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Indulge in a warm and comforting bowl of traditional Italian flavors with this delicious Italian minestrone soup recipe. With a tasty blend of fresh vegetables, herbs and pasta, this classic soup is the perfect way to warm up on a chilly day. Enjoy a hearty minestrone soup recipe for lunch or supper, perhaps paired with some crusty bread for a well-rounded meal.

A bowl of the best minestrone, topped with grated cheese, garnished with parsley, and accompanied by toasted bread slices.

This authentic Italian minestrone soup recipe is so good. The nutrient-packed combination of beans, pasta and seasonal vegetables makes every spoonful a joy.

Do you enjoy making easy soup recipes? You might also like chicken zoodle soup, wonton noodle soup, chicken noodle soup or this pumpkin apple soup.

A bowl of hearty Italian minestrone soup with pasta, topped with grated cheese and a parsley leaf. Two pieces of bread are placed on the side.

Why You’ll Love this Italian Vegetable Soup

Straightforward: Nonna’s minestrone soup recipe is really simple. As is the case with many favorite soups, a large part of making this is just adding ingredients to a pot and stirring it now and then.
Healthy: Fresh vegetables are the backbone of classic minestrone soup. But as well as the nutrients from them, the best minestrone soup offers vitamins and minerals from the beans and broth.
Tweak-able: Since it was traditionally made to use up leftover vegetables, minestrone can be endlessly varied by switching up everything from the broth to the vegetables and beans used, to the pasta type and garnishes.

A bowl of Italian Minestrone Soup topped with parsley and grated cheese, served with toasted bread. Additional parsley, cheese, and seasoning are nearby on a woven mat and white cloth.

Minestrone Soup Ingredients

Vegetables: Onion, carrot, celery, tomatoes and tomato paste, potatoes, and spinach go into the soup for color, flavor and nutrients.

Ditalini pasta: The perfect shape and size for soup.
Beans: I used cannellini beans and kidney beans.
Parmesan cheese: A classic component that adds a salty, tangy tastes.
Seasonings: Garlic powder and onion powder go into this soup.
Herbs: You need parsley and bay leaves.
Broth: You can use vegetable broth, bone broth or even chicken broth.

A vibrant array of ingredients graces the marble surface, featuring beans, spinach, carrots, celery, tomatoes, pasta, broth, and herbs—perfectly suited for crafting the best Italian Minestrone Soup with a delightful blend of seasonings.

How to Make Minestrone Soup

Sauté the vegetables:  Cook them in oil until golden.
Season the minestrone:  Add the spices and seasonings and cook briefly.
Add more ingredients:  Mix in the broth, tomato juice and bay leaves, followed by the beans and potatoes.
And some more ingredients:  The pasta (cooked al dente), spinach and parsley go in next.
The finishing touches:  Add butter and grated parmesan cheese, then serve hot.

A bowl of Italian Minestrone Soup topped with parsley and grated cheese, served with toasted bread. Additional parsley, cheese, and seasoning are nearby on a woven mat and white cloth.

Substitutions and Variations

Vegetables: Use any fresh seasonal vegetables you like, such as yellow squash, butternut squash, fresh green beans, sweet potatoes, broccoli or other fresh vegetables lurking in your crisper drawer that needs using up. Making minestrone soup is great for cleaning out leftover vegetables.

Ditalini pasta: Swap the ditalini pasta for elbow macaroni or any small pasta shape. Perhaps you want to use gluten-free pasta in this hearty soup.

Beans: Feel free to use green beans, white beans, cannellini beans, or any other kind you have. If you do have a lot of beans, save some for this ribollita soup which is another bean-based option.

A bowl of Italian Minestrone Soup brimming with pasta, kidney beans, and fresh vegetables, accompanied by a slice of crusty bread. Grated cheese and pepper flakes add the perfect finishing touch to this classic dish.

Serving Suggestions

As the main dish: As a one pot meal, you don’t have to serve anything with with this classic Italian minestrone soup. However, personally I love some crusty bread or garlic bread to soak up every last delicious bit. Add a lemon parmesan salad on the side too, or some marinated mozzarella balls.
As an appetizer: You could also serve this cozy soup in small bowls as an appetizer, followed up by an Italian main course, such as meatball marinara subs (omit the crusty bread with the soup if so) or beef braciole.

A bowl of hearty Italian minestrone soup topped with herbs and grated cheese, accompanied by slices of toasted bread.

How to Store Italian Minestrone Soup

Store: Refrigerate minestrone leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Leftovers taste even better the next day!
Freeze: Freeze in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm it back up gently in a pan on the stove or microwave it until hot.

A fork holds a bite of vegetable stew with shredded cheese, poised over a bowl reminiscent of the best Italian Minestrone Soup, accompanied by slices of bread.

Top Tips

Keep it fresh: When making the best Italian minestrone soup recipe, it’s important to use fresh ingredients for that wonderful fresh flavor in every spoonful.
Use any leftover veggies: Italian home cooks will add any vegetables lurking in the crisper drawer instead of following one particular set recipe.
Add the butter last: The butter should be added at the very end, just to add richness.

A pot of Italian Minestrone soup, with pasta, topped with grated cheese and parsley, surrounded by spinach leaves and bread on a white tablecloth.

Minestrone Soup FAQs

Can I add meat to homemade minestrone?

Yes, of course – anything from Italian sausage, ham or chicken to beef, pork or bacon would work. Cook the meat before adding it. You can also use beef broth or another meaty option rather than chicken or vegetable. Don’t be scared to experiment – pretty much anything goes!

What does the word “minestrone” actually mean?

Pronounced as min-uh-STROH-nee, the word minestrone is derived from the Italian word “minestra” which simply means soup.

Can I make this minestrone recipe gluten free?

Yes! Just use gluten free pasta in it.

What’s the parmesan cheese rind for?

Parmesan rind is optional in this recipe but many think it is the secret ingredient to the best soup! The parmesan rind will dissolve into the broth and also slightly thicken the broth. This will impart an amazing rich flavor to the soup. Remove whatever is left of the rind just before serving.

The next time you finish up a wedge of cheese, place the leftover rind into your freezer in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. It will keep indefinitely. Just remember to add it the next time you are making soup or stew. Even if you put the rind in while it cooks, you can still top with freshly grated parmesan, too.

A bowl of Italian Minestrone Soup with pasta, garnished with parsley and grated cheese, accompanied by slices of toasted bread.

Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe

5 from 48 votes

Italian Minestrone Soup

Indulge in a warm and comforting bowl of traditional Italian flavours with this delicious minestrone soup recipe! Enjoy a hearty minestrone soup recipe for lunch or supper, perhaps paired with some crusty bread for a well-rounded meal.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

Optional Garnishes:

Instructions 

  • In a large soup pot, saute the onions, celery, and carrots with the olive oil until they begin to gain some color.
  • Add the tomatoes to the pot one at a time, crushing each one by hand as you drop them in, reserve the tomato juices. Add the tomato paste, parmesan rind, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Sauté together for just a couple minutes.
  • Add the juices from the tomatoes, broth, and bay leaves, bring to a light boil then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Carefully, give the soup a taste, add additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as preferred.
  • Add both of the beans, and the potatoes, let simmer for another 15 minutes.
  • Add the pasta and cook until the potatoes are soft and pasta is al dente.
  • Add the spinach and parsley, and stir.
  • Add the butter and parmesan, stir. Once the butter and parmesan have melted the soup is ready to serve. Garnish with optional grated parmesan, black pepper, red pepper flakes or fresh parsley.

Notes

Keep it fresh: When making the best Italian minestrone soup recipe, it’s important to use fresh ingredients for that wonderful fresh flavor in every spoonful.
Use any leftover veggies: Italian home cooks will add any vegetables lurking in the crisper drawer instead of following one particular set recipe.
Add the butter last: The butter should be added at the very end, just to add richness.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 1839mg | Potassium: 843mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5237IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 5mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Way better than the Olive Garden or store-bought varieties, this homemade Italian minestrone soup is fast and healthy, bursting with nutritious vegetables and fresh flavors. Italian minestrone soup is a great choice for this time of year. The whole family will love this soup.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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5 from 48 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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