Description

Enjoy a delightful bowl of Olive Garden Minestrone Soup with this easy copycat recipe! This hearty and flavorful soup is brimming with vibrant vegetables, nutritious beans, and wholesome ingredients, making it perfect for any occasion—be it a cozy family dinner or a casual lunch. Each spoonful delivers a burst of flavor while being entirely plant-based, ensuring everyone at the table can indulge. Pair it with freshly baked breadsticks and a crisp salad to recreate that beloved restaurant experience right in your home.

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion (peeled and chopped)
¾ cup sliced carrots
½ cup sliced celery
3–4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 small zucchini (halved and sliced)
32 ounces vegetable broth
14 ounces diced tomatoes
¼ cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
15 ounces canned kidney beans (drained)
15 ounces canned great northern beans (drained)
¾ cup frozen cut green beans
½ cup small dried pasta (shells, ditalini, macaroni)
2 large handfuls fresh baby spinach
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
¼ – ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

Instructions

Prepare all ingredients by chopping the vegetables.
Heat olive oil in a large saucepot over medium heat. Sauté onions, carrots, celery, and garlic for 4–6 minutes until softened.
Add vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and optional crushed red pepper; bring to a boil.
Stir in kidney beans, great northern beans, green beans, and pasta; simmer for 8–10 minutes.
Finally, add zucchini, spinach leaves, and parsley; cook for an additional 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main
Method: Simmering
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
Calories: 190
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 460mg
Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 32g
Fiber: 8g
Protein: 7g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: To enhance flavor, consider using fresh herbs like basil or thyme. For added protein, cooked chicken or extra beans can be incorporated as variations. This soup also tastes even better the next day as flavors meld together!