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The Best Hearty Minestrone Soup (Easy One-Pot Recipe!)

A large pot of homemade Minestrone Soup being served into a bowl at a cozy family dinner.

A thick and hearty one-pot minestrone soup, packed with a variety of vegetables, beans, and either rice or orzo pasta. The recipe starts by sautéing a flavorful base of onion, carrots, celery, and zucchini with Italian herbs. A medley of beans (kidney, butter, and green), along with diced tomatoes and tomato paste, are then simmered in a seasoned broth until all the vegetables are tender and the rice or pasta is cooked. Fresh spinach is stirred in at the very end to wilt, adding extra nutrients and color.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced zucchini
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 6–7 cups vegetable or chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 2–3 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 (15.5-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15.5-ounce) can butter beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15.5-ounce) can green beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 and 1/3 cups uncooked rice or orzo pasta
  • 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
  • Optional for serving: grated parmesan cheese and fresh thyme

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook for 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, as the vegetables soften.
  3. Add the broth, water, red wine vinegar, bay leaf, all the beans (kidney, butter, green), the undrained diced tomatoes, and the tomato paste.
  4. Bring the soup to a boil, then add the uncooked rice or pasta.
  5. Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer for 35 minutes.
  6. Stir in the chopped spinach and simmer for 5 more minutes until it has wilted.
  7. Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving.
  8. Serve the soup warm, topped with fresh parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

  • This is a very thick, hearty soup that is a complete meal in one pot.
  • The rice or pasta cooks directly in the soup, which helps to thicken the broth and absorb all the flavors.
  • The soup will thicken even more as it cools and is stored. The recipe notes that you may want to add more broth when reheating leftovers.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/minestrone-soup/

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