Finally! It’s about time this blog offered a traditional minestrone soup recipe. Minestrone is a hearty Italian vegetable soup made with tomato-y broth and pasta or rice. I’ve been working hard on this recipe and I’m so excited to share it with you.
Minestrone was traditionally made to use up leftover vegetables, so feel free to use any seasonal vegetables and greens you have on hand. I used potatoes and spinach for the soup you see here, and it was absolutely delicious.
I listed some alternatives in the recipe, including yellow squash, zucchini, butternut squash, green beans or peas. That means that you can make seasonal minestrone on cool days from fall through spring!
I used canned beans here instead of cooking my own, which cuts the cooking time down to a reasonable weeknight level. The remaining ingredients are basic pantry items, including canned tomatoes, pasta, basic spices and onions.
Why is this the best minestrone soup?
- This hearty minestrone is easy to make and totally worth the effort.
- The recipe calls for seasonal vegetables and affordable pantry ingredients.
- The soup packs great for lunch, and tastes even better the next day.
- It freezes and defrosts well, too.
- This homemade minestrone is infinitely better than the Olive Garden or store-bought varieties!
I adapted this recipe from the lentil minestrone in my cookbook, which was based on my lentil soup. For this classic minestrone, I omitted the lentils, added white beans, upped the tomato paste, and reserved the final tablespoon of olive oil to mix in at the end.
Please let me know how you like this soup in the comments! I always love reading your feedback and I’m eager to hear which veggies you use in your soup.
If you’re looking for more soup recipes, definitely check out the two mentioned above, and I have even more soups here.
Watch how to make Minestrone Soup
Classic Minestrone Soup
- Author:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 bowls 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Warm up with this vegetarian minestrone soup! This classic minestrone soup recipe is healthy, easy to make, and tastes incredible. It’s vegan, too, if you don’t top it with cheese. Recipe yields 6 bowls or 8 cups of soup.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 medium ribs celery, chopped
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 2 cups chopped seasonal vegetables (potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, butternut squash, green beans or peas all work)
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, with their liquid (or 2 small 15-ounce cans)
- 4 cups (32 ounces) vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 bay leaves
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup whole grain orecchiette, elbow or small shell pasta
- 1 can (15 ounces) Great Northern beans or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, or 1 ½ cups cooked beans
- 2 cups baby spinach, chopped kale or chopped collard greens
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnishing (optional)
Instructions
- Warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, tomato paste and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have softened and the onions are turning translucent, about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Add the seasonal vegetables, garlic, oregano and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes and their juices, broth and water. Add the salt, bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper.
- Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot with the lid, leaving about a 1” gap for steam to escape. Reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Cook for 15 minutes, then remove the lid and add the pasta, beans and greens. Continue simmering, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the the pasta is cooked al dente and the greens are tender.
- Remove the pot from the heat, then remove the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Taste and season with more salt (I usually add about ¼ teaspoon more) and pepper until the flavors really sing. Garnish bowls of soup with grated Parmesan, if you’d like.
Notes
Make it dairy free/vegan: Don’t garnish with Parmesan, or use homemade vegan Parmesan.
Make it gluten free: Substitute your favorite sturdy gluten-free noodle. I used DeLallo’s Whole-Grain Rice Shells and they worked great.
Parmesan note: Most Parmesans are not technically vegetarian (they contain animal rennet), but Whole Foods 365 and BelGioioso brands offer vegetarian Parmesan cheese.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Nikita H
I LOVE this dish! I made it for my husband and me and it was a huge hit for both of us. It was so hearty and full of flavor, we both went back for seconds and enjoyed the leftovers for lunch today.
I used fresh thyme and omitted the oregano, purely because I didn’t have the dried herbs on hand but it worked out perfectly.
The only thing I might do slightly differently next time is add a bit more water, or pre-make the pasta because it did soak up a lot of the liquid.
I feel like this is going to be a regular menu item in our household. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Anne Cabaniss
Delicious and full flavored and hearty! I added the full can of tomato paste because I didn’t want to waste any and I did not add the water. Makes it really good and thick and packed with flavor. I think everyone has to tweak the recipe a little bit to make it their own!
★★★★★
Taylor
You can freeze and leftover tomato paste-that way you don’t have to waste any. Freeze it flat in a freezer bag and then just chip off the amount you need for any future recipes!
Katie
This soup is now one of my go-to meals. So healthy and fresh and delicious!
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful, Katie!
Sophie
Delicious! Was the most incredible yet easy minestrone. Will be a staple.
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful, Sophie!
Karen
Hi Kate and Cookie! I made this yesterday using potatoes, frozen green beans and zucchini with small shell pasta and kidney beans. It turned out great, especially once I added the lemon juice and additional salt. Like others, I cooked the pasta separately first before adding it to the soup. We’ll have it today because we find soups always taste their best after the flavours have time to blend together. Thank you for a great recipe :)
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Karen! I’m glad you loved it. Yes, it’s great leftover.
Donna
This soup is delish! Perfect for a blustery March night! So flavorful!
★★★★★
Sandra
Omg…this was fantastic ..this is not your gramas vegaetable soup..this is so layered with flavourful ingredients ..I never thought I needed a recipe for soup I always just through stuff in.. but this recipe gave perfect amounts for the perfect Minestroni soup…huge hit.and very cost effective.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Sandra! I appreciate your comment and review.
Lynn
Awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Lynn!
kerry katsanevas
Best minestrone soup I have ever made. The whole family loves it. I added some diced bacon
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Kerry!
Lynette
I love this soup- great recipe
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Lynette!
Jessica
AMAZING – I AM ABSOLUTELY ADDICTED. It is absolutely delicious, healthy and the leftovers heat up quickly during my very short lunch breaks on my job at the hospital. Very grateful as the soup is very filling and keeps me satisfied for my full 12.5hrs!
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! I’m happy to hear that, Jessica.
DaisyH
Another winning recipe. So healthy! I’ve made this several times now.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you love it, Daisy!
Jennifer Gehrlein
I made this last week and it was a hit. I used frozen veggies and put less water. I am making it again for church potluck tomorrow. This timeI will put extra fresh veggies and omit pasta. Thank you for the recipe. Definitely a keeper.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Jennifer!
Leah Anhalt
I happened to be cooking pinto beans to freeze today and this recipe looked so great I thought I would try it with pintos, and it turned out terrific! I paired with pumpkin walnut bread that I made earlier in the morning. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I think it’s going to be a wonderful Friday supper during Lent.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Leah! I appreciate your review.
Lea
Thanks Kate! I’ve actually been making this for 2 years since having a wonderful minestrone in a traditional Italian restaurant and being inspired to find something similar. Your recipe is absolutely gorgeous and is a firm family favourite :-)
★★★★★
Shelley
This is the best minestrone I have ever made!!! I added zuchini…and 2 bouillon beef cubes for more flavor. Obviously not vegan…but delicious
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! That’s great to hear, Shelley. I appreciate your review.
Karen
It’s raining and the beginnings of a cold my husband so lovingly shared is starting to settle into my throat. I knew I wanted minestrone. I always know your recipes are awesome so didn’t even bother looking elsewhere when this popped up. I had green beans, cauliflower, and half a red pepper for the base veggies. Cannellini beans of course. I love greens so loaded it up with kale and spinach at the end. I think the finishers of lemon and olive oil really put this over the top for taste. An easy and truly delicious soup! Well done!
★★★★★
Rachelle
This was absolutely delicious, so hearty. I added cubed tofu and cooked the soup with a big chunk of parmesan rind (trick from an Italian friend) I can’t wait to try this tomorrow after the flavors have had a chance to develop even more!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Rachelle! I appreciate your review.
Cheryl
Delicious and easy to make. Loved the cheese on top. Good way to use up some veggies.
Nee Nee
I am always cooking soup every week for my husband and pharmacist. My daughter went to college so we have so much leftovers so why not share. So I had made so many soups and she said she loves Minestrone soup. So I said ok next project. First time ever making minestrone soup. So I made it and could not believe how much it made and I gave my pharmacist a lot and still had plenty left over. So when I came in with the next soup of the week, she screamed so loudly that was the best soup she has ever had. Thanks to your recipe! I am making it tomorrow for her as a present for becoming a grandmother for the first time. My husband finished the rest of the first batch soup in three days! Thanks for the recipe and that’s from all three of us. I am usually known for my homemade chicken noodle soup and asked for it as birthday presents etc. but I might have a new one to share. Thanks again. Also they never heard of putting in squash but they said it totally made the dish. Thick and hearty.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad to hear it was such a hit! I appreciate your review, Nee.
Mary V
I made your Minestrone Soup recipe for dinner tonight! Since I almost always add my own ingredients, I decided to follow yours precisely since I never-ever made Minestrone Soup before! It was absolutely perfect!
For the broth I cooked a beef shank for 2 hours in a bit of water and its own juices. Then I added a carton of vegetable stock. I chose to use kale and remembered to pull the leaf rib off so I had these nice pieces of kale. My husband kept saying it was so tasty and ate 3 bowls! I have enough left over for tomorrow!
I gave it the top ⭐️ rating! Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Mary!
Steve L.
Delicious and easy to make! Great on a chilly, rainy day. Uses up lots of seasonal veggies in the frig. As another person noted, could add a bit more water/broth or tomato paste to the mix. I added some more chili powder to spice it up a bit. Great recipe that will get a repeat performance.
★★★★★
Bayla
I have made this soup often, and made it for a 6 person dinner party on Saturday. It was universally loved, and I had guests asking for seconds and the recipe!! I realize it’s not a true minestrone (I don’t add the pasta), but it was really tasty. I only modified the recipe slightly by doubling the lemon juice and the tomato paste.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great to hear, Bayla! Thank you for your review.
Anne
Absolutely gorgeous! This went down a treat. One I will make again and again, thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you think so, Anne!
John Kal
I’ve been making this for years and amongst many other soup recipes I’ve made my wife always asks for Minestrone when I ask what soup I should make. Easy, healthy and tasty!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you enjoyed it, John! I appreciate your review.
SA
Hello! Since I don’t have any of the pasta types you’ve listed on hand, could I use regular rigatoni or is it fine if I leave it out completely?
Kate
Sure, you may want less since it is a bigger pasta. Let me know what you think!
Irene
Lovely, easy to make, family cleaned the big bowls. Must have enjoyed it, they are not big on comments.Eat and run that’s my guys. But I loved it – delicious.
★★★★★
Samantha
This was sooo delicious and filling. And no meat yet i was satisfied. I must admit i made a mistake by not using a large enough pot so i had to omit 2 to 3 cups of fluid, but it still turned out delicious albeit more like a stew than soup!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Samantha!
Judy H
I am an old, ahem, experienced vegetarian and home cook. I made this minestrone twice, and it was a delight both times. My omnivore spouse says it’s the best thing I have ever cooked. I used a whole little can of tomato paste, and made a pound of fresh beans (Instapot – don’t be too impressed), but otherwise stayed pretty close to the recipe. Your vegan lasagna is a go-to for us too. So I just ordered the hardcover book – I’d feel like an ingrate not to. :)
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for sharing, Judy! I’m glad you loved it.
Jean K
This is the best Minestrone recipe ever!!! I wish I could share the video of my grandson (20 mos old) eating it. He is tipping the bowl up to get the last of it and turns to his mother and says “good shoup.” It is a big hit every time I make it. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you think so, Jean! I appreciate your review.
Sue
This is a delicious recipe. I used fire roasted tomatoes and that was delicious too! I made it gluten free with rice noodles too —-also delicious! It’s in the rotation now!!
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful, Sue! I appreciate your review.
Mariah
One of my favourites! It’s super hearty and delicious! It’s also a great meal to prep for when I go camping in the cooler months, your recipes never disappoint!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Mariah! I appreciate your review.
M.gatto
This minestrone was fun to make and was sooo yummm!! I used my own homemade veggie broth and added 2 tsp of Worcester sauce to the recipe. Outstanding!
★★★★★
Marilyn
Wonderful! I made this for the second time today but am doubling the recipe to have some frozen to pull out on cold spring nights after softball games. Added to the onions, carrots and celery, I used zucchini, yellow summer squash, a potato, cut up fresh green beans and snow peas, one ear of fresh corn, a little red bell pepper, asparagus, chopped cabbage. The kitchen smells wonderful. Waiting to add the spinach and beans. We like a little zip so added extra red pepper flakes. I make my own homemade noodles to add to each bowl.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing how you made it, Marilyn! Thank you for your review.
Frank
Love this soup! Today, I used cooked Rancho Gordo heirloom Royal Corona beans. I used 2 cups of the cooked bean broth in lieu of water…very tasty. Veggies were zucchini, yellow squash, snd fresh green beans. I used whole grain small elbows for the pasta.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great to hear, Frank! Thank you for sharing.
Louise
Made it for my mum, tho did actually leave out the pasta, which I know isn’t the idea, but the soup was very good, and packed with good veg… I used kale and aubergine as my extras .. elderly mum ate her bowl and no left overs ( v unusual for her). Good way of getting her to eat veg as she leaves if on separate plate! Thumbs up
★★★★★
Kate
Love to hear that, Louise! Thank you for your review.
Alice Moore
Loved this recipe…thé post op friend zi made it for also loved it!!! When I had surgery in Feb. She brought me a large bowl of soup and I got to return her containers filled up! I am vegan and she is not so it worked for both of us! Thanks!!!
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful to hear, Alice! Thank you for your review.
Fiona
I absolutely adore this minestrone. I’ve been making it for a couple years now and it never fails to hit the spot! My kids LOVE it, and I love that they eat so much loaded vege goodness in one sitting.
It’s also my go-to recipe if I need to cook for any of my vegan/gluten free friends (with GF pasta of course) . They love it!
Thanks for creating such a hearty recipe for us to enjoy ♥️ (The Parmesan on top really sets it off too Such a big fan of this recipe!
★★★★★
Cindy Hof
Absolutely delicious and very filling with some rustic sourdough. Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Cindy! Thank you for your review.
Amanda S
Thank you for this recipe! I am working to expand my cooking abilities and prefer to eat vegetarian when possible. I wanted a soup that was full of veggies, and this was the perfect recipe to try my hand. It came out well the first time and better the second time. My husband likes it and there’s always a lot of leftovers to be had which is nice on days when I don’t want to cook.
I am excited to try more of your recipes. Thank you!
Kylie
My daughter and I love this minestrone receipe!! She asks for me to cook it all the time.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great, Kylie! Thank you for your review.
Mary B
I just made this soup and it’s great! Thanks for sharing!
Nareesa
Fantastic! I tasted it before the lemon and oil at the end and I was sure this was going to be just “ok” but after adding the lemon and oil I was taken aback by how this soup came alive!! I’ve never been a fan of this soup but this recipe has surely changed my mind.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy to hear that, Nareesa! Thank you for your review.
trish
i have just made your minestrone soup and it was delicious but im sure that in the past i have added cabbage in the last 10 minutes of cooking time. Am i mis-remembering or did the original recipe include cabbage.
I know i can add cabbage anyway. but Im interested in finding out if it could have been one of the original ingredients.
Trish
Melissa Jones
I’ve always added cabbage to my minestrone soup, but I wonder if it’s regional.
★★★★★
Donna
Made this for the first time yesterday. The flavor as perfect and even my 16 year old who is not a veggie fan enjoyed it and had seconds. Thanks for the great recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Donna! I’m delighted you enjoyed it.
Bianca
I literally make this on a weekly basis even my non vegan partner loves is, so does my toddler. So good!!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Bianca! I’m glad you loved it.
Madison
I’ve made this recipe so many times now and it has always been a hit! Everyone who’s tried it has loved it and asked for seconds. The recipe is easy to follow and I didn’t need to modify anything about it. I will say that the noodles do soak up a lot of the liquid, but for me that wasn’t an issue. 10/10 I love this soup!
★★★★★
Michelle
Love this recipe! It’s so flavorful and filling! I’ve made it several times. I sometimes add Tomato Bouillon (w/chicken flavor) for extra savory-ness, but it is definitely delicious without.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great to hear, Michelle! I appreciate you taking the time to review.
Emma
Hi Kate, I just made this minestrone soup for my daughter. It was absolutely delicious . The recipe was lovely & easy to follow. Thank you so much.
Emma xx
★★★★★
Mollie
I made this for my aunt who owns a catering business as a get well meal and she RAVED about it, which is saying something :) It was fantastic! I am gluten-free, but my family isn’t so I omitted the water and cooked the noodles on the side so everyone could add in their own and it worked out beautifully. This will definitely be added to the rotation. Thanks, Kate!
Jeanny
I made this soup so many times now because it’s very delicious. Easy to make, you can add any kind of vegetables, whatever you have in your fridge or your garden.
★★★★★
debby
I am in my 60s and my mom is in her 90s. She is still living on her own and doing very well except she can’t stand for any length of time to cook a recipe or meal. Only heating things up and making cereal…quick things. So when I visit I cook every meal, we eat it and I freeze the rest in individual containers with a label. This way she selects tomorrows meals and put them in the fridge the night before. Voila ready for the microwave. She loves loves loves this recipe! Rages over it with almost every bite. haha. Thank you so so much!!
Incidentally I follow several of your delicious recipes for her!!
:) happy daughter
★★★★★
Jessica McBain
Ok, my kids can be picky so I wasn’t sure how this would go over but they both loved it. They even had seconds! My son is dairy allergic so I left out the cheese in his but the rest of us added at the end. I’m also the only one in my family who likes green beans so I steamed some up and added them to my bowl upon serving. Both my kiddos asked for it to be sent in their lunch tomorrow so THANK YOU.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad they loved it, Jessica! Thank you for your review.
Stacy
I make this soup when I’m taking a meal to a friend/family in need as it is such a healthy, hearty, warm dish. You literally feel better after eating this soup, and everyone I have made it for says as much. I usually send it with a baguette, fruit,and dessert and I feel like I gave the friend/family a big hug.
★★★★★
Sue
I made this exactly as written except I substituted chicken broth for vegetable broth. It took a while to make but was so worth it! The recipe made 12 cups of soup so there is plenty for leftovers. It’s hearty, satisfying, healthy and full of flavor. I think it was even better the second day! Definitely loved it with the grated Parmesan on top and will include it each time. I will make it again for sure!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you liked the end result, Sue! Thank you for your review.
Rochelle
I’m about to make this soup later today, and judging from the comments it will be wonderfully delicious! I have canned borlotti beans, do you think they will be okay?
Rochelle
Brisbane, Aus
Kate
You could try it. Let me know what you think!
Annie
So good!!! We’ve had enough for 3 rainy days for lunch. One of those nice comfort foods. I used the whole can of tomato paste my husband is a finicky eater but does love tomatoes. We paired it with Ritz crackers and pepper jack cheese. Thank you!
★★★★★
Rachael
This sounds great ! Do you think this would freeze well ?
Kate
I would add the noodles when you are ready to reheat since noodles don’t freeze the best.
Anne-Marie Grange
Great recipe. I actually used home grown tomatoes which we had frozen whole last year because we had so many and had made tomato paste already and eaten many “fresh”.
Worked out great.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great, Anne! I appreciate your review.
Juliana Pires
Very tasty, affordable and simple meal. I used what I had on hand plus some leftovers and the soup was delicious. Thank you Kathryne!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Juliana! I appreciate your review.
Julie Kirk
I love the freshness of the original recipe. I have a garden and used a lot of Italian oregano in your recipe. I also used 4 ounces of pancetta and a dash of paprika along with chicken broth. I really like the lemon squeeze at the end with the splash of olive oil. Mine turned out great and I will definitely be using your recipe again.
Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Janice Nelson
This was excellent. I followed the recipe and we loved it. It’s a keeper.
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful to hear, Janice!
Susan
OK I have made this dish about 100 times now, and it’s awesome every time. It ticks every box: cheap, variable, tasty, nutritious, cooks in one pot, pretty, veganable. But now I have to give something back and tell y’all my top tips after playing around with it. They’re from my authentically Italian™️ husband.
1. Don’t add the pasta if you’re making some to save… just drop it in to the portion you’re having tonight, or when you reheat. So the pasta doesn’t degrade in the fridge/freezer when you’re meal prepping.
2. If you’re not vegan, save the heel of your Parmesan, when it’s just about done and too thin to grate, cut it up into inch-long pieces, and drop it into this minestrone when you add the canned tomato. The flavor permeates throughout and adds an extra depth, and if you get a bit of it in your portion, the formerly thin and ungrateable Parmesan puffs up when cooked and is DELICIOUS.
Thanks for this life-saving recipe, I’ve shared it far and wide!
★★★★★
Laura Z.
I’ve made lots of variations of minestrone over the years, as both myself and my husband are from large Italian American families…this however is my favorite. The only thing I do differently when I make this recipe is I use fresh herbs from my garden, and I throw in a parmesan reggiano rind let it really up the rich & hearty flavor of this soup. Fantastic recipe! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. It’s healthy, all 5 of our kids enjoy it & it’s incredibly affordable to make for those of us on a budget with large families. Keep these great recipes coming! Thank you Kate ;-)
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Laura! I appreciate your review. I’m glad it is a hit with everyone.
Sue
Just started pulling my sweet onions and have a bumper crop of green beans and carrots, so had to try this recipe. Not the time of year I usually think of soups, but had a hankering so went for it while we’re experiencing an unseasonably cool week. Great basic recipe with hearty flavor, easily adapted to personal tastes and veggies on hand! In addition to above and the celery and cannelini beans, I added zucchini, spinach, and cauliflower, ‘cuz that’s what I had that needed to be used. Also added some Parmesan cheese rinds that I’d stashed in the freezer for this very purpose, letting the flavor seep in while the soup simmered then fished out with the bay leaves at the end. I also precooked the pasta (chopped fusilli) to just under al dente before adding to the soup. Delicious! Made a huge batch for two people! Will likely freeze half. Thank you! Will make again with my fall crops later this year.
★★★★★
Julie harris
First time
Making minestrone , not only was this recipe so easy to follow it was delicious too …
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Julie! I appreciate your review.
Denise
Can I freeze this soup?
Kate
Hi! If you want to freeze this soup, I recommend adding the noodles when you are ready to eat as they can soak up all the liquid and become mushy.
Mary
Fabulous soup! I used potato, green beans, zucchini and yellow squash for the veggies. The browned tomato paste added so much flavor. I make Kate’s lentil soup and it’s also really tasty. Thanks for sharing.
Mel
Have made this possibly 50+ times now & it is still so delicious. A hit in our house! Love this meal and have to rate it. Everything from Cookie & Kate is always a winner.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Mel! I’m glad you loved it.
Debs
I made this soup last night for our tea and we really enjoyed it, I did not put potatoes in it as I don’t like double carbs together, but that was the only change I made, served it with blobs of home made pesto, delicious!
★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing how you made it, Debs! I appreciate your review.
Benjamin
Very useful tq.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Benjamin!
Keil
SKIP THE LEMONNNNN
Perfect recipe until I added the lemon. Ruined the soup.
It was so gooooood before the godforsaken lemon.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m sorry to hear didn’t love the lemon, Keil. I appreciate you taking the time to review!
Eileen O
Best veggie soup. I’ve made it many many times and it never disappoints. I either cook the pasta separately or add chicken when heating it up. Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Eileen! Thank you for taking the time to review.
Kenna
The only minestrone recipe you’ll ever need!
★★★★★
Kate
Glad you loved it, Kenna! I appreciate your review.
Mandy
Love this recipe! To me it’s not minestrone without the tiny pasta shapes! I used orzo because I had it but will be looking for (wholewheat) tiny stars next. I loved lifting my spoon to reveal these hidden treasures as a child!. I added shallots, courgette (zucchini), yellow pepper, spring (collard) greens, green beans from my parent’s garden, bay leaves from my tree, double the oregano and tinned borlotti beans and a good parmigiana all in the house already.
I didn’t measure anything as I kinda know how much pasta and stock works for me, I’ve made minestrone without a recipe for years but never put the pinch of chilli flakes in or the lemon juice and oil at the end. These touches make it extra delicious
★★★★★
Jessie
Is this something that can be made in an instant pot? If so do you have instructions for it? Thank you!
Lynne
I love a good minestrone, and while I have an old tried-and-true recipe, I am never disappointed with C&K recipes, so I gave this one a try, and much to my surprise, it did not deliver. I followed the recipe exactly, using gluten free Tinkyada brand pasta which always performs well, and it turned out kinda meh in flavor, but especially, mushy and way too thick. I would love to know what I did wrong, because your recipes are ALWAYS on target! Ideas?
★★
Kate
I’m sorry you didn’t love this. It sounds like it may have been cooked to long and/or the pasta soaked up a lot of the liquid.
Donna G.
Best soup I’ve ever made! Thank you #cookieandkate! I started with the carrots, celery, and onion. I grow my own tomatoes, summer squash, string beans and herbs, so they were the basis of the start of the soup. I added an organic store bought vegetable broth, frozen corn, some curly pasta, and topped with grated cheese and parsley. My tomatoes were so ripe and sweet, so the flavor of the soup is out of this world. It tastes so fresh. The pasta, the beans, and all the vegetables make for a well balanced meal.
★★★★★
Irene
I love this soup, the perfect pick me up. Thanks guys
Kate
You’re welcome, Irene! I appreciate your review.
Azza
I love it! Warm and yummy
★★★★★
Carmel
I’ve made your minestrone soup twice now except I add some bacon.
Best recipe fr miestrone!!!
★★★★★
Tim
My wife and I are huge fans of this soup.
I have made it over half a dozen times, and every time the flavours simply make my heart (and taste buds) sing.
Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.
★★★★★
Sherry Eno
This is by far the most delicious minestrone soup ever!! Absolutely the best! I dropped a container off to my son, who also loved it! I added more than 2 cups butternut squash, simply because i had it. I also added chopped up collard greens, peas, green beans. Can’t wait to have some for lunch today!
★★★★★
Carol Miller
So delicious! I used zucchini and yellow squash for my veges, spinach for my greens, cannellinis for my beans ,and orzo for my pasta. Love the lemon juice addition at the end-really brightens it up.
★★★★★
Kate
Love that, Carol! Thank you for your review.
Gail
I have made this so many times. It is delicious. I added a rind of parm/reggiano cheese. It’s great every time and so versatile. Make This Soup.
★★★★★
Moriah
Love this recipe so much! Can it be made into work with an Instant Pot?
Kate
Hi! I haven’t tried it, sorry. If you do, let me know how it turns out.
Barbie
Absolutely delicious!! I added red bell peppers and what was left of a smoked pork loin. Soooo good,
★★★★★
Kate
I’m excited you enjoy it! Thank you for sharing, Barbie.
Jacinda
This is our go-to fall/winter soup. I make a pot every other week for the past two years. I cook the pasta on the side and add it to the bowl as we pack our lunches (just so it doesn’t get soggy over a few days). So versatile, I throw in whatever greens/veggies I have (kale, spinach, baby bok Choy leaves). Absolutely one of our favorites.
★★★★★
Kate
I love to hear that, Jacinda! I appreciate your review.
Annamaria Cardinale
I am going to try this tonight as it looks so good. Could sweet potato be used in this recipe?
Kate
Sure! That’s a great option, Annamaria. I appreciate your review!
Ron
Male no cooking experience. I fllowed the recipe and the result was amazing.
Tania
This is such a delicious recipe, and a go-to one for our family! We always blend the celery so it’s not in chunks and we use kale. Such a delicious recipe…so grateful for it! Just wondering if it will keep in the fridge overnight. I was planning on cooking everything in the soup except for the pasta. Any tips?
★★★★★
Kate
Hi! Yes, this soup makes great leftovers. Thank you for your review.
Christine Marcous
Best minestrone ever! I used delicata squash and green beans. I used butter beans and spinach! The lemon juice at the end made it special. I forgot to add the extra touch of olive oil at the end, but will next time. Wonderful!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Chris. I’m glad you loved it.
Yvonne
My granddaughter and I made this recipe yesterday and we both absolutely loved it. Even the other granddaughter gave it a 7.5 out of 10 and that is good considering how picky she is. This will definitely be in rotation at both of houses from now on.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great to hear, Yvonne! I appreciate your review.
Imelda
Thank you so much Katherine for sharing this recipe! So great to be able to enjoy vegetables through a healthy but delicious meal such as this! The recipe is easy to follow. I have made this more than several times now and it is a staple meal. Thank you so much once again
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Imelda! I appreciate your review.
Theresa
Hi there! What kind of potatoes did you use? I love this recipe. I made without potatoes twice because I was out, but would like to add tonight. Thank you for a great recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Russet work great here, or whatever type you want.
Chantal
It was good, but following the directions all of my broth was absorbed by my small elbows. Will likely have to use less pasta, or at least a different type.
★★★
Kate
I’m sorry to hear that, Chantal! Did you use whole wheat or a different type of pasta?
S Amer
Great , first time I tasted it in the hospital, delicious, tasty and nutritious, thank you
★★★★
Jamielou
Hi! I made this soup last night and it was delicious,full of flavor. Definitely a keeper! I used fresh herbs, butternut squash, russet potato and spinach. Instead of water I used all vegetable broth and added more as needed, also cooked my pasta separate.
Unfortunately I forgot the lemon juice and olive oil, will use in my leftovers. Looking forward to our leftovers!
★★★★★
Brad
Awesome soup! Thanks for sharing
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Brad. I’m glad you loved it!
Grishma
This was delicious!
I didn’t add potatoes in this one, and also stopped off the dish with parmesan along with a TBSP of pesto!
Thanks for sharing…this was amazing !
Kate
I’m happy you enjoyed it, Grishma!
Nicolas Columbo
This recipe is fantastic! I have received heaps of praise and demands for more of it, regularly. And I must say that I’m not surprised as I have received equal praise and delight serving many of the recipes that Cookie and Kate so generously share with us. Thank you tons!
Be well :)
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Nicolas! I appreciate your review.
Korina
Absolutely love this recipe! I love how versatile it is and you really can throw in any veggies. My husband is a huge meat eater so I like to add Italian sausage. Sometimes I use chicken broth instead for more flavor and serve it with a good crusty bread. Can’t wait to make this again!
★★★★★