Name: Minestrone Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium onion (diced); 2 medium carrots (peeled and diced); 2 stalks celery (diced); salt and pepper (to taste); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (mixture of oregano, basil, parsley, etc.); 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional); 8 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth); 32 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes (or diced tomatoes); 2 cups chopped green beans (fresh or frozen); 15 ounces white beans (drained and rinsed, any kind); 15 ounces kidney beans (drained and rinsed, any kind); 8 ounces ditalini or elbow pasta (cooked according to package ); parsley, pepper flakes and grated parm (optional garnish, to serve)

Pasta with beans, or Minestrone Soup, is great for summers and a hearty winter comfort dish. This is a budget friendly meal that as my Aunt Dolly would say, “sticks to your ribs.” This dish has fed a cold and kept families satisfied for many generations.

Minestrone soup in a large white bowl topped with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.

Table of Contents

While many people are adding healthy eating to their resolutions this month, eating healthy, balanced meals is a huge way I’ve been able to keep the 60 pounds I lost off. Daily movement and healthy meals not only improved my physical health, but my mental health as well! Caring about myself as a whole was life-changing, and inspired me to share early on so that others could experience the same change!

My local D&W Fresh Market offers a wide variety of fresh ingredients, and their Our Family brand keeps my pantry stocked on nutritious basics. With their help, I continue to feed my own family flavorful, nutritious meals. With it being the middle of a Michigan winter, that includes a lot of soups right now, like 15 Bean Soup with Ham or Asian Noodle Soup with Shrimp and Wontons. Most recently, I whipped up this Minestrone Soup that kept us feeling full and satisfied!

Why You’ll Love This Minestrone Soup

It’s hearty and filling, making it the ultimate comfort food for a cold evening.
It’s a great healthy option! Chalk full of vegetables and plant-based protein.
It’s very simple, but extremely flavorful!

Ingredients

Vegetable broth: Acts as a flavorful base for this vegetable soup.
Vegetables: White onion, celery, carrots, and green beans add healthy vitamins and help make this soup a balanced meal.
Diced tomatoes: I recommend using fire-roasted diced tomatoes for an extra depth of flavor.
Beans: Kidney beans and cannellini beans add great plant-based protein and fiber.
Pasta: I love to use a small cut pasta, like elbows, shells, or ditalini.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a pungent, aromatic, somewhat sweet and nutty flavor.
Italian seasoning: A flavorful blend of oregano, basil, parsley, garlic, and thyme.

Quick Substitutions

If you don’t care to keep this dish vegan and vegetarian, you can use chicken stock or beef broth as the base.
Use whatever vegetables you have on hand! Throw in potatoes, broccoli, or leafy greens like kale and baby spinach!

How to Make

Liz dicing celery and carrot on a cutting board with a large, sharp knife.

Step 1. Start by washing and dicing your fresh vegetables.

Sautéing diced onion, celery, and carrot in the bottom of a large pot.

Step 2. Heat some olive oil in the bottom of a large soup pot, then sauté the celery, onion, and carrot with the garlic and spices.

Pouring fire roasted diced tomatoes to a soup pot.

Step 3. Next add your broth and diced tomatoes and bring to a boil.

Adding kidney beans and cannellini beans to a pot of soup.

Step 4. Add the kidney beans and cannellini beans.

Frozen green beans added to a large pot of minestrone soup.

Step 5. Add the green beans, then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes.

A ladle full of minestrone soup over a large soup pot.

Step 6. Add the cooked pasta and heat until warmed through.

Serve garnished with parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and chili flakes (if you like a kick of heat) and enjoy your Minestrone Soup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between minestrone and fagioli soup?

They are both Italian soups, but a minestrone usually includes a much larger variety of ingredients and vegetables.

Is minestrone soup for a healthy diet?

Minestrone is high in fiber and protein, as well as being chalk full of vitamins from vegetables, making it a great choice for a healthy, balanced diet.

How do you thicken soup?

Creating a cornstarch slurry is my favorite way to thicken soup without altering the flavor, but you can also use flour.

Minestrone soup in a bowl with crust bread in the background.

More Soup Recipes

Did you try this soup and love it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.

Despite it being mostly vegetables, this Minestrone Soup is filling, satisfying, and a great healthy choice to help start the new year right!

Your spoon is waiting.

Disclosure: This recipe was developed in partnership with Spartan Nash. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. All thoughts are my own.