Minestrone Soup - It Starts With Good Food (2024)

This easy Minestrone Soup is as healthy as it is hearty! Tender noodles, delicious veggies, and a savory broth will have you feeling full, warm, and happy.

What is minestrone soup?

Minestrone is a classic Italian vegetarian soup that includes pasta, beans, and veggies. Different regions have variations of this rustic recipe, but this one fits the traditional vibe people in the United States have grown to know as minestrone. It’s tomatoey broth gives loads of flavor to the small, tender pasta, and the hearty beans and veggies add tons of vitamins and minerals. You’ll love this healthy soup so much, you’ll want to make an extra batch to freeze for later!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• Easy – This is a one-pot soup that doesn’t require any fancy steps, extra dishes, or complicated ingredients. It’s great for beginner cooks as there’s a minimal amount of chopping, and the veggies are very forgiving.
• Healthy – Each bowl of this soup has under 300 calories, about 6 grams of fat, and 11 grams of protein. The high sodium can be reduced with low-sodium broth (or homemade stock using no salt at all). You can find full nutritional values in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
• Meal Prep Friendly – This soup is great for prepping ahead of time! It freezes and reheats perfectly, so it’s a great freezer stocking recipe for growing families or sick neighbors. Leftovers make easy lunches, too.

How to Make Minestrone Soup

This simple, classic recipe is a one-pot wonder that will satisfy the whole family. You’ll just need a large pot and a stovetop or hot plate. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Saute veggies

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, then saute until vegetables are softened (about 3-4 minutes). Add in the tomatoes, beans, broth, green beans, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine.

Boil

Add in the dry pasta and bring the entire mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until pasta is al dente. This is usually about 7-8 minutes for ditalini, but you may need an extra minute or two if you’re using a larger pasta. Remove the pot from the heat once the pasta is al dente.

Stir in kale

Stir in the chopped kale and allow it to sit for 1-2 minutes while the kale softens. Once it has wilted and is bright green, ladle into bowls and serve with parmesan cheese!

What to Serve with Minestrone Soup

We love this soup topped with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs! Add a side of Jalapeno Gouda Bread, some Cheddar Cornbread Muffins, or these Cheesy Zucchini Breadsticks to help soak up that tasty broth. If you really want to stretch the meal further, you could serve with an Air Fryer Grilled Cheese or this Antipasto Salad. Your guests will leave full and satisfied!

Best way to store soup

Allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature, then place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge. It’ll last up to 3 days.

This makes a delicious, healthy leftover lunch, so I light to store individual portions in microwave-safe containers that are easy to pack. This is a fantastic soup for a thermos if you don’t have a way of heating up a lunch on site!

Can you freeze minestrone soup?

Yes, this is the perfect recipe for stocking the freezer! For the best texture, eat within 3 months of freezing and allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge.

Soup freezing tips:

• Leave room – When liquid freezes, it expands. This means you need to leave some room in your container, otherwise your freezing soup can break it.
• Freeze flat – Freezer bags are extremely convenient and make for quicker thawing and less space needed for storage! Simply ladle into a freezer bag, then lay it flat on the freezer shelf to freeze. When you’re ready to eat, this flattened soup will defrost much, much quicker.
• Thaw slowly – When food is freezing and thawing, the cell walls in the food are exposed to a lot of pressure. This can cause some of them to rupture, and that’s what makes some food mushy after defrosting. Thawing food slowly in the fridge gives the cells more time to adjust, leading to less breakdown and a better texture.

How to reheat soup

The best way to reheat soup is to heat it in a pot on medium low, stirring occasionally until warmed throughout. You could also reheat it in the microwave, but I recommend setting it to 50% power and covering with a paper towel to avoid any surprise splashes. The soup may thicken after cooling, so you can always add a splash of broth or water to thin it out.

If you like this soup, you’re going to want a bowl of each of these recipes!

• Easy Mushroom Soup – This vegetarian recipe is SO flavorful! It’s a gorgeous bright orange from the smoked paprika, so it’s sure to make a statement.
• Broccoli Cheddar Soup – If you love an ultra-creamy, cheesy soup, this one is for you! It’s super kid-friendly and perfect for leftover lunches this week.
• Low-Carb Lobster Bisque – This is a quick soup that has TONS more flavor than you would expect from the short cooking time! The garlic butter lobster is so decadent.
• Homemade Tomato Soup – You’ll love this classic low-carb tomato soup! The flavor of the tomatoes really shine. Make a grilled cheese and enjoy the simple pleasures!
• Slow Cooker Potato Soup – This recipe is full of tons of veggies and comes out perfectly creamy! The crock pot makes this dinner super easy, too.