Simple and tasty Olive Garden Minestrone Soup brimming with fresh vegetables, leafy greens, and simmered in a rich, flavorful broth! Easily prepared in one pot for a warm weeknight meal that the entire family will adore!
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No exaggeration here; this is absolutely one of my favorite soups. Taking inspiration from Olive Garden’s well-known minestrone soup, I developed and shared this recipe around 15 years ago, but I truly needed some refreshed photos. This traditional minestrone soup recipe is incredibly flavorful, packed with a medley of vegetables, and provides a warm, comforting dish whether you’re facing a cold day or feeling a bit under the weather. Pair it with some crusty bread or a side salad for a fulfilling meal!
Why You’ll Adore This
- Nutritious, flavorful, and packed with veggies!
- Prepared in just 30 minutes.
- Only requires one pot, making cleanup super easy.
- A beloved copycat recipe inspired by Olive Garden!
Ingredients You Will Require
- onion, carrots, and celery – creates a perfect savory foundation for soups
- vegetables – I opted for fresh zucchini and green beans, but use any variety that you fancy
- beans – I included both red kidney beans and white beans, but navy beans, cannellini beans, and pinto beans are also excellent alternatives
- pasta – I used ditalini pasta in this soup, but any small pasta will do, or you can leave it out for a lower-carb option
- vegetable broth – chicken broth or any stock you have handy can be used as well
- tomatoes – I chose one large can of crushed tomatoes, but diced tomatoes are a great substitute
- garlic – this ingredient really elevates the flavor and is a must in this soup!
- leafy greens – spinach or kale work wonderfully in this soup
- herbs and spices – I combined dried oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper, but you could also swap in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning for the dried herbs. You might also mix in some fresh parsley or a bay leaf.
How to Prepare Minestrone Soup
The best part about this soup is that it all comes together in a mere 30 minutes with just a few straightforward steps! Here’s how I go about it:
- Sauté the veggies. Warm olive oil in a sizable saucepan or soup pot over medium-high heat and sauté onion, celery, carrots, and zucchini until soft, roughly 5 minutes. Next, add the garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds.
- Allow the soup to simmer. Mix in the vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, beans, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and let the soup simmer for around 20 minutes.
- Add spinach and pasta. Introduce the baby spinach leaves and pasta, cooking for another 10 minutes.
- Serve and savor! Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and serve with some crunchy bread or croutons.
Substitutions and Variations
The greatest aspect of minestrone soup is its customizability! Here are some methods to alter this soup to your preference.
- Veggies – feel free to incorporate any assortment of vegetables you enjoy! Yellow squash, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc. are all excellent choices.
- Protein – while the beans in this recipe are a fantastic protein source, you can also throw in some chicken, turkey, ground beef, or even Italian sausage.
- Gluten-free – you can replace the pasta with gluten-free pasta or even regular rice or wild rice.
- Vegan – this soup is already plant-based; however, instead of using parmesan cheese as a topping, you could opt for vegan cheese or nutritional yeast.
- Spice it up – add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce for a kick of heat in this soup.
Prepping and Storing
To Store: Leftovers can be kept in your refrigerator in a sealed, airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that the noodles may absorb a significant amount of broth as the soup rests, but simply add more broth as needed when reheating.
To Freeze: If you intend to freeze it, allow the soup to cool completely first, then store it in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let the soup thaw completely in the refrigerator. Reheat it on the stove or warm individual servings in the microwave.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
Enjoy this Olive Garden Minestrone Soup, and if you love it as much as we do, please leave me a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny! I adore seeing all your tasty recreations!