Authentic Minestrone Soup Recipe
An Authentic Minestrone Soup Recipe is the kind of cozy comfort food that warms you from the inside out.
This is one of the best soups to make at home, packed with fresh veggies, beans, pasta, and herbs — perfect for sharing around the table.
This recipe is very flexible! You can use what’s in season, clean out your fridge, or stick to the classics, and it still comes out delicious every time.
What are the ingredients in minestrone soup?
While every version is a little different, a classic recipe usually includes:
- Vegetables: onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, and green beans
- Beans: a mix of cannellini beans and kidney beans
- Diced tomatoes for richness
- Vegetable broth as the base
- Herbs & seasonings: garlic, dried oregano, basil, thyme, plus salt and pepper
- Small pasta like ditalini
- Optional toppings: grated parmesan cheese to finish it off
How to Make a Traditional Minestrone Soup Recipe
- Cut your veggies into similar-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot, then sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until soft.
- Add zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, beans, broth, and herbs, and let simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Stir in the pasta and cook until tender, then season to taste.
- Serve warm with parmesan or fresh parsley on top.
Cook pasta separately for leftovers: If you plan to store extra soup, cook the pasta separately and add it to each bowl. This keeps it from getting soggy.
Freshly grated Parmesan is the classic choice, adding a salty, nutty flavor. For a stronger taste, try Pecorino Romano. You can also simmer a parmesan rind in the soup for extra depth, then remove it before serving.
Yes! Just leave out the pasta before freezing. Store in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Add freshly cooked pasta when reheating.
Small shapes like ditalini, elbow macaroni, or small shells hold up well and fit perfectly on a spoon.
Serving Suggestions
- Crusty bread: A warm loaf of Italian bread or garlic bread is perfect for soaking up the flavorful broth.
- Simple salad: Pair your soup with a crisp green salad or a classic Caesar salad for a fresh balance.
- Cheese topping: Don’t skip the parmesan—freshly grated cheese (or even pecorino) makes the flavors pop.
- Wine pairing: A light red wine, like Chianti or Pinot Noir, complements the rustic Italian flavors.
- Family-style: Serve it in big bowls at the center of the table with toppings like parsley, extra parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil so everyone can customize their bowl.
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If you loved this minestrone soup, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas too!
- Italian Sunday Dinner Recipes are full of comforting, family-style meals perfect for gathering around the table.
- From creamy classics to quick weeknight favorites, you’ll find Pasta Recipes that everyone will want seconds of.
- Cooking with Italian Herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme brings authentic flavor to every dish you make.
- Italian Sausage Recipes are packed with flavor and versatility, from pasta and soups to sheet pan dinners and hearty casseroles the whole family will love.
Traditional Minestrone Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 3 medium carrots diced
- 2 large celery stalks diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes with liquid
- 28 oz. cans cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 2 large bay leaves
- 3 ” chunk Parmesan cheese rind
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3 cups baby spinach roughly chopped
- ¼ cups 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!
This is yummy and veggies can easily vary. I used a wedge of chopped cabbage instead of the spinach and red kidney beans instead of white (what I had on hand). I added a handful of frozen whole string beans broken in pieces. I finished with 4 sliced white mushrooms stirred in when the soup was done cooking and still hot. I used one beef bullion cube instead of salt. I made bow tie noodles on the side to add to each bowl of soup (again, what I had on hand). Noodles get mushy if left in a hot pot of soup and absorb much of the broth.