Comforting & Hearty Minestrone Soup (Easy Vegetarian Meal Idea!)
This comforting minestrone soup with pasta and veggies is one recipe all will love!
It’s soup weather, and here’s an easy recipe to consider adding to the menu this week!
A warm brothy bowl of minestrone soup with tender veggies, beans, and pasta served up alongside a loaf of crusty bread is a meatless meal that anyone can get on board with.
Readers have been requesting more meatless options due to the current spike in meat costs right now, and this option is delicious and inexpensive using to create using some pantry staples.
I love that this minestrone soup is a hearty meal that’s simple to make using one pot, and the leftovers are just as yummy the next day. If you like making a pot of soup and then enjoying it warmed up throughout the week, this is a perfect one to consider!
Minestrone Soup
yield: 8 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 40 MINUTES
total time: 55 MINUTES
A comforting Italian tomato-based soup with veggies, pasta, and beans.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 large carrot, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 zucchini, halved & chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 32 oz. chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 15.5 oz. can white cannellini beans, drained
- 15.5 oz. can red kidney beans, drained
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 cup dried ditalini pasta
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- garnish idea: freshly chopped parsley & parmesan cheese
Directions
1
Heat a large pot on medium heat with butter and add the onion, carrots, celery, and zucchini. Use a spoon to stir and let sauté until tender. Add garlic and cook another minute.
2
Stir in broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, beans, and seasonings. Close the lid, bring to a boil, and let simmer for 15 minutes.
3
Add the pasta and let it cook for about 8-10 minutes until tender. Add in the spinach and stir.
4
Serve warm and garnish with freshly chopped spinach. Parmesan cheese is another yummy topping idea. Enjoy!
Helpful tips when making minestrone soup:
- Consider using veggies you may have on hand that need to be used up in the fridge or freezer. Green beans, peas, kale, and even corn could be other options. You can customize the veggies to your preferred taste.
- To make this meatless meal truly vegetarian, swap out the chicken broth with vegetable broth instead.
- I tend to like minestrone soup with smaller pasta like ditalini along with finely chopped veggies. You can of course use elbow macaroni or another pasta you have in the pantry. In a pinch, use a handful of broken-up spaghetti, just like Gordan Ramsay does in his minestrone! 👨🍳
- Minestrone soup can freeze well. Let it cool and store it in freezer-safe containers. To serve, let the soup thaw in the fridge overnight and heat up as desired. Add more broth if needed.
- If you’d like to add protein, I have added cooked ground Italian sausage as a delicious way to bulk up this meal even further. 😋
Oh, I do love a good cozy soup recipe, especially this minestrone!
I warmed some up for lunch the next day, and it’s even better. You may want to add some additional broth, though, as the pasta tends to soak it up by the next day.
Next time I’m gonna serve mine with an air fryer grilled cheese as a yummy idea!
Here’s what my teammate Emily thought of this minestrone soup:
“This is the perfect wintery soup. I love all the vegetables with the beans. It’s a great hearty soup and will keep you full! The flavor is phenomenal. My whole family loved it! Will definitely be making this again.”
Have always wondered how do we pronounce it..
Mini-strone or Maa-in-strone
This is what google says “The correct pronunciation of minestrone in Italian is Mee-neh-stroh-neh” I personally say your first option LOL
Lina, this soup looks really good. I have everything I need in my pantry. I will order some spinach today for pickup and definitely make this over the expected cold weekend. And you are so right about a bowl of hot soup and a loaf of crusty bread; it’s the simple pleasures that make the moment. Thank you.
Enjoy Stella! This is a good one that tastes even better left over – stay warm!
This soup is good with cheese tortellini!
Yum! Yes, perfect!
Oh my….that sounds yummy!
When do you put the zucchini in?
In step one with the other veggies! Good catch, fixed! Thanks
I’ve been looking for recipes that will use a lot of items from the garden or that I can make myself (veggie broth from scraps). Also meatless recipes. This is perfect! Thanks!
Oh nice. Enjoy Jaime!
I made this last night. It was very tasty.
I forgot to add spinach, but it was still delicious.
Good for those cold winter evenings.
I give it 5*
Wow yay! Thanks so much Kate! I need to make this again soon <3
I love Minestrone soup but have never made it myself. I decided to give it a try today and YUM YUM it was delish 😋 This simple and quick recipe will be used over and over again in my kitchen. THANK YOU🤗
Ohhh yay I am sooo glad you enjoyed! Thanks Joanna 🙂
Just made this recipe tonight! It was delicious!!! Perfect winter meal!
OHHH YAY! Thanks so much for your feedback Christina.
I made this soup for a warm weekend meal and it is sooo good. Easy to make, ingredients
sitting in the pantry….yum. I added green beans instead of Zucchini.
Ohh great idea and YUM! Thanks Judy!
Hello. I missed the link for the veggie cutter. It looks amazing. Thanks
Hi Sandra! You can grab that from Amazon. 🤗
I have been making Minestrone soup from Kraft foods recipe for years & everyone who has tried it, falls in luv with it Search it up: Kraft Zesty Minestrone Soup
Do I see a can of tomato paste in the picture? I don’t see it in the ingredients though.
Yes! Oops I think I decided at the time, it was thick enough with the tomatoes and ditched. Ha – Sorry for any confusion. However, it would be great with a tablespoon or two for a deeper taste, if desired! This recipe is great to play around with and add or subtract ingredients as desired.
I made this tonight ..thank you for the recipe it was delish
Ohhh yay!! This is the best news 😍 thanks Terrie!