Homemade Olive Garden Minestrone Soup: An Easy, Hearty & Vegetarian Recipe

There’s nothing quite like a warm, comforting bowl of soup, especially as the weather starts to cool. It’s a meal that feels both wholesome and satisfying, perfect for a cozy lunch or a light dinner. While many soups have a special place in my heart, like a creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup, I often find myself craving the fresh, vibrant flavors of Olive Garden’s Minestrone. It’s a classic for a reason!

Dining at Olive Garden and enjoying their endless soup and salad is always a treat. I love the option to mix and match soups, but their Minestrone is always a standout. I’ve already shared beloved copycat recipes for their Chicken Gnocchi Soup and Zuppa Toscana, and now it’s time to add this fantastic Minestrone to your home cooking repertoire.

This copycat Olive Garden Minestrone soup recipe is not only incredibly delicious but also remarkably easy to prepare. It’s ideal for busy weeknights when you want a nutritious meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Most of the work involves simple chopping, and many ingredients come from cans, making it a “dump and stir” affair once the initial sautéing is done. You can even prep the vegetables the night before to make dinner even faster!

What is Minestrone Soup? A Taste of Italian Tradition

Minestrone is a beloved traditional Italian soup, known for its hearty composition of fresh vegetables, beans, and often a small pasta or rice, all swimming in a rich, flavorful broth. Its beauty lies in its adaptability; historically, minestrone was a “use what you have” soup, meaning there’s no single, rigid recipe. It’s a testament to rustic Italian cooking, making the most of seasonal produce and pantry staples. This flexibility allows home cooks to truly make it their own, customizing it with whatever fresh ingredients are on hand. Our Olive Garden copycat version captures that essence while delivering the familiar flavors you love.

What makes this particular recipe even better is that it’s naturally vegan, without even trying! This makes it a fantastic option for “Meatless Mondays” or for anyone looking for a wholesome plant-based meal. Don’t worry, the rich broth and medley of vegetables and pasta make it incredibly filling and satisfying, whether you follow a vegan diet or not.

Essential Ingredients for Olive Garden Style Minestrone

To recreate that classic Olive Garden taste, we’ll use a specific combination of ingredients that deliver on flavor and texture. Below is a list of what you’ll need. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card with exact measurements.

• Olive Oil: The foundation of this Italian-inspired soup, providing a rich base for sautéing.
• Onion: Adds aromatic depth and sweetness when softened.
• Celery: A classic mirepoix vegetable, contributing a subtle savory note.
• Zucchini: A tender summer squash that adds freshness and a slightly sweet flavor.
• Carrots: Provides natural sweetness, vibrant color, and essential nutrients.
• Garlic: Indispensable for a robust, savory Italian flavor profile.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato flavor that deepens the broth and adds body.
• Diced Tomatoes: Offers a bright, tangy tomato base for the soup.
• Vegetable Broth: The liquid base that brings all the flavors together, keeping the soup vegetarian/vegan. You can use chicken broth if dietary restrictions are not a concern.
• White Beans (Cannellini, Great Northern, etc.): A key source of protein and fiber, adding a creamy texture. Always drain and rinse canned beans to remove excess sodium and improve flavor.
• Kidney Beans: Contributes another layer of earthy flavor and a hearty texture. Like white beans, drain and rinse thoroughly.
• Green Beans: Adds a crisp-tender element. Frozen green beans are super convenient for this recipe.
• Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs that imparts the signature Italian taste.
• Spinach: Fresh spinach wilts beautifully into the hot soup, adding a boost of greens and a touch of color.
• Small Shell Pasta: Or ditalini, elbow macaroni, or any other small pasta shape. It adds a delightful chewiness and makes the soup more substantial.
• Salt & Pepper: Essential for seasoning to taste and enhancing all the flavors.

Customize Your Minestrone: Vegetable Variations

This recipe closely mirrors Olive Garden’s Minestrone, featuring onions, celery, carrots, zucchini, diced tomatoes, white beans, kidney beans, and green beans. However, the true beauty of minestrone lies in its versatility. You can easily adapt it to your preferences or whatever seasonal vegetables you have on hand. Don’t hesitate to experiment!

Here are some additional vegetables and ingredients that would be absolutely delicious in your homemade minestrone:

• Russet Potatoes: Cubed potatoes add a creamy, starchy element that thickens the soup slightly and makes it even more filling.
• Sweet Potatoes: For a touch of sweetness and vibrant color, sweet potatoes are a fantastic addition.
• Butternut Squash: Diced butternut squash can add a rich, nutty flavor, especially wonderful in the colder months.
• Peas: Frozen peas are a quick and easy way to add a pop of green and a hint of sweetness. Add them in the last few minutes of cooking.
• Shredded Cabbage: Cabbage adds a wonderful texture and another layer of vegetable goodness, becoming tender as it cooks.
• Leeks: These mild, sweet onions can replace or complement the regular onion for a slightly different aromatic base.
• Broccoli or Cauliflower Florets: Add these during the last 10 minutes of simmering for extra florets of healthy greens.
• Corn: Fresh or frozen corn kernels can add sweetness and a different texture.

Step-by-Step Guide: Making Your Minestrone Soup

Creating this Olive Garden copycat minestrone is a straightforward process, primarily involving one pot. Follow these simple steps for a delicious and hearty meal:

1. Prepare Your Aromatics: Begin by chopping your onions, celery, carrots, and zucchini into similarly sized pieces. This ensures they cook evenly. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté them for about 4-5 minutes, or until the onions become translucent and the other vegetables start to soften. This initial step builds a flavorful base for the entire soup.
2. Infuse with Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for just about a minute. Be careful not to burn it; you’ll know it’s ready when you start to smell its wonderful aroma filling your kitchen.
3. Build the Broth: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute, allowing it to slightly caramelize and deepen in flavor. Then, pour in the diced tomatoes (undrained) and vegetable broth. Mix everything thoroughly until well blended. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
4. Add Beans, Seasoning & Pasta: Once the broth is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir in the drained and rinsed white beans, kidney beans, frozen green beans, and Italian seasoning. Add the uncooked small shell pasta and continue to simmer for 8-9 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Keep an eye on the pasta to prevent it from overcooking.
5. Finish with Freshness: During the last couple of minutes of cooking, stir in the fresh spinach. Allow it to cook for just 2 more minutes, or until it has fully wilted into the soup. Finally, taste the soup and season generously with salt and black pepper as desired. Serve your homemade Olive Garden Minestrone immediately and enjoy!

This Olive Garden Minestrone Soup is truly a hearty and filling meal that tastes incredibly fresh and wholesome. It’s wonderfully flexible; feel free to use whatever veggies you have in your fridge or freezer, making it a fantastic way to use up those last bits of produce. It’s a guilt-free indulgence, packed with healthy vegetables that deliver tons of nutrients in a delicious way. While this recipe is vegan, you could easily add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage if you prefer a meatier version—minestrone with meat is a common variation. This easy dinner will definitely warm you up and satisfy the whole family!

Expert Tips for the Best Minestrone

• Uniform Vegetable Size: Cutting your vegetables to a similar size is crucial for even cooking. This ensures that everything becomes tender at the same rate, preventing some veggies from being mushy while others are still hard. Aim for bite-sized pieces for the best eating experience.
• Bean Preparation: Whether you use fresh, frozen, or canned green beans, they all work well. If using canned beans (white or kidney), always remember to drain and rinse them thoroughly. This step not only removes excess sodium but also helps improve the texture and flavor of the beans. Feel free to mix and match bean types based on your preference or what you have available.
• Add More Protein: If you’re not keeping the soup vegetarian or vegan and want to boost the protein content, browned ground beef, turkey, or even Italian sausage are excellent additions. Cook the meat separately before adding it to the soup along with the vegetables. For a plant-based protein boost, consider adding chickpeas or lentils.
• Freezing for Later: Minestrone soup freezes exceptionally well, making it perfect for meal prep. Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight, freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 4-5 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating gently on the stove.
• Pasta Perfection: While small shell pasta is suggested, other small pasta shapes like ditalini, elbow macaroni, rotini, or even penne work wonderfully. If you plan on having leftovers or freezing the soup, consider cooking the pasta separately and adding it to individual bowls just before serving. This prevents the pasta from soaking up too much broth and becoming mushy during storage.
• Flavorful Toppings: If you’re not strictly adhering to a vegan diet, a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese makes a fantastic topping. Other delicious additions include a drizzle of high-quality olive oil, a spoonful of fresh pesto, or a sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like parsley or basil.
• Spice It Up: For those who enjoy a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes added with the Italian seasoning can give the soup a subtle kick.

Storing and Reheating Minestrone

Minestrone is one of those fantastic soups that often tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld and deepen. However, you do need to be a little mindful of the pasta. If the pasta cooks directly in the soup and then sits, it will continue to absorb liquid and can become quite soft or even mushy over time. To avoid this, if you know you won’t be eating the entire pot of soup at once, I highly recommend cooking the pasta separately. You can then add a scoop of freshly cooked pasta to each bowl of soup just before serving.

For longer storage, minestrone soup freezes beautifully. Simply allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 4-5 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through. If you froze the soup without pasta, you can either cook fresh pasta to add to your reheated bowls or, for a quicker option, boil a small amount of pasta directly in the soup as it reheats.

Pair Your Soup with These Delicious Sides

What goes perfectly with a hearty bowl of minestrone soup? Absolutely, delicious bread! Don’t forget to whip up some Soft Breadsticks to complete your Olive Garden experience at home.

More Hearty Soups You will Love:

• Wonton Soup – Ready in under 15 minutes!
• Taco Soup – Great for taco night!
• Broccoli Cheese Soup – Cheesy and delicious!
• Crock Pot Potato Soup – Top with cheese, bacon, and more!
• Spaghetti & Meatball Soup – Pasta night in a whole new way!
• Beef Barley Soup – Great for the crock pot

Beyond Soup: Other Dinner Favorites to Try

• Chicken Tostadas
• Crispy Pork Cutlet
• American Goulash
• Crock Pot Chili
• Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

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