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December 27, 2021 10 Comments

Minestrone Soup

A bowl of Minestrone Soup with a dark grey kitchen towel wrapped around the left side with a spoon sitting on top of it.

 Every time I make this Minestrone Soup, I get multiple requests for the recipe. It’s amazing and delicious. As a hearty Italian soup, it is made with Italian sausage, vegetables, legumes, pasta, and herbs in a tomato base broth. At the end of the day, it’s the ultimate comfort food, especially in the fall and winter months. I’m ready for a bowl right now. Another favorite and comforting Italian soup I like to make in the fall and winter is this Sausage and Sweet Potato Tortellini Soup.

I’ve had good intentions to get this Minestrone Soup recipe on the blog for years, but each time I forget to take the step-by-step photos. So I think to myself, “I’ll do it next time.” Next time is here, but in my true fashion, after I finished this recipe I realized I had forgotten to add the beans (a very important part). Ugh!

Well, I thought about waiting and making the soup again to get pictures with the beans in them, but the reality is that might take me another five years. Who wants to wait that long? You guys need this recipe today. Just make sure to add the Kidney and Great Northern Beans even though they are not in the pictures but in the ingredients list. Okie dokie? 🙂

A bowl of Minestrone Soup with a spoon inserted on the left.Comforting Soup Recipes

  • Classic Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Chicken Tortellini Soup with Extra Veggies
  • Chicken and Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
  • Poor Man’s Egg and Spaghetti Soup
  • Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Soup
  • Corn Chowder

step-by-step pictures on how to make minestrone soup

7-photo picture collage of step-by-step pictures of how to make Minestrone Soup.A peacock patterned Polish potter bowel filled with Minestrone Soup. A dark grey tea towel is loosely laid on the left side of the bowl with a spoon in the left corner.Frequently Asked Questions about how to make Minestrone Soup

what type of pasta should I use?

I usually use bow tie pasta, but this time I used Fusilli. Any small-shaped pasta will work in this recipe–Ditalini, elbow macaroni, mini wheels, etc. I do not recommend using a large-shaped pasta in this soup. If all you have on hand is large-shaped pasta, you can break up the pasta by putting it in a clean kitchen towel and smashing it into smaller pieces until they’re all about the same size.

I don’t have great northern beans? what’s a good substitute?

If you don’t have Great Northern Beans, a good substitute is Cannellini or even Navy Beans.

can i use chicken BOUILLON and water in place of the chicken broth?

Yes, you can. When I don’t have chicken broth on hand, I use chicken bouillon and water. Vegetable broth is also another substitution you can use.

A dark blue bowl with polka dots full of Minestrone Soup. A spoon is inserted into the soup on the left. On the right of the bowl is a light grey napkin.do i have to use Italian sausage in this recipe?

Technically, no. Minestrone Soup is traditionally made without any meat, but I like to add the Italian sausage for another layer of texture and depth of flavor. The fennel or anise seeds and the red pepper flakes that are mixed in with the pork are what gives Italian sausage a distinct flavor. If you leave the Italian sausage out, the soup will still taste good.

is there a good substitute for the pasta?

Yes. In place of the pasta, use rice. It’s a good option, especially if you want to make it gluten-free and you don’t have any gluten-free pasta.

Two-photo Pinterest Picture with the text of the title in the middle.cook’s tools:

  • Large Soup Pot
  • Cutting Board
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Garlic Press
  • Can Opener
  • Soup Ladle

Serve with...

How to Make Perfect Artisan Bread {Step by Step Instructions and Pictures}A hand holding a slice of french bread, you can see the rest of the loaf in the background.Easy French BreadThree rows of Baked Lunch Lady Cafeteria Rolls for a total of nine rolls.Lunch Lady Cafeteria Rolls {Step by Step Pictures and Instructions….NO MIXER NEEDED}

4.7 from 3 reviews
Minestrone Soup
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
25 mins
Total time
35 mins
 
A delicious and hearty Minestrone Soup perfect for fall and winter days--one you will make again and again.
Author: Maria
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 1 lbs Italian sausage
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4-5 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 2-3 cups zucchini, sliced and quartered
  • 4-5 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • A pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste or 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15.5 oz.) can Kidney Beans, rinsed
  • 1 (15.5 oz.) can Great Northern Beans, rinsed
  • 7 cups chicken broth
  • 12 ounces pasta
  • Pesto and grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
  1. In a large soup pot, brown the Italian sausage.
  2. Next, add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 5-6 minutes.
  3. Add the oregano, basil, and brown sugar. Stir for one minute.
  4. Add tomatoes, chicken broth, and rinsed beans. Bring to a boil. Add the zucchini and bring back to a boil for 5-7 minutes.
  5. Next, add uncooked pasta and cook until pasta is done (5-15 minutes depending on the type of pasta). If needed, add more chicken broth.
  6. Serve with a spoon of pesto in each bowl and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
  7. Enjoy!
3.5.3251

 

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A white bowl full of chicken tortilla soup with a spoon in it sitting on a blue plate. The soup is topped with grated cheese and pieces of avocado.Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla SoupEasy-Slow-Cooker-Hobo-Dinner-1Slow Cooker Hobo DinnerSweet pork sitting on a blue plate with a flour tortilla and jar of dressing in the background.Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
Pinterest picture with the text of the title of the recipe at the top.

Dinners, Healthy Recipes, Ingredients, Italian, Italian Sausage, Kidney Beans, Main Categories, Meats, More, Pasta, Pork, Recipes, Soup/Stew/Chili, Tomatoes, Zucchini
Italian soup recipes, Minestrone Soup, Minestrone soup recipes, Minestrone soup with Italian sausage, the best Minestrone soup
10 Comments

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10 Comments

  1. Joanne Chambers

    December 28, 2021 at 10:52 am

    Do you drain & rinse the beans?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2022 at 5:01 am

      Hi Joanne, Yes I do.

      reply to this comment
  2. Judy

    December 28, 2021 at 11:35 am

    Going through my cupboards right now for the ingredients! Looks wonderful, especially with the added sausage. Do you rinse the canned beans?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2022 at 5:01 am

      Yum, you will love it, and yes, I do rinse the beans.

      reply to this comment
  3. Elise

    February 22, 2022 at 10:20 am

    My family LOVED this soup! That spoon of pesto and the fresh parmesan add so much delicious flavor! We will be making this forever and ever!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 22, 2022 at 10:39 am

      Right! I love the addition of the pesto, makes it so yummy! I’m so glad you like the recipe!

      reply to this comment
  4. M Jomisko

    April 13, 2022 at 5:11 pm

    I have never made Minestrone Soup but this one sounded easy. I needed a soup to take with us on a camping trip, for a few cold nights. I’m always hesitant to take a new recipe without testing it first, but time didn’t allow it. To my surprise it was a big success, so it’s a “Keeper”.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 22, 2022 at 8:55 am

      Awesome! I’m so glad to hear it was a success! We love this soup at our house.

      reply to this comment
  5. Shanna

    December 11, 2024 at 11:18 pm

    This recipe is THE BEST!! Just made a big batch and shared with neighbors on a snowy day. Thank you for sharing this!!

    reply to this comment
    • Ann@Real Life Dinner

      December 14, 2024 at 5:28 pm

      Thanks, Shanna! So glad you liked it!

      reply to this comment

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Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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