Whole30 Zuppa Toscana (Paleo, Gluten Free)
This Whole30 Healthy Zuppa Toscana is a creamy and delicious Italian soup made with sausage, kale, and sweet potatoes! It can be made in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker. This easy, hearty Whole30 soup is also paleo, gluten free, and dairy free. One of my favorite healthy soups of all time!
*This post was updated with new photos and new copy on September 29, 2021.
Hearty, easy gluten free soups in the fall and winter are my absolute favorite! This Healthy Zuppa Toscana is a dairy free version and gluten-free version of the classic Italian soup. I subbed in sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, but you can certainly use regular if you prefer! The combination of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors in this Whole30 Zuppa Toscana are out of this world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What You Need To Make This Easy Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
Sausage – You can either make your own Italian Sausage using this easy recipe, or you can buy it. I love to get sugar free Italian sausage from Butcher Box. It is the best Whole30 compliant Italian sausage ever!
Bacon – I also prefer to get sugar free bacon from Butcher Box. It is salty and gets perfectly crispy every time!
Onion
Minced garlic
Canned full fat coconut milk
Chopped kale
A large sweet potato or two small ones
Italian Seasoning
Crushed red pepper
Chicken broth or stock
That’s it! I love soups with minimal ingredients.
How To Make This Easy Zuppa Toscana
I’ve included a variety of cooking methods so nobody feels left out! Whether you have a dutch oven, an Instant Pot, or a slow cooker…you can make this! And I promise it’s super easy.
First, either cook your bacon in the oven using my Easy Oven Baked Method, or you can cut it up and sauté it in the Instant Pot (or on the stove). Next, add the sausage, onion, and garlic to the Instant Pot (or pot on the stove). Sauté them until the sausage is nice and browned.
Next, add in the sweet potatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and sea salt. Stir well. Then lock the lid and cook on high manual pressure for 10 minutes. Make sure the vent is turned to “sealing” on the Instant Pot! If making this on the stove, you can let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
After quick releasing the steam, add in the chopped kale and stir it until wilted (this should only take a minute)! Next, add in the 1 cup of coconut milk. I prefer to use the creamy, thick part of the can of coconut milk. Stir well.
Crumble up your bacon and serve it on top. Voila! The easiest and tastiest soup of all time!
FAQs, Tips, and Tricks
Can you use another milk besides coconut milk? Yes, you could also use heavy cream or 1/2 & 1/2, or a cashew cream made from 3/4 cup raw, unsalted cashews + 3/4 cup water blended until creamy! I would stick to coconut milk or the cashew cream for Dairy Free Zuppa Toscana.
Can you make this Whole30 Zuppa Toscana Keto / low carb? Yes, to make this soup Keto, you can sub in cauliflower florets instead of the potatoes.
Can you freeze Zuppa Toscana? Yes! This soup will freeze nicely. Just wait until it cools then add it to a freezer-friendly container with a little extra room at the top, in case it expands.
Can you make this in the Slow Cooker? Yes! Crock Pot Whole30 Zuppa Toscana directions are included below.
If you try this Healthy Paleo Zuppa Toscana, make sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations! If you try it and love it, a 5-star rating and review below would mean the world!
Other Easy Soups You Might Love
Classic Gluten Free Turkey Chili
Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Happy cooking, fam! xo
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Whole30 Zuppa Toscana
Ingredients
- 4 pieces sugar free bacon
- 1 lb Italian sausage, Turkey sausage will work as well
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups diced sweet potatoes, leave skins on or remove- up to you!
- 4.5 cups chicken broth
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning, (if you don’t have this, do 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1 tsp oregano)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 3 cups kale, stems removed, coarsely chopped
- 1 can coconut milk, We are only going to use the hardened part of coconut milk that rises to the top of the can.
Equipment
Instructions
Instant Pot
- You can make the bacon ahead of time using my fool-proof baked method, or make it in the instant pot. To do this, chop up the raw bacon. Set the pot to “saute” and add the bacon pieces. Cook until crispy and set aside to drain on a paper towel.
- If you did not cook the bacon in the IP, add 1 tbsp cooking oil/ghee. If you did cook the bacon in the pot, use the rendered bacon fat to saute the sausage. Add the sausage, garlic, and onions to the pot and saute for 4-5 mins until cooked through and the onions are opaque.
- Hit the "cancel" button and add in the chicken broth, sweet potatoes, and seasonings. Lock the lid, turn the vent to sealing, and set to "manual" high pressure for 8 minutes.
- When done, manually release the pressure (carefully!). Add the kale and stir until wilted. Add 1 cup of coconut cream (the hardened/solidified coconut milk that rises to the top of the can) and stir until melted. Serve with crumbled bacon on top and enjoy!
Crock Pot/ Slow Cooker
- Make bacon ahead of time using my fool-proof baked method or saute in a pan, drain, crumble, and set aside.
- Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat and add 1 tbsp cooking fat (or if you cooked bacon in the pan, just use the bacon fat. Add the sausage, onions, and garlic and cook 5-7 mins until the sausage is browned and the onions are opaque.
- Place the sausage mixture into the crock pot along with the chicken broth, sweet potatoes, and seasonings. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Stir in the kale until wilted, and add in the coconut cream and stir until melted. Serve with crumbled bacon on top and enjoy!
41 Comments on “Whole30 Zuppa Toscana (Paleo, Gluten Free)”
You say there are instructions for how to make this in a Dutch oven, but I can’t find the instructions on how to just cook it on the stove. thanks!
I made this soup yesterday and I can’t not leave a review!!! It is quite possible the best soup I’ve ever tasted, so flavorful even without the bacon which I didn’t use. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes, thank you!!
Thank you!!
Making this tonight!!
Love your recipes and love how there are options!! I debated Dutch vs. Crock pot today for this – crock pot it is!!
Really great – I didn’t have sweet potatoes on hand and used a Japanese yam and a few red potatoes instead. Kids loved it!
Thank you, Nicole!
Great hearty soup!! Will definitely be making it again. Big hit with all the family
This is my favorite soup to make! It’s quick and easy (even if you are making it the long way) and EVERYONE loves it. It settles into your belly and bones in the coziest way and you want another bowl even if you are full. So so so good!!!
Excellent- will definitely be adding this to our repeat recipes! Thank you!
I have never reviewed a recipe EVER, but this soup compelled me. It is absolutely amazing. I could eat it every day, it’s that good!!
I read the other reviews about people wanting to drink the liquid straight and the other praise, and figured people were being a bit dramatic, but it actually was really, truly that good! I did not think a recipe with such basic ingredients would turn out so flavorful, but it really was. Perfect to make a quick lunch on a cold day, with plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week. I made it during a Whole30 slump (the point where you’re bored with your food) and this helped pull me right out! Simple, but so wonderful. A new favorite!
I typically don’t make soups, but this one is going to be showing up in dish often from now on!
It’s packed with flavor and so simple! I rarely get to use my crockpot anymore, and this was the perfect reason to bust it back out!
Again, anti-soup gal here….holy crap, Mary….you’ve done it again. There is so much flavor in this that it doesn’t even SEEM like a bath tub for ingredients. I look forward to drinking that leftover liquid oftentimes discarded at the end of a soup, it’s so good I’m tearing up just thinking about it
Made last night!! Not a drop left! Fast easy and so delicious. I normally cook my bacon in oven but did it in the instant pot this time. So easy and no mess. All of Mary’s soups are the best!!
My husband and I both loved this soup. I will definitely be making it again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks Sarah! I am glad you loved it!
Very good and so easy to make – the perfect soup for a chilly night! I subbed white Hannah sweet potatoes and spiralized them and it was delicious! Definitely plan to add this soup to our winter rotation.
Thanks Lucy! Glad you enjoyed it!
Tasty, easy and doesn’t spike hubby’s sugars (he’s diabetic). This recipe has been on repeat this winter in our home!
Very flavorful!! I subbed ground turkey with your sausage seasoning blend (found in the hashbrown breakfast casserole recipe) instead of pre-seasoned sausage and it turned out amazing ❤️😍
Love that you made your own sausage! Glad you liked it! Thanks, Katie 🙂
Perfect warm meal for a cold, rainy day! Loved it!
This soup is absolutely delicious! Will definitely be making this again.
Hi Mary! I made this soup tonight and it was amazing! My husband and I both had seconds. We have loved every one of your recipes we’ve tried, keep up the great work!
Hi! I am so glad you loved it! Thank you <3
This soup was perfect for a snow day. It was so delicious and filling! Can’t wait to make it again!
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know 🙂