This traditional minestrone soup recipe is a classic that’s full of hearty vegetables, fresh herbs and lots of flavor! This favorite Italian soup will warm you up on cold winter days with its comforting flavors.
Minestrone soup is a classic Italian soup that is packed with veggies, beans, and pasta in a hearty tomato broth. This traditional minestrone soup recipe is the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter day
The word minestrone means “a hearty soup made with a variety of vegetables and sometimes and small pasta”.
What Can You Add to a Classic Minestrone Soup?
There are many ways to make a delicious minestrone recipe, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients until you find a combination that you love.
Some great simple ingredients to include are: diced tomatoes, beans such as red kidney beans or navy beans, and fresh vegetables like green beans or yellow squash. For a touch of heat, add red pepper flakes.
Looking for more soup recipes? Some great options to try are pasta e fagioli and chicken noodle soup.
How to Make a Traditional Italian Minestrone Soup recipe
Be sure to scroll down to find the full printable recipe with ingredients and instructions.
Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- medium yellow onion
- carrots
- celery
- garlic cloves
- chicken stock or vegetable broth
- tomato paste
- crushed tomatoes
- cannellini beans
- bay leaves
- italian seasoning
- baby spinach
- parsley
- sea salt, black pepper
- parmesan cheese
- A short pasta such as small shells, ditalini pasta or elbow macaroni
- 2 large celery stalks, diced
- Optional: cooked ground beef, ground italian sausage or ground turkey
- Large stock pot or large dutch oven
Directions
Dice vegetables: Dice up your onions, celery, carrots and mince garlic. Be sure to dice everything to the same size so they cook evenly.
Heat olive oil: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. How do you know when olive oil is hot enough? Dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. The oil will start bubbling steadily if the oil is hot enough.
Cook onions, carrots, celery: When your oil is ready, add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, stir to combine. You’ll know when the veggies are ready when they become soft and give off a delicious aromatic smell, about 5 minutes.
Add liquids & beans: Next add the broth, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, white beans, bay leaf, pasta and a parmesan rind.
Simmer: Add in the Italian seasoning and let the soup come up to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low heat, cover and let the delicious soup simmer for 20-25 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
Add spinach: The last thing just before serving, stir in the chopped spinach and fresh parsley. Simmer the easy minestrone soup until the spinach wilts, which should only take a minute or two.
Discard: Remove the pot of soup from the heat, discard the bay leaves and the cheese rind. Garnish with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
What to Serve with Minestrone Soup
There are many options for what to serve with minestrone soup, but some of the most popular choices include a glass of red wine, garlic toast, a loaf of crusty bread, or a simple green salad. If you’re looking for something a little heartier, you could also pair the soup with grilled cheese sandwiches or bruschetta.
You can absolutely make this hearty Italian vegetable soup in the crock pot! Add all of your ingredients except the spinach and pasta. Cook your soup on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Then add in the spinach and pasta and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
Store your soup in the refrigerator for up to a week in an airtight container. This easy recipe is a good idea to enjoy the next day.
Traditional Minestrone Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 2 large celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 c. chicken broth
- 2 T. tomato paste
- 1 14-oz. can crushed tomatoes, with liquid
- 2 14-oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 large bay leaves
- 3” chunk Parmesan cheese rind
- 1 t. Italian seasoning
- 3 c. baby spinach, roughly chopped
- ¼ c. fresh parsley, chopped
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1-2 oz. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- First things first, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- How do you know when olive oil is hot enough? Dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. The oil will start bubbling steadily if the oil is hot enough.
- So when your oil is ready, add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, stir to combine. You'll know when the veggies are ready when they become soft and give off a delicious aromatic smell, about 5 minutes.
- Next goes in the chicken broth, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, white beans, bay leaves and a parmesan rind. Oh that rind has so much flavor!!
- Add in the Italian seasoning and let the soup come up to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a medium-low, cover and let your Minestrone Soup simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Just before serving your Italian Minestrone Soup stir in the chopped spinach and parsley. Simmer until the spinach wilts, which should only take a minute or two.
- Remove the Italian Minestrone soup from the heat, discard the bay leaves and the cheese rind and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese if you'd like!
Notes
While Minestrone Soup is typically a vegetable based soup, feel free to add in ground beef or sausage, pasta like small shells or elbows or even go the opposite end and make it completely vegetarian by using vegetable stock.
Can I Make Minestrone Soup Recipe in the Slow Cooker?
You can absolutely make this hearty Italian vegetable soup in the crock pot! Add all of your ingredients except the spinach and pasta. Cook your soup on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Then add in the spinach and pasta and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
How do I store my Minestrone Soup?
Store your soup in the refrigerator for up to a week in an airtight container. This easy recipe is a good idea to enjoy the next day.