Name: Keto Tuscan Soup Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Italian sausage; 3 tbsp butter; 1/2 onion; 2 garlic cloves; 8 oz chopped radishes (peeled and chopped); 1/4 cup chopped grape tomatoes; 8 oz mushrooms (sliced); 5 cups chicken broth; 2 cups heavy whipping cream; 1 tsp basil; 1 tsp parsley; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 3/4 cup sharp cheese; 4 oz baby spinach; 1/2 cup crumbled, cooked bacon

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This Keto Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe is the ultimate low carb comfort food! Made with sausage, spinach, and veggies, your family will love this hearty, rich, and creamy Italian soup!

What is Zuppa Toscana?

Zuppa Toscana is a classic Italian soup made traditionally with kale, beans, potatoes, and veggies. The ever-popular chain restaurant, Olive Garden, has served this soup for years, and I know why because people love it! The only thing is, it’s not keto-friendly. So I’ve created my own keto “copycat” version of their Tuscan soup recipe that is completely keto-approved and much lower in carbs.

Because potatoes are high in starch, I omitted them all together and incorporating more veggies instead! Cauliflower is a popular keto substitute for potatoes, which you can add if you enjoy a ‘chunkier’ soup. In this recipe, I used radishes for a potato substitute.

How to make low carb Tuscan soup

This keto Tuscan soup is very easy to make and is full of flavor! I love that it can be made in one pot on your stovetop! I highly recommend using a dutch oven to make your soup. Dutch ovens are heavier and hold heat in much better than your typical stainless steel pots. They won’t burn your food as easily as other thinner pots tend to do.

Keep in mind this soup is not meant to be super thick. But if you want to thicken it up, read below. I offer tips for how to thicken it while still following a keto diet.

*Nutritional information is listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step 1: In a dutch oven, brown your sausage keeping the sausage nice and chunky. Drain the grease and set meat aside. *You could swap out the sausage with ground chicken, turkey, or beef if you wish, but I find that sausage is the most flavorful.

Step 2: In the same pot, over medium-high heat, add butter, garlic, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, and radishes. Saute for about 7 minutes or until everything is soft and tender.

Step 3: Add 1/4 cup chicken stock, or chicken broth, and de-glaze your pan using a wooden spoon to scrape all the bits that are stuck on the bottom of the pan. They are full of flavor and should not be discarded. Then add the rest of your broth and spices and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid for 20-30 minutes.

Step 4: When your radishes are tender, add sausage, heavy cream, and spinach. (You could swap out kale if you prefer.) Simmer again on low covered for another 10 minutes.

Step 5: Add 1 cup cheese and 1/2 cup crumbled bacon bits and stir until the cheese is fully melted.

Step 6: Serve hot! Option* Serve with my keto cheesy garlic chaffle bread for dipping!

Low carb Tuscan soup variations and tips

This soup can be made with many different veggies, meats, and spices. Feel free to use what you have on hand or like best! Here are some substitutions you can try if you want to swap out an ingredient for something else:

Use hot Italian sausage if you like spicy foods
Use small cauliflower florets if you want a chunkier more “potato-like” soup
Puree cooked cauliflower and add it to your soup to thicken it (see notes below)
Swap out the pork sausage for ground chicken, turkey or beef
Feel free to use bone broth, beef broth or veggie broth instead
Add homemade Tuscan seasoning
Swap out the fresh tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes

How to thicken your soup without adding carbs

Zuppa soup is not supposed to be super thick. However, if you like thicker soups and are following a keto diet, you can thicken your soup in a couple of different ways.

Use xanthan gum. A little bit added to the broth will thicken it right up. I would start with 1/2 a teaspoon. Spoon out a little of the soup and add the xanthan gum. Stir until it thickens, then whisk it back into the soup and allow it to simmer for approx 5 min. If it doesn’t thicken up enough, you can add a bit more. You have to be careful with xanthan gum as it can cause food to have a slimy texture if you use too much.
Add cauliflower to your broth before you add any other veggies. Let it get nice and tender. Then use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the cauliflower. This will thicken the soup nicely and add flavor!
Use cornstarch. It isn’t keto-friendly as it is made from the starchy part of the corn kernel, and it contains 7 grams of carbs per tablespoon, but it does have more thickening power than flour, so you don’t need much! If you are more low carb than keto, it might be an option.

Can you freeze this soup?

Yes! You can freeze it for up to 6 weeks in a freezer-safe container. I recommend letting it thaw in the fridge overnight so it will be easier and quicker to reheat. You could also freeze your soup in Ziploc freezer bags. Just make sure to let the soup cool completely before freezing!

Keep in mind, to rewarm; you want to heat it slowly as heavy cream can separate when reheated.

Can I cook this soup in a slow cooker or Instant Pot?

The best part of this Keto Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe is the fact that it is a ‘one-pot meal.’ Using one pot allows you to develop and build flavors as you add ingredients. Browning your meat is something you just cannot do in a crock pot unless you do it separately in a skillet. So I do not recommend using a slow cooker. With that said, you can still use your crock pot to keep your soup warm after it’s done.

As for an Instant pot, I have not had the opportunity to try this recipe using one yet. However, if you do want to try it, I recommend using the saute setting to brown your sausage first. Then add in your veggies and tomatoes before you set it. It shouldn’t take more than 2-5 minutes. You just want your veggies nice and tender. If you set it too long, your veggies will turn to mush. Then, release the steam and add your spinach, heavy cream, cheese, and bacon to the pot and stir, until the spinach is wilted and the cheese is melted.

Other creamy keto soups you may like:

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