My Grandma’s easy minestrone soup recipe is one of the healthiest vegetable-loaded soups you’ll make, and it tastes far better than any of those Olive Garden copycat recipes thanks to the secret ingredient in the savory broth.
Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe
“It is well worth the time and effort.”
But then, isn’t most anything when it’s done with love?
My sweet Grandma Frieda passed away when I was a senior in college and while there are many things that remind me of her, as a recipe maker it’s the cookbooks I inherited from her that I see most often. And this recipe for minestrone soup that graces the pages has always been one of my favorites.
One of my favorite things about her copies of The Joy of Cooking (pub. 1953) and Epicure’s Delight (pub. 1944) are the pages and margins filled with recipes written in my grandma’s elegant handwriting that as a German immigrant shows off the hard work it took to become a part of her new country. Like the quote says above, it is well worth the time and effort.
Nestled within those cookbook pages are recipe cards for recipes from friends like Edith’s Coffee Cake and Loretta’s Zucchini Soufflé, which have both moved to my must-make list. But the recipe that shows up time and time again is this Italian minestrone soup recipe from San Francisco’s Petrini Gourmet Grocery Stores. It was likely cut from the San Mateo Times’ newspaper recipe section to promote more soup bone sales for the homemade beef broth, where either the newspaper editors or Petrini himself lured readers with the headnote It is well worth the time and effort, and even more so because this minestrone recipe is actually really easy to make.
The Key Minestrone Ingredients
Whether you say minestrone soup like the Italians, aka “min eh stron ee” or “min eh stron eh”, this soup is the perfect gateway to woo non-veggie lovers into getting a head start on their five a day. It’s brothy and flavorful with potatoes, pasta, and cheese that makes the veggies more than palatable.
Because this soup has the simplest of ingredients and can be made with ease, the key is starting with the best quality you can find or afford.
While most people think of minestrone as a vegetarian soup, Petrini’s recipe begins with salt pork. Yep, this recipe is from days gone by. I used bacon instead.
Grandma’s newspaper recipe also calls for a super simple stock of bones and water slow-simmered for flavor. But I like a richer, heartier stock so my homemade beef stock fit the bill here. Or if you prefer, use chicken broth (this is my favorite homemade) or a veggie stock instead.
To the stock you’ll be adding diced tomatoes, adding more richness and a bit of acid to balance the flavors.
The other source for this soup’s distinctive minestrone flavor comes from the spunk of Parmesan cheese, and while grandma’s recipe doesn’t call for it I have a secret that I learned of long ago: to cook the broth with a few leftover rinds of Parmesan cheese. This step really imparts that cheesy flavor and takes your broth from a tepid vegetable flavor to minestrone all the way.
How to Make Minestrone Soup
First, I cook the chopped bacon in a Dutch oven over medium high heat until browned. Then, I toss in the onion, carrots, leeks and celery and cook until the veggies have softened.
In goes the beef stock, kosher salt, pepper, and cheese rinds. I bring the mixture to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes before adding in the potatoes, macaroni, and tomatoes. I partially cover the minestrone soup and let it cook for another 20 minutes before adding in the kidney beans and peas.
Just before serving this crazy delicious minestrone soup, I stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Can I Add Other Vegetables to Minestrone?
Absolutely! One of the best things about Italian minestrone soup is it can truly be a clean-out-the-fridge recipe you can fiddle with based on what you have on hand or what’s in season. Traditionally, the are the vegetables that most often show up:
- Tomatoes
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Beans (kidney and Great Northern beans are my favorites)
- Peas
- Zucchini
- Cabbage (shred it thin)
- Spinach
- Kale
- Leeks (use the white parts only)
- Green beans (canned works wonders)
Can I Make This Recipe Vegetarian?
To make this minestrone soup vegetarian, skip the bacon and use a rich vegetable stock in lieu of the beef stock instead.
Tips for Making the Best Minestrone Soup
Use a small macaroni or pasta that matches the diced size of your veggies for equal tastes in every bite.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own stock from scratch, always choose a grocery store version that’s high quality with ingredients you can actually read.
Homemade minestrone freezes incredibly well. I recommend freezing it in individual containers (like glass jars) so you can reheat a single serving at a time for quick lunches and dinners.
More Easy Soup Recipes to Make
- The Best French Onion Soup
- The Best Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Matzo Ball Soup with Chicken Meatballs
- Vegetarian Crockpot Lasagna Soup
- Slow Cooker Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Soup
- Homemade Beef Broth or Stock
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Bookmark this recipe and leave a comment below, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
My Grandma's Minestrone Soup
My Grandma's easy minestrone soup recipe is one of the healthiest vegetable-loaded soups you'll make, and it tastes far better than any of those Olive Garden copycat recipes thanks to the secret ingredient in the savory broth.
Ingredients
- 4-5 slices bacon roughly sliced into bite size pieces
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 2/3 cup chopped leeks white part only
- 2/3 cup chopped celery
- 3 quarts beef stock 12 cups
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2-3 chunks of Parmesan cheese rind
- 1 1/2 cups potatoes
- 1 cup small macaroni
- 1 15- ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 15- ounce can red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 2/3 cup frozen peas thawed
- 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
-
Add the bacon to a large dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat and cook until browned but not crispy.
-
Add the onion, carrots, leeks and celery then reduce the heat to medium and cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-
Add the beef stock, kosher salt, pepper, and cheese rinds. Bring to a boil then reduce to a gently rolling simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, partially covered with a lid.
-
Add the potatoes, macaroni, and tomatoes, then partially cover with the lid, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes more.
-
Add the kidney beans and peas, and simmer until warmed through. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your taste.
-
Just before serving, add the grated Parmesan cheese and serve sprinkled with more Parmesan if you’d like.
Recipe Notes
Make your own homemade beef broth/stock with this recipe.
Or, use a vegetable broth instead.
What to Serve with Minestrone to Make a Meal
- Melted Mozzarella Caprese Crostini Toasts
- Outrageous Herbaceous Chickpea Salad
- Ultimate Italian Salad Platter
- Killer Garlic Rolls
- Chicken Caprese Sandwich
- Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
- Berry Tart With Lemon Curd Mascarpone
- How to Make Classic Tiramisu
Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.
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Mitch karison says
looks so delicious and I would love have this. I will try to make this soup. Awesome guide. Thanks
Will says
Making this now. I threw everything from zucchini, yellow squash, cabbage, kale, canned beans and tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onion and ground beef. The crockpot is full and the aroma is great. I am going to cook the pasta separately and add later.
Heidi says
Good on you Will. And glad it’s perfuming the kitchen. Enjoy!
Ian Munro says
I loved this recipe and so did the family.
A couple of tweaks: cannellini beans instead of kidney beans; fresh home-grown tomatoes in place of tinned and a double handful of kale added at the same time as the tomatoes. Delicious!
Thank you.
Ashley Sorenson says
I love how you made it your own! What a great weeknight meal!
Pam Lobb says
I wanted a really good minestrone soup. Did as you suggested with the homemade beef stock. Was wonderful . Thank you.
Ashley Sorenson says
So glad you loved it, Pam!
Vinve says
Awesome recipe… my soup tasted so good!
I tweaked a bit by adding ground turkey instead of bacon. Thanks!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
Great idea!! Thank you Vinve!
Melinda T. says
I plan to make this when the weather begins to turn cooler, and I’m excited about that! One question: I’m planning to make some bone broth soon, what modifications might I need to make in the recipe to accommodate using that instead of stock? I would imagine I’d want to be careful with salt (but you already noted that above). Anything else? Thanks for this recipe, I can almost smell my nonna’s house when she was making a minestra…!
Heidi says
I think you’d be fine with the bone broth route, and yes, keep an eye on the salt and enjoy!
James Goacher says
I have only 15 yrs to go for my birthday telegram from the Queen/Whoever, so I am going to eat a bowl of this four days in a row, maybe five to make sure :-)
If it dosen’t work I’ll let you know :-D.
Heidi says
Ha! We will all be waiting James!
El says
Synchronicity!! Needed to clear out the fridge on the weekend, in preparation for closing up the cottage, so made minestrone. The recipe I had was essentially vegetarian – no meat and used veggie stock. No leeks, but I had some parsnips. This recipe also called for kale, chard or spinach. Since I was pushed for time, I used baby spinach. Didn’t think to add the Parmesan rinds – next time! I did add a crumbled dried red Thai pepper and a few other herbs, plus fresh bay leaves, to give it a bit of a zing. The smallest pasta I had was Orzo, which worked out nicely. As you say, a bit in every bite! Will have to try your version with the bacon and beef broth – report to follow!! Thx for a tasty recipe!!
Heidi says
So glad the soup was not only good but it served double duty as a clean out. Love the orzo idea.