredients, including the meatless Italian sausage, and I was looking for something different. Well, this soup is delicious! I used spinach and oat milk, and the flavor and texture are wonderful. Vegans and non vegans alike will love this soup. Thank you so much for the recipe!

  18. I am making this today!! Can’t wait (and I do not like when people comment BEFORE they make it) but I have a question — Many vegan recipes call for purchased the veggie broth — why don’t you come up with a recipe to make your own veggie broth with spices. You have such great recipes!!! I have seen some online and tried and they are good — waiting for yours.

    1. This soup is phenomenal, I always make veggie stock or a chickenless veggie stock when I have the stuff and keep it in the freezer. Then I always have some ready. There is never a need to use store broth. Just because a recipe recommends something doesnโ€™t mean you have to use it.? Look through the comments for all the different types of substitutes for sausage. The beauty of cooking at home is the ability to substitute with your discretion. Just because the recipe author doesnโ€™t explicitly say make the broth from scratch but says she uses bullion paste doesnโ€™t mean you have to. By the way, this recipe is delicious with homemade broth. My S.O. requests this one more than any other.

  19. Nora,
    This is one of the best soups I’ve ever had. Thanks for the recipe. It was soooo good. My store didn’t have impossible sausage so I used a combination of beyond and Morningstar sausage patties. Definitely will be keeping some of this in the freezer. Your recipes are always so delicious. Thanks.
    Gail

    1. Hi Gail. I am thrilled to know this one of the best soups you’ve ever had! Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback! Your ideas are great and helpful! I appreciate you using my recipes! Happy cooking!

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