Classic Minestrone Soup (Vegetarian)

Name: Classic Minestrone Soup (Vegetarian)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 28 oz tomatoes; 5 cups vegetable stock (may need additional cup if you like thinner soup); ¼ cup tomato paste; 15 oz cannellini beans (drained and rinsed); 1 onion (diced (can use a leek)); 4-5 carrots (chopped); 1 parsnip (chopped); 2 zucchini (chopped); 1 cup green beans (snipped and cut); 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen); 5 small white potatoes (chopped); ½ teaspoon salt (this will depend on how salty your stock is); 2-3 bay leaves; 1 tablespoon dried basil; ½ tablespoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried garlic; 3 tablespoons fresh parsley (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley); ½ tablespoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon olive oil (garnish at end); 1 cup pasta

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Hearty and healthy classic minestrone soup made vegetarian! Filled with fresh veggies, rich broth, and lots of herbs. Simple + easy minestrone soup recipe.

My whole family loves this soup. In the winter, this soup is on permanent rotation in my kitchen. It’s loaded with veggies, beans, and pasta. Perfect for meal prep, this hearty soup makes for easy weeknight dinners or a cozy cold weather day.

black bowl filled with soup next to a red napkin and two rolls.

Free From: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, celery, corn, sesame, mustard, lupin, sulfites, and more

This soup is also pretty easy to make with any leftover vegetables you happen to have on hand. Extra spinach? Throw it in. Have only half an onion in place of a whole? No problem. Need to avoid all beans? No worries! Throw in some peas and it’s all good. That’s what is so great about this soup. You can use a variety of vegetables and this healthy soup will always taste amazing.

No matter what ingredients you use, just keep the broth and the seasonings the same and it will always turn out delicious.

Pairs deliciously with some crusty bread, vegan dinner rolls, or gluten free biscuits.

Why You’ll Love this Minestrone Soup

Healthy, warm, wholesome
Super hearty, almost like a chili!
Filled with veggies
Rich tomato broth
Plant-based and easily made gluten free
Perfect for meal prep

Ingredients

Don’t be intimidated by this large ingredient list! Use whatever veggies and beans you have on hand and it will be delicious.

Veggies: I love to use a mix of seasonal fresh and frozen veggies in my minestrone soup. Carrots, onion, and parsnips are always added as the base of the soup. Then, corn, zucchini, green beans, and tiny white potatoes are added. Try this with sweet potato, spinach, kale, a bell pepper, or yellow squash.
Cannellini beans: I prefer the white beans over dark red kidney beans as the white beans are naturally lower in histamine. But you can use either kind you prefer.
Tomato: Grab a big 28oz can of diced tomatoes for this. Both regular or fire-roasted tomatoes are good. You also need some tomato paste. The combo of them both makes the most delicious tomato broth.
Pasta: You only need a cup or so of pasta. Smaller pasta or thinner pasta tends to work better in soups. Small shells are a good choice. Gluten-free pasta also works great!
Vegetable Broth: Use your own or homemade vegetable stock. If you are not vegetarian, chicken broth also tastes great in this.
Seasonings: I like to use some traditional Italian herbs both fresh and dried. A few bay leaves are also used to deepen the flavor. Any italian seasoning is a good blend.

Allergy Substitutions

Need to make this gluten free? It’s super easy! Just use your favorite gluten free pasta brand. Chickpea pasta, red lentil pasta, or a rice based pasta all work great. I always recommend cooking the noodles separately so they don’t suck up all the broth. You can also make this with brown rice in place of pasta if you like.

Avoiding corn? Simply omit the corn and enjoy. Make sure that any store bought veggie broth is corn free.

Instructions

For the full instructions, complete with ingredient measurements, please see the recipe card below!

Grab your largest soup pot and let's get cooking!

Begin with prepping all your veggies. Dice the onions, carrots, and parsnips. Chop the zucchini, green beans, and potatoes into small bites. Drain the beans and give them a quick rinse.

large soup pot filled with cooking onions, carrots, and parsnips. a wood spoon is stirring them. a green circle with a number 1 is in the top left corner.

First, saute the onions, carrots, and parsnips in a little bit of olive oil or broth in a large pot. You don’t need to brown them, just get them soft.

a large soup pot filled with the ingredients for minestrone soup. a wood spoon is stirring the ingredients. a green circle with the number 2 is in the top left corner.

Next, add the tomato paste, herbs and seasonings. Let this cook for 30 seconds before adding the remaining veggies.

Finally, add the tomatoes, beans, remaining veggies, and broth. Bring this to a boil over medium heat and let it cook at a simmer for a good 45 minutes over medium heat.

large soup pot filled with fully cooked soup. a wood spoon is stirring the soup. a green circle with the number 3 is in the top left corner.

In a separate pot, bring some water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package directions.

Give it a quick taste to check for seasonings. Finally, add a spoonful of fresh lemon juice and another spoonful of olive oil. Give this a good stir and you are done!

Equipment

You need a big pot to make this soup! I love to use my Dutch oven.

With so many veggies you need a good veggie peeler.

After making this, store the leftovers in these soup containers.

close up of a black bowl filled with minestrone soup. a spoon is on the right side of the bowl.

FAQ

Can I make minestrone soup in a slow cooker?

Start on the saute setting to gently cook the onions, carrots, and parsnips. Add the remaining ingredients except for the pasta and cook on low for 2-3 hours. In the final 30 minutes of cooking, add the pasta, or cook the pasta separately on the stovetop.

Optional toppings?

There are a few different ways to spice up your soup! Here are a few ideas.
Add baby spinach a few minutes before the soup is done for some extra veggies.
Top with parmesan cheese. To keep things dairy free, you can also use nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese.
Sprinkle a bit of red pepper flakes on top for a spicy kick.

How to Store

Fridge: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 or 5 days. Reheat over medium-low heat without bringing it to a boil. Enjoy.

Freezer: Store the fully cooked and cooled soup in freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 4 or 5 weeks. Make sure you allow extra room at the top of the container so it has room to expand while freezing! Allow the soup to thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat on the stovetop before serving.

big bowl filled with minestrone soup with a spoon in the soup. lots of rolls, a dark red napkin, fresh parsley, and parmesan cheese surround the bowl.

Top Soup Tips

Preparing the ingredients in advance helps the soup go a lot quicker. Chop all the vegetables, rinse the beans, open all the cans, and measure out the seasonings ahead of time so you can add them quickly to the pot.
Make sure to taste the soup before serving to check for seasonings. A lot of stocks can be salty so don’t add too much extra.
Use more frozen veggies to save time. Frozen or fresh green beans are delicious. Frozen corn, frozen spinach, I've even used a bag of frozen mixed vegetables in this soup before.

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