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Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana (Sausage and Potato Soup) in a white bowl with scalloped edge next to silver spoon

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana (Sausage Potato Soup)

Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana (Sausage Potato Soup) is hearty and full of flavor. One of my family's all-time favorites! Very simple to make in your Instant Pot!

Course Dinner, Soup
Cuisine Italian
Keyword olive garden soup, pressure cooker zuppa toscana
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Pressure Building and Release 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 344 kcal
Author Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 3 strips Thick Cut Smoky Bacon, chopped
  • 2 lbs Ground Hot Italian Sausage (use ½ hot and ½ mild if you don't like spicy)
  • 1 Large Onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano, dried
  • 4 large cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
  • 4-6 Medium Potatoes, halved and sliced ½ inch thick
  • 6 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium
  • 1 Bunch of Kale** chopped, with rib removed
  • 1 - 1 ½ cups Heavy Cream (or whole milk, half and half, etc.)

Optional Substitute for the Kale

  • 12-ounce Pkg Frozen Chopped Spinach (thawed) or fresh Baby Spinach*

Instructions

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté mode, and add the chopped bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon renders out most of its fat. Remove and set aside.

  2. Add the sausage and brown it, stirring a few times. If you can get a good browning on it the flavor will be even better!

  3. Spoon out most of the fat (all but 1 Tablespoon of the fat, enough to cook the onions).

  4. Add the onions, stir them.

  5. Add the oregano.

  6. When the onions start to turn translucent, add the garlic and stir.

  7. Pour in the broth, stirring, and make sure you scrape the bottom of the pot to get up any browned bits (deglaze).

  8. Add the potatoes, and add the bacon back in.

  9. Check to make sure the contents don't go over the Max Fill line marked on the inner liner.

  10. Cancel Sauté mode.

  11. Close the lid, set the steam release knob to Sealing.

  12. Set to Manual (or Pressure Cook), and choose 5 minutes* (High Pressure). The pot will take several minutes to come to pressure.

  13. After cooking cycle ends, allow a 10 minute NPR (Natural Pressure Release).

  14. Do a Controlled Quick Release for the rest of the steam, and when the pin in the lid drops, open the lid.

  15. Add in the kale, (or thawed spinach, if using) and stir well. Cover and let heat through for 5 minutes or so to soften the kale. If using spinach, just stir it in and proceed to the next step.

  16. Stir in the heavy cream.

  17. Serve!

Recipe Notes

*Cook time is the time the soup cooks once it is at pressure (and time sautéing). Full pots of soup can take several minutes to come to pressure.

**You can use spinach in place of the kale. Use fresh baby spinach or thawed frozen chopped spinach.

You shouldn't need to add any salt to this recipe as the meat has plenty in it. Some pepper might be good, but it has a nice little kick of spice if you use hot Italian sausage, and you may not need it.