Comforting, fresh, and tasty Classic Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe. A classic soup recipe that every family needs. You will want to tuck this Classic minestrone soup recipe in your recipe file and pull it out when you need a nourishing and comforting meal. Serve with your favorite Italian crusty bread.
Classic Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe
The best part about minestrone soup is you can adapt it to use your favorite veggies or the ones you have on hand. This is a light yet hearty Italian vegetable soup that defines la 'cucina povera', a 'poor kitchen' meal that feeds the heart and soul in a simple way. This is one of my all-time favorite soups.
Simple meals and wholesome meals are the best and this is one that exemplifies the delicious taste of a SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS RECIPE. Cozy up with a bowl of hot soup and
Simple Ingredients
Fresh vegetables and basic ingredients make this classic Italian minestrone soup next-level delicious.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Celery
- Zucchini
- Red bell pepper
- Green beans
- Spinach
- Diced tomatoes, canned
- Cannellini beans, 15 oz
- Water or broth (chicken stock or vegetable broth)
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: pasta
- Toppings: fresh basil, parsley, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan cheese)
How to Make Classic Italian Minestrone Soup
The recipe is so simple and easy to make. The longest part is chopping the fresh vegetables. The rest of the cooking process is the time it takes to cook on the stove. An occasional stir with your wooden spoon and that's it!
Drizzle with a little olive oil after it is cooked to add an extra tasty flavor! Serve this delicious meal to your family and friends.
It is simple and satisfying your family will surely love you for making this minestrone recipe!
Every Classic Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe has a Story...
Every Italian family makes classic minestrone with their own twist depending on what vegetables are in season, what they currently have in the fridge, the region of the country, and family preferences.
In the winter it’s served hot or warm and in the summer room temperature or even slightly cool. It’s a staple all year round in our home.
Growing up, my mother usually served minestrone on Sundays and cleared the fridge of most veggie odds and ends.
This recipe is adapted from my mamma and nonna. The smell and taste always remind me of "home" no matter where I am.
How to cut vegetables for Classic Minestrone Soup
Basically, cut them however you prefer! I cut them either chunky or dice them very small. When it is a meal I make for my family and I want my children to eat it I cut the veggies smaller so it is easier to bite and eat for little children.
When I make it for an adult crowd I like to leave it more chunky and regular bite size. Either way, it tastes delicious and you can't go wrong!
Although, my nonna would argue, that you must cut the veggies small :). If you know anything about Italian women you will know that we have an opinion about everything!
More delicious soup recipes: Italian Pastina Soup Recipe (with Chicken broth), Tuscan Ribollita- Vegetable Bread Soup, Simple Artichoke Soup Italian Recipe, Classic Italian Style Lentils (New Year Tradition), BEST Bacon, Potato, and Kale Zuppa Toscana, and Authentic Italian Pasta e Fagioli Recipe (soup).
Add your favorite small pasta variety
You can leave out the addition of pasta entirely if you wish. If you do add it- I find that small pasta shells or Ditalini. Ditalini means 'little thimbles' in Italian. It's small shape holds its 'al dente' texture in many dishes, especially soups. This is the pasta variety I used in this soup.
Names of pasta options for Italian minestrone soup recipe:
- Ditalini pasta
- Small Shells
- Small macaroni tubes
My kids love it as well! They are more likely to eat all their veggies if there is pasta involved, naturally, and it makes the dish a little more complete. This dish is rustic, hearty, inexpensive, and perfect for any time of year.
In the photo above I made the soup without the spinach and beans to lighten it up and then added the pasta. See, even I change my own recipe from time to time!
Variations to Classic Minestrone Soup Recipe
You can try the classic Italian minestrone recipe the way my family makes it the first time and always try a variation the next time you make it!
- Spicy - add red pepper flakes to level up the heat in the soup.
- Deluxe - add cooked Italian sausage to up the protein.
- Garnish - add a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley, or fresh basil before serving. Cook with a bay leaf to add an aromatic note to the vegetable soup.
Vegetable Variety
Feel free to adjust the vegetables and beans to your personal taste and please your taste buds. You can add or substitute any of these ideas and many more! It is a wonderful vegetarian dish that
- Fava beans
- Borlotti beans
- Red kidney beans
- White beans
- Yellow Squash
- Fresh or frozen peas
- Any variety of hearty vegetables
- Butternut squash
Storage and Reheating Classic Italian Minestrone Soup
Refrigerator
Bonus: this soup is even better the next day! The soup will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, if stored in an airtight container.
Freezing
Minestrone soup makes a freezer-friendly recipe- except for the pasta! Pasta doesn’t freeze well and gets mushy when thawed and reheated. Yuck.
If you must freeze, do it before adding the pasta. Then, add the cooked pasta directly to the reheated soup and serve!
Reheating
The pasta will absorb the liquid as it sits, so when you are ready to reheat, make sure to add extra broth, or extra water. Gently warm over medium-low heat, adding the liquid until the soup is warm and back to its original consistency.
This is also a great recipe to deliver when someone needs a meal, AND also a great recipe to freeze for a meal prep idea.
It is naturally gluten-free and vegetarian for all the different dietary needs in the world today.
I like to make a huge pot of minestrone and freeze half for another week when I need a quick soup on hand. So, make and DELIVER or make and FREEZE for later! This Classic Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe is one of the ultimate comforting meal.
What to serve with Minestrone Soup
You will want plenty of bread to serve with this delicious soup. What's a savory hot soup without bread dunking action?
Here are achievable and delicious options for you. We make these types of bread weekly in our home and love them!
Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.
I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.
Print
Classic Italian Minestrone Soup Recipe
Delicious and fresh Minestrone soup recipe! Full of vegetables in a light broth that will leave you feeling nourished and satisfied.
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
- 4 large carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
- 1 bunch of celery, diced
- 3 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 cup of cut green beans, may use frozen
- 1 ½ cups cut leaf spinach, may use frozen
- 1 large can diced tomatoes, 28 oz
- 1 can cannelleli beans, 15 oz
- 7 cups of water (or fill the tomato can twice with water)
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: 2 cups of your favorite pasta variety- cooked to al dente texture
- Toppings: fresh basil, parsley, and grated parmigiano reggiano
Instructions
1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add garlic, onion, carrots, celery, red pepper, zucchini and 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to turn golden, 5 to 8 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes; cook until some of the liquid evaporates, 1 minute. Add cannellini beans, and 7 cups water; bring to a low boil. Stir in green beans and spinach.*
3.Reduce to a simmer, and cook until all the vegetables are tender, about 20-30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; and basil. Serve sprinkled with parmigiano and, if using, torn basil and parsley. Drizzle with more oil, if desired.
4. If adding pasta. Cook the pasta according to package directions (undercook 1-2 minutes) and add to the minestrone
Notes
*omit any vegetables you do not like and add any that you do! Such as: potato, cabbage, or a different variety of beans.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Salty Savory Recipe
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Italian soup, healthy soup, minestrone soup, Italian minestrone soup, soup recipe, healthy soup recipe, freezer meal, easy dinner, meal prep
Mary Lee says
I just fixed this tonight. it was delicious! With a Mediterranean type meal in mind, this worked just great. I have to admit a little hamburger in it was good too:)
★★★★★
Elena says
Yumm! Sounds great with a bit of meat as well. Happy you loved it.
Melissa says
Delicious!! Perfect for a cold, rainy night!
★★★★★
Elena says
Happy the soup warmed you up! It is easy and healthy 🙂