Print

Olive Garden Copycat Minestrone Soup

Close-up of a steaming bowl of minestrone soup topped with fresh spinach, white beans, pasta, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This hearty, vegetable-packed minestrone soup tastes just like the restaurant favorite. It is a comforting, easy recipe perfect for family dinners or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow macaroni)
  • 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, oregano, basil, and thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice), kidney beans, cannellini beans, vegetable broth, and water to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Once boiling, add the small pasta. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook according to the pasta package directions, usually about 8 to 10 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
  6. Stir in the fresh spinach during the last 2 minutes of cooking until it wilts into the soup.
  7. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Ladle the hearty minestrone soup into bowls and top each serving with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

  • You can use frozen mixed vegetables if you prefer to save time on chopping fresh produce.
  • For a richer flavor, substitute half of the vegetable broth with chicken broth.
  • This soup is excellent for meal prep; the flavors deepen overnight.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/minestrone-soup-olive-garden-copycat-recipe/