Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

5 from 8 votes

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Homemade Minestrone Soup is loaded with veggies, along with beans, pasta, tomatoes, fresh herbs, and smoky bacon. This classic Italian vegetable soup is perfect for keeping you cozy and full!

Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (2)

I’ve been on a bit of a soup bender lately. It started with this roasted tomato soup, and it led to this nourishing and flavorful homemade minestrone soup. This classic recipe combines tender garden veggies, beans, and pasta in a tangy tomato broth with fresh herbs and salty bacon.

Why We Love Minestrone Soup

  • Easy. This one-pot soup is quick, easy to make, and way better than the canned stuff. It’s perfect for lunch or dinner.
  • Cozy and nutritious. Packed with classic veggies, pasta, zesty tomato broth, and bacon, this meal is good for the body and the soul!
  • Use up leftovers. Minestrone is the best way to use up the ingredients you have sitting in a crisper drawer.

What Is Minestrone Soup

  • Minestrone is a hearty Italian vegetable soup, but not all vegetable soup is a minestrone! Classic minestrone soup is a variation of veggies bulked up with pasta and white beans in a tomato-based broth. There isn’t a set recipe. In addition to pasta and beans, most minestrone recipes contain staples like onions, carrots, and tomatoes, and you can make it using any veggies that are in season. I also toss in some smoky bacon, but it’s just as easy to make it without.
Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (3)

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Vegetables:Diced yellow onion, carrots, and sliced zucchini.
  • Herbs:In addition to salt and pepper, we add freshly minced garlic, fresh thyme leaves, and bay leaves for depth of flavor.
  • Canned Tomatoes and Vegetable Broth:You’ll need diced tomatoes and your choice of vegetable stock or broth.
  • Pasta: You can make minestrone soup with any type of pasta you’d like. I use whole wheat ditali pasta, a larger version of ditalini.
  • White Beans: Cannellini beans or another variety like navy beans or red kidney beans.
  • Spinach: Fresh baby spinach leaves add a nice pop of green.
  • Parmesan:Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  • Bacon: Before I even start the soup, I saute diced bacon in the pot for a hint of smokiness. For vegetarian minestrone, simply skip the bacon.

How to Make Minestrone Soup

Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (4)
Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (5)
Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (6)
  • Saute. First, saute the bacon with a splash of olive oil. Once cooked through, add the carrots, onions, zucchini, garlic, and herbs to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, stirring while the veggies soften slightly.
  • Combine and simmer. Stir in the canned tomatoes, broth, and toss in a bay leaf. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and leave it to simmer. After 15 minutes, add in your dry pasta. Continue to simmer for a few minutes longer, until the noodles are tender.
  • Add beans and spinach. Finally, stir in the beans and wilt in the baby spinach leaves. Give your soup a final seasoning to taste.
  • Serve. Take the pot off the heat, pluck out the bay leaf, and let the soup rest for a few minutes before ladling it into bowls. Give each bowl a sprinkle with parmesan and, presto! Coziness in a bowl.
Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (7)

Recipe Tips And Variations

  • If your soup is on the thicker side, add more vegetable broth to help thin it out a little.
  • If you don’t have fresh vegetables on hand, feel free to make the soup with frozen veggies instead.
  • Make this soup a day ahead. Minestrone is delicious when served even the next day! Making this soup ahead of time allows all the flavors to deepen overnight.
  • Different veggies. Use chopped celery, fennel, chopped green beans, and kale.
  • Fresh tomatoes. Trade out canned tomatoes for fresh diced tomatoes when they’re in season.
  • Different protein. Instead of bacon, saute sausage, beef, or chicken.
  • Grains. In place of pasta, make this recipe with long-grain rice, farro, or barley pearls.
  • Vegan. To make vegan minestrone soup, omit the bacon and make sure to use vegetable broth.

Serving Suggestions

A warming bowl of minestrone is a meal all on its own, but fluffy dinner rolls or skillet biscuits are always welcome. A Caesar salad is a classic side for soup. Or, make this fresh Mediterranean-inspired tomato burrata salad. For something heartier, give my antipasto salad with grilled chicken a try. Pair with a side of roasted sweet potatoes and parsnips or roasted artichokes. Try this creamy dill chicken salad sandwich or a grilled pizza and this keto spin on a classic pizza Margherita.

Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (8)

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep the soup in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or freeze it for 2 to 3 months.Reheating minestrone soup is as easy as adding it to a pot on the stovetop and warming it over medium-low heat until heated through.

Homemade Soup Recipes

  • Beef Barley Soup
  • Creamy Tortellini Soup
  • Butternut Squash Soup
  • Cabbage Soup
  • Meatball Soup
  • Lentil Soup

Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (9)

Minestrone Soup

Katerina | Diethood

Homemade Minestrone Soup is packed with veggies, beans, pasta, tomatoes, and bacon. This traditional Italian vegetable soup is a robust and satisfying meal, sure to please any appetite.

5 from 8 votes

Rate this Recipe!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 slices bacon, diced
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 large carrots, diced
  • 1 small zucchini, halved longwise and sliced into half-moons
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
  • 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup whole wheat ditali pasta
  • 15 ounces canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 10 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese, for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a soup pot or Dutch oven set over medium heat.

  • Add the diced bacon and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until starting to crisp up.

  • Add the onions, carrots, zucchini, garlic, and thyme; season with salt and pepper and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.

  • Add the canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, and bay leaf; increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil.

  • Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes; add uncooked pasta and continue to cook until pasta is cooked and vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.

  • Add the beans and spinach; continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until beans are heated through and spinach is wilted. Taste the soup for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly.

  • Remove from heat, discard the bay leaf, and let the soup rest for a few minutes. Ladle into soup bowls, top with parmesan cheese, and serve.

Notes

  • Storage: Cool the soup completely and store leftovers in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days or freeze it for 2 to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5 cups | Calories: 244 kcal | Carbohydrates: 32 g | Protein: 13 g | Fat: 8 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g | Trans Fat: 0.02 g | Cholesterol: 9 mg | Sodium: 299 mg | Potassium: 842 mg | Fiber: 5 g | Sugar: 4 g | Vitamin A: 6403 IU | Vitamin C: 20 mg | Calcium: 109 mg | Iron: 4 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: italian vegetable soup, minestrone soup, minestrone soup recipe

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Categories:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • One Pot Meals
  • Pasta
  • Recipes
  • Side Dishes
  • Soups
Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in yes minestrone soup? ›

Deliciously crafted with tomato, carrots, potato, chickpeas and pasta, this canned soup delivers a flavor-packed punch.

What is the thickening agent for minestrone? ›

Use Tomato Paste For A Hearty, Thick Minestrone

Tomato paste is commonly used as a thickening agent for soups, sauces, stews, and chilis. Think of it as a concentrated tomato sauce that imparts a savory flavor to dishes. You can prepare it at home or buy it in a tube and mix it with other food ingredients as needed.

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

What is Olive Garden minestrone soup made of? ›

Ingredients- 2 Tbs olive oil; 1 onion diced (1 cup); 1 celery diced; 1 carrot, peeled & diced; 1 zucchini, chopped; 2 tsp minced garlic; 14 oz can diced tomato; 32 oz vegetable stock; 1 bay leaf; 1 1/2 Tbs Italian seasoning; 2 Tbs tomato paste; 15 oz canned small white beans, rinsed drained; 15 oz canned kidney beans ...

How do you thicken minestrone soup? ›

You can thicken minestrone soup by adding 2-4 tablespoons of tomato paste. A larger amount of beans, cheese or other veggies can also help thicken the soup up.

What's the difference between minestrone and vegetable soup? ›

Minestrone soup is unique because it typically includes beans, pasta, or rice, as well as vegetables, and the ingredients are always left chunky (it's never blended), making it a heartier option. Vegetable soups are usually simpler and don't typically include beans or pasta, and you could have a blended vegetable soup.

Why is minestrone soup so good? ›

Thanks to its detoxifying properties, minestrone stimulates the purification of the liver and the entire body. “It provides minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which help drain and remove excess fluid responsible for fluid retention and swelling,” according to the nutritionist.

What is the brief description of soup minestrone? ›

Minestrone (/ˌmɪnəsˈtroʊni/, Italian: [mineˈstroːne]) is a thick soup of Italian origin made with meats, vegetables, and pasta. Ingredients include beans, onions, celery, carrots, leaf vegetables, stock, parmesan cheese and tomatoes.

What does minestrone mean in Italian? ›

Origin of minestrone1. 1890–95; < Italian, equivalent to minestr ( a ) kind of soup (literally, something served; minister ) + -one augmentative suffix.

How to make soup thick at home? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

What if my minestrone soup is too thick? ›

(You may need to add a little water if the soup gets too thick). Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately with grated Parmesan and more olive oil.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Ground black pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes can add a hint of heat. Aromatics:Sautéing aromatic vegetables like onions, garlic, and celery before adding the broth can build a flavorful base. Consider adding ginger or lemongrass for an extra layer of taste.

What is the main ingredient in soup? ›

The most common ingredient in soup dishes is onion. Garlic, chicken broth, carrots, olive oil, tomatoes and celery are also common ingredients in soup recipes. For herbs and spices, cayenne pepper is popular.

How is minestrone different from vegetable soup? ›

Minestrone soup is unique because it typically includes beans, pasta, or rice, as well as vegetables, and the ingredients are always left chunky (it's never blended), making it a heartier option. Vegetable soups are usually simpler and don't typically include beans or pasta, and you could have a blended vegetable soup.

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