Today: Get My No Fail, Easy Cookbook Series for 60% OFF
Buy Now

Minestrone Soup

Pin RecipeReview Recipe
close up overhead shot of a pot of Minestrone Soup
This delicious classic minestrone soup tastes just like Grandma's old-fashioned recipe. Made from scratch, veggies, broth, spices, beans, and pasta are simmered together for a rich, hearty dinner that tastes amazing!
Jump to Recipe
Table of Contents
  1. MINESTRONE SOUP INGREDIENTS
  2. HOW TO MAKE THIS MINESTRONE SOUP RECIPE
  3. HOW TO SERVE
  4. STORAGE
  5. MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
  6. JUMP TO RECIPE

Easy and hearty, this old-fashioned minestrone soup is a homemade classic that you’ll love. Veggies and spices come together with a rich tomato broth, beans, and pasta for this fresh, from-scratch recipe just like grandma used to make. 

Don't want to lose this recipe? Get it emailed to you directly! Enter your email below. Plus you'll get a free e-cookbook and amazing recipes sent to you daily.

If you are looking for more cozy and hearty soup recipes this soup season, our hamburger soup and crack chicken noodle soup are two of our favorite soups.

close up overhead shot of a bowl of Minestrone Soup topped with parmesan cheese and served with a spoon

MINESTRONE SOUP INGREDIENTS

Minestrone Soup raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

  • ½ onion, diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
  • ½ cup Marsala cooking wine
  • 30 ounces (two15-ounce cans) petite diced tomatoes
  • 32 ounces beef broth
  • 1 (2-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • ½ tablespoon dried basil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt and pepper
  • parmesan rind
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 2 cups ditalini pasta
  • 2 large zucchini, diced
  • 1 can northern beans
  • 1 can red kidney beans

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

WINE: You can use a dry white wine instead of Marsala cooking wine if you’d like in this traditional minestrone soup recipe.

VEGETABLES: You can use a multitude of fresh seasonal veggies in this soup: yellow squash, butternut squash, green beans, mushrooms, peas, leeks, potatoes, baby spinach, swiss chard, or kale. 

BEANS: You can switch up the beans and use cannellini beans as well. 

PASTA: You can use a variety of pasta in this recipe including shell pasta, elbow macaroni, or even rotini. You can also use rice or lentils if you don’t have any small pasta on hand. 

MEAT: You can make this soup with meat and add in chicken, ground beef, stew meat, ground pork, Italian sausage, ham chunks or bacon.

VEGETARIAN: Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth to turn this into a vegetarian soup.

GLUTEN-FREE: Use gluten-free pasta in this easy recipe. 

HOW TO MAKE THIS MINESTRONE SOUP RECIPE

PRO TIP:

This recipe could also be made in the slow cooker. Add all ingredients except the pasta and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours. Stir in pasta and cook for another 20 minutes or until the pasta is tender.

STEP ONE: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven. Saute onion and garlic until translucent.

Minestrone Soup process shot of onions and garlic being sautéed in a pot of oil

STEP TWO: Pour in Marsala wine and both cans of diced tomatoes and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.

Minestrone Soup process shot of ingredients being cooked in a pot

STEP THREE: Add broth, seasonings, tomato paste, parmesan rind, and carrots and bring to boil. 

Minestrone Soup process shot of ingredients being cooked in a pot

STEP FOUR: Allow to boil for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the pasta and zucchini. Simmer until pasta is cooked to al dente and zucchini is tender.

STEP FIVE: Stir in beans and turn off the heat. Remove bay leaves and the remainder of the parmesan rind.

Minestrone Soup process shot of beans being added to the pot of soup

STEP SIX: Serve immediately.

PRO TIP:

You can add fresh cheese on the top before serving. 

HOW TO SERVE

For a complete meal, serve this easy minestrone soup recipe with cheese biscuits, easy beer bread, garlic bread, or fluffy dinner rolls. Our simple homemade Caesar salad is a great way to start this meal as well. 

STORAGE

IN THE FRIDGE: You can put leftovers in the fridge for up to two to three days. 

IN THE FREEZER: You can store this Italian soup in an airtight container in the freezer. However, the pasta tends to get mushy after freezing and rethawing, so this is one meal I would suggest making and eating instead of freezing. 

close up shot of a large spoonful of Minestrone Soup

Simple and delicious, this from scratch homemade recipe is a family favorite. You’ll love the flavor of the spices combined with broth, pasta, hearty vegetables, and beans. This classic minestrone soup will be an often requested dinner for your family, too! 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze minestrone soup?

For this great recipe, we would recommend making it fresh as the pasta noodles tend to get soggy once the soup is thawed.

What is the difference between minestrone and vegetable soup?

Vegetable soup is a handful of classic veggies like potatoes, carrots, and celery, simmered in broth. Italian minestrone soup boasts tomatoes, a variety of vegetables, beans, pasta, and is typically served with Parmesan or Ramano cheese. Sometimes meat is added as well. It’s considered a traditional Italian dish. 

Can I make this dish vegetarian?

Substitute the beef broth with vegetable broth and you’ll have yourself a vegetarian version of this soup.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

Get Recipes on Pinterest

get recipes on pinterest
get digital lazy cookbooks
Get a Free Cookbook
Subscribe now to receive our FREE Sweet & Treats digital cookbook with 15 amazing desserts inside!
close up overhead shot of a pot of Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup

5 from 3 votes
This delicious classic minestrone soup tastes just like Grandma's old-fashioned recipe. Made from scratch, veggies, broth, spices, beans, and pasta are simmered together for a rich, hearty dinner that tastes amazing!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 10

Ingredients
  

  • ½ onion diced
  • 2 large cloves garlic chopped
  • ½ cup Marsala cooking wine
  • 30 ounces petite diced tomatoes
  • 32 ounces beef broth
  • 2 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • ½ tablespoon dried basil
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt and pepper
  • parmesan rind
  • 2 cups carrots diced
  • 2 cups ditalini pasta
  • 2 large zucchini diced
  • 1 can northern beans
  • 1 can kidney beans

Instructions
 

  • Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in a large dutch oven until translucent.
  • Pour in Marsala wine and both cans of diced tomatoes and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
  • Add broth, seasonings, tomato paste, parmesan rind, and carrots and bring to boil.
  • Allow to boil for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the pasta and zucchini. Simmer until pasta is cooked and zucchini is tender, then stir in beans and turn off the heat.
  • Remove bay leaves and the remainder of the parmesan rind.

Notes

TIP: This recipe could also be made in the slow cooker. Add all ingredients except the pasta and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours. Stir in pasta and cook for another 20 minutes or until the pasta is tender.
TIP: You can add fresh cheese on the top before serving. 

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 520mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4687IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 3mg
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb

Get Recipes on Facebook

get recipes on facebook

More Recipes You’ll Love

Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

You May Also Like

get digital lazy cookbooks

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

16108

Free Membership!

Get all our new recipes straight to

your inbox plus a BONUS

download in your first email! ❤