Instant Pot Keto Tuscan Soup

You know those nights when you want something warm and comforting, but also need it to be fast and healthy? I’ve been there. You crave a hearty soup, but you don’t have hours to let it simmer on the stove.

This Instant Pot Keto Tuscan Soup is the answer. It’s packed with flavor from sausage, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s creamy, satisfying, and comes together so fast you’ll wonder why you didn’t make it sooner.

Let’s get this soup made.

Instant Pot Keto Tuscan Soup

This recipe gives you all the cozy feelings of a classic Italian soup without the carbs. The Instant Pot does most of the work, making it perfect for a busy weeknight. It’s a one-pot meal that tastes like it took all day to prepare.

What You’ll Need

Here are the simple ingredients that come together for this soup.

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage (mild or hot)
• 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), drained
• 5 oz fresh kale or spinach, chopped
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)

Tools For the Job

You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment for this recipe. Just the basics will do.

Tool	Purpose
Instant Pot	Main cooking pot
Wooden Spoon	Sautéing & scraping
Knife & Board	Chopping veggies
Measuring Cups	For liquids & solids

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps. Your Instant Pot will handle the hard parts.

Step 1: Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” mode on high. Add the olive oil. Once it’s hot, add the ground Italian sausage.

Step 2: Break up the sausage with your spoon and cook until it’s browned all over. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.

Step 3: Add the chopped onion to the pot. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until it starts to soften. Then stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until you can smell it.

Step 4: Pour in a small amount of the chicken broth. Use your wooden spoon to scrape all the browned bits off the bottom of the pot. This is important to avoid a burn warning.

Step 5: Turn off the “Sauté” mode. Pour in the rest of the chicken broth, the Italian seasoning, and the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Give everything a quick stir.

Step 6: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Make sure the steam release valve is set to “Sealing.” Select the “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” setting and set the timer for 5 minutes.

Step 7: Once the 5 minutes are up, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, carefully move the valve to “Venting” to release any remaining steam.

Step 8: Open the lid. Stir in the heavy cream, chopped kale (or spinach), and grated Parmesan cheese. The heat from the soup will wilt the greens and melt the cheese.

Step 9: Taste the soup and add salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like. Stir one last time and serve it up hot.

Pro Tips

After making this soup dozens of times, I’ve picked up a few tricks.

• Don’t Skip the Scrape: Seriously, scrape the bottom of that pot after browning the sausage. Those brown bits are pure flavor. More importantly, it prevents the Instant Pot from thinking something is burning and shutting off.
• Add Greens Last: Always add your kale or spinach at the very end, after pressure cooking. This keeps them from turning into a mushy, sad mess. You want them to be just wilted but still have some life.
• Sausage Choice Matters: The type of Italian sausage you use sets the tone for the whole soup. Hot sausage will give it a nice kick. Mild sausage is great if you’re serving people who don’t like spice.
• Drain the Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil are great, but drain them well. Too much oil can make the soup greasy. A little is fine, but you don’t want a puddle on top.

Substitutions and Variations

This soup is easy to change up based on what you have.

Ingredient	Swap With	Notes
Italian Sausage	Ground chicken	Add more seasoning
Heavy Cream	Coconut cream	For a dairy-free soup
Kale	Spinach or chard	Add at the end
Parmesan	Nutritional yeast	Dairy-free cheese flavor

You can also add other keto-friendly veggies. Chopped cauliflower or zucchini can be added with the broth before pressure cooking for a heartier soup.

Make-Ahead Tips

You can prep parts of this recipe to make dinner even faster.

• Chop your onion and mince your garlic ahead of time.
• Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
• You can also wash and chop your kale so it’s ready to go.

This saves you about 10 minutes of prep work when you’re ready to cook.

Leftovers and Storage

This soup stores really well, and the flavors are even better the next day.

Let the soup cool down completely. Then, pour it into an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can reheat it in a pot on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave. The soup may thicken a bit in the fridge, so you might want to add a splash of broth or water when reheating.

FAQs

Q1. Can I make this on the stovetop instead of an Instant Pot?
Ans: Yes. Brown the sausage and veggies in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the broth and tomatoes, then bring to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes before adding the cream and greens.

Q2. My soup seems a little thin. How can I thicken it?
Ans: To thicken it without adding carbs, you can mix 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum with a little bit of the hot broth, then stir that mixture back into the soup. A little goes a long way.

Q3. Can I use frozen kale or spinach?
Ans: You can. If you use frozen greens, you don’t need to thaw them first. Just add them at the end like you would with fresh greens and stir until they are heated through.

Wrapping Up

This Keto Tuscan Soup is one of my go-to recipes for a reason. It’s fast, filling, and full of flavor. It proves that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring or difficult.

Give this recipe a try. I think you’ll be surprised at how simple and good it is. When you make it, drop a comment below and let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear from you.