Name: Easy Minestrone Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 small onion, diced; 1 large carrot (or 2 small carrots), peeled and diced; 1 large stalk celery (or 2 small stalks celery), diced; 1 small zucchini, diced; ½ cup fresh cut green beans ((or substitute with frozen cut green beans)); 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced; 6 cups vegetable broth; 1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, NOT drained; 1 (15.5 oz) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed; 1 (15.5 oz) can small white beans (or navy beans), drained and rinsed; 1 teaspoon dried oregano ((or use 2 teaspoons fresh oregano)); ½ teaspoon dried basil ((or use 1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh basil)); ¼ teaspoon dried thyme ((or use ¾ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves)); Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste; ½ cup ditalini pasta ((or other small pasta shape such as orzo, stars, or mini shells)); 3 cups fresh baby spinach leaves; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; Squeeze of fresh lemon juice (optional); For serving: grated Parmesan cheese; additional chopped fresh herbs

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Hearty, healthy, and satisfying, this easy Minestrone Soup is a delicious vegetarian lunch or dinner recipe to keep you cozy on chilly days. Full of beans, vegetables, and pasta, this version of the classic Italian dish is even better than Olive Garden's. Serve it with garlic bread, focaccia, breadsticks, or cheddar chive beer bread, for a comfort food meal that the whole family will love!

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup is a thick soup of Italian origin, made with vegetables such as onions, carrots, tomatoes, and celery, and often beans, pasta, or rice. There's no single Italian recipe for minestrone, and instead you'll find different versions throughout the country, depending on the region, the season, and the individual cook's preferences. It's one of those dishes that you can make with just about any vegetables that you have on hand!

Olive Garden, the Italian-American restaurant chain, popularized this soup in the United States. My friend Monica shared this recipe with me years ago, and it's been a staple in our cool-weather meal routine ever since. It's her version of an Olive Garden minestrone soup copycat recipe, and we think it's even better than the restaurant's!

Ingredients

This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for a pot of easy minestrone soup. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.

Olive oil: to sauté the vegetables.
Onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, green beans, and garlic: fresh vegetables that add so much flavor and texture to the soup.
Vegetable broth: the base of the soup. You can substitute with chicken broth if you're not looking for a vegetarian meal.
Kidney beans and small white beans: any beans will work here, so pick your favorites. Other good options include chickpeas, red beans, pinto beans, or cannellini beans.
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes: provide a hint of smokiness to the soup, which makes it taste like it's been simmering on the stovetop all day. You can substitute with regular diced tomatoes, if necessary.
Parsley: provides a touch of bright green color and freshness.
Oregano, basil, and thyme: additional herbs that give the soup earthy, Italian flavor.
Salt and pepper: season the soup to taste, since the total amount of salt necessary will depend your personal preference, as well as on the saltiness of the broth that you use.
Pasta: pick a small shape such as ditalini, small shells, or even broken pieces of spaghetti. The pasta cooks right in the pot of soup, so there's no need to boil it separately.
Baby spinach: stir the leaves into the soup at the very end. They will instantly!

How to Make Minestrone Soup

This soup comes together easily on the stovetop with just one pot!

Sauté the vegetables and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add the broth, tomatoes, beans, and herbs. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10-15 minutes.
Add fresh spinach, parsley, and lemon juice just before serving.
Ladle into bowls and garnish with Parmesan and fresh herbs.

What to Serve with Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

Serve this hearty and healthy vegetable soup with any of these delicious sides:

Crusty baguette or No-Knead Bread
Focaccia Bread
Garlic Breadsticks (just like Olive Garden!)
Cheddar Chive Beer Bread
Soft Dinner Rolls or Crescent Rolls
Cornbread or Corn Muffins
Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Muffins
Classic Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Easy Drop Biscuits, 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, Sweet Potato Biscuits, or Flaky Biscuits
Aunt Bee's 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins

Preparation and Storage Tips for Classic Minestrone Soup

If you'd like to prepare a batch of the soup in advance, I recommend making the soup through Step 5 (do not add the pasta). Cool the broth and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

When ready to serve, bring the soup to a simmer, add the pasta, and follow the rest of the recipe.

Leftover soup will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month; however, cooked pasta may be mushy when frozen and reheated.

How to Reheat

Warm leftovers in a covered saucepan over low heat, just until heated through. Do not overcook or the pasta will become mushy.

You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe Variations

Use just about any veggies that you have on hand. Other good options include sweet bell peppers, diced potatoes, or even butternut squash.
Try other fresh or dried herbs. Additional options include fresh rosemary and chives. A bay leaf is also a great addition to the broth.
Just about any beans will work in this soup. Try cannellini beans, red beans, or garbanzo beans.
Chicken broth is a fine substitute for the vegetable broth if you don't need a vegan meal.
You can also add cooked, diced chicken, turkey, ham, or sausage to the soup for a heartier flavor and texture.
Instead of spinach, use chopped fresh kale. The kale will need longer in the broth to become tender, so add it with the pasta (or shortly after).

Tips for the Best Minestrone Soup Recipe

Simmer the soup with a Parmesan cheese rind for even more flavor in the pot. Remove the rind before serving.
Don't overcook the noodles or they will become mushy in your soup. Add them to the pot just before you're ready to serve.
The total cooking time for the pasta will depend on the size and shape that you choose. Ditalini typically needs about 10-15 minutes in the simmering broth, but keep an eye on it and turn off the heat when the pasta is just barely tender. It will continue to soften and plump up as it sits in the hot soup.
Add the spinach just before serving, since the delicate leaves will wilt almost immediately when they hit the hot broth.
Taste and season as you go. The total amount of salt necessary will vary depending on the saltiness of your broth, and on personal preference. Add extra salt for more flavor, and feel free to increase the other herbs and seasonings as well.
Garnish each bowl with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor. Extra fresh parsley or other herbs are also a delicious finishing touch.

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