Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Easy and delicious Olive Garden Minestrone Soup loaded with fresh veggies, leafy greens and simmered in the most flavorful broth! Easily made in one pot for a cozy weeknight dinner the whole family will love!

This Olive Garden Minestrone Soup is an easy copycat recipe made with tender vegetables, kidney beans, white beans, pasta and leafy greens simmered in a flavorful tomato broth. It has all the cozy, hearty flavor of the restaurant favorite, but is easy to make right at home in one pot! This healthy minestrone soup is naturally vegetarian, packed with fiber and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Minestrone has always been one of my favorite soups, and I first shared my version of Olive Garden’s classic minestrone on the blog about 15 years ago! It’s still one of my go-to soups when I want something warm and comforting that’s loaded with veggies. Pair this cozy soup with some crusty bread or my Italian chopped salad for a delicious Italian-inspired dinner the whole family will love!

Why You’ll Love This

• Healthy and filling – this copycat Olive Garden inspired soup is loaded with a variety of fresh vegetables, beans and fiber-rich pasta for a delicious nourishing meal.
• Quick and easy – this hearty soup easily comes together in just 30 minutes using simple pantry ingredients.
• One pot meal – you only need to use one pot to which makes this vegetable soup come together quickly and clean up is a breeze.
• Great for leftovers – as this soup sits, the flavors meld together making this taste even better the next day! Perfect recipe for meal prep.

What is in Olive Garden Minestrone Soup?

Olive Garden’s minestrone soup is a hearty Italian-inspired vegetable soup made with a tomato-based broth, beans, pasta, fresh vegetables and leafy greens. My homemade version uses onion, celery, carrots, zucchini, green beans, kidney beans, white beans, spinach and small pasta simmered with tomatoes, vegetable broth and Italian herbs. It’s an easy way to enjoy the flavors of the restaurant favorite right at home!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• onion, carrots and celery – makes the perfect savory base for soups.
• vegetables – I used fresh zucchini and green beans along with the onion, carrots and celery, but feel free to use any variety of vegetables you like.
• beans – I used both red kidney beans and white beans, but navy beans, cannellini beans and pinto beans all make great options.
• pasta – I used small shells in this soup, but any type of small pasta will work such as ditalini, orecchiette or elbow macaroni. Feel free to leave it out to keep this lower in carbs.
• vegetable broth – you could also use chicken broth or any stocks you have in your pantry.
• tomatoes – I use a large can of crushed tomatoes to create the rich tomato base for this soup, but diced tomatoes work well too. You can also stir in a tablespoon or two of tomato paste for an even richer, more flavorful broth.
• garlic – this really punches up the flavor and is a must in this soup!
• leafy greens – spinach or kale work great in this soup.
• herbs and seasonings – I used a combination of dried oregano, basil, thyme, salt and pepper, but you could also substitute one teaspoon of Italian seasoning for the dried herbs.  You could also mix in some fresh parsley or a bay leaf.

How to Make Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

The great thing about this soup is that everything comes together in just 30 minutes in just a few simple steps!  Here’s how I make it:

• Sauté the veggies. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium-high heat and sauté onion, celery, carrots and zucchini until softened, about 5 minutes. Then add in the garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds.
• Let the soup simmer. Stir in the vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, beans, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and let the soup to simmer for about 20 minutes.
• Mix in spinach and pasta. Add in the baby spinach leaves and pasta, cooking for an additional 10 minutes.
• Serve and enjoy! Ladle soup into bowls, top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve with some crusty bread or croutons.

Substitutions and Variations

The best part about minestrone soup is that it is so customizable! Here are some ways to switch up this soup to your liking.

• Veggies – feel free to use any variety of veggies you like! Seasonal vegetables like yellow squash, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc. all make great options.
• Protein – the beans in this recipe are a great source of protein, but you can also add in some chicken, turkey, ground beef or even Italian sausage.
• Gluten-free – you can substitute the pasta for gluten-free pasta or even some regular rice or wild rice.
• Vegan – this soup is already vegan, however instead of topping with parmesan cheese you could top with vegan cheese or nutritional yeast.
• Make it spicy – throw in some red pepper flakes or hot sauce to add some heat to this Italian soup.
• More depth of flavor – I like to add a parmesan rind into the soup as it simmers to really enhance the flavor of the soup. You could also add a little tomato paste for a more rich tomato broth.

What to Serve with Minestrone Soup

This hearty minestrone soup is filling enough to enjoy all on its own, but it’s even better paired with a few simple sides! Serve it with warm, crusty bread for dipping and a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top. For some extra crunch, add my easy homemade croutons or pair your soup with my Italian chopped salad for a fresh, flavorful Italian-inspired meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prepping and Storing

• To Store:  Leftovers will last in your fridge in a sealed, airtight container for up to 5 days.  You may find that the noodles will soak up a lot of the broth as the soup sits, but you can easily add more broth as needed when re-heating.
• To Freeze:  If planning to freeze, first let the soup cool completely and then store it in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let the soup thaw completely in the fridge. Warm it up in a pot on the stove or re-heat individual servings in the microwave.

More Delicious Soup Recipes

• Chicken and Wild Rice Soup – the perfect cozy soup packed with flavor and loaded with chicken, veggies and tender wild rice
• Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup – a delicious low carb soup packed with veggies and made in under 30 minutes
• Chicken Tortilla Soup – the perfect weeknight meal that can easily be made in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or even right on the stove
• Spicy Sausage and Kale Soup – hearty, loaded with a variety of vegetables and leafy kale, all simmered in flavorful beef broth, diced tomatoes and yes, a whole jar of salsa!
• Sausage and Spinach Tortellini Soup – creamy, cozy and made with cheesy tortellini, sausage and fresh veggies
• Detox Immune-Boosting Chicken Soup – the perfect remedy for cold and flu season filled with antioxidants that boost immunity and tastes delicious

Hope you all enjoy this Olive Garden Minestrone Soup and if you love this as much as we do, please leave me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!