Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
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The minestrone soup at Olive Garden is warm and comforting, perfect for chilly nights. Recreate this popular menu item at home in 30 minutes!
Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
This is one of our favorite Olive Garden™ soups!! The recipe is budget-friendly and can be customized based on what you have on hand.
Fresh vegetables, red and white beans, and tender pasta are simmered in a rich tomato broth for a hearty, filling meal.
If you love this Olive Garden minestrone soup recipe, try our homemade versions of their Zuppa Toscana or Chicken Gnocchi Soup.
I’ve even got a Chicken Vino Bianco recipe, which was my favorite dish before they pulled it from the menu!
Ingredient Notes
- Use fresh onions, celery, and carrots. Known as the “holy trinity” in many cuisines, this creates the base of flavor for soups and stews. You will get much better results with fresh versus frozen.
- Fresh versus frozen green beans. Fresh veggies always taste best in vegetable soups like Minestrone, but using frozen works perfectly too. You can also used canned, but if so, we recommend rinsing them so they aren’t too salty.
- Broth substitute: Chicken broth is the gold standard for soups because it generally adds more flavor. However, this is often served as a vegetarian dish so feel free to use vegetable stock instead.
- Add zucchini, spinach, and pasta at the end. The squash and noodles cook quickly and will become soggy if they are in the pot the entire time. Spinach simply needs to wilt, so you can easily stir it in just before serving.
- Want a different pasta? Feel free to use whichever variety you prefer, though smaller shapes will be ready faster. Pay close attention to the measurements – it soaks up more broth than you’d expect!
Serving Suggestions
This meal wouldn’t be complete with salad and breadsticks! While they may not be bottomless, you’ll save plenty of money recreating your restaurant favorites right at home.
You could also pair this Italian minestrone soup with a gourmet grilled cheese for your very own lunch combo. Or, keep it simple by crushing a handful of crackers over the top.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
Olive Garden Minestrone Soup FAQ
What’s the difference between this recipe and the minestrone soup from Olive Garden?
While we can’t know exactly how the restaurant prepares its recipes, we know the main ingredients are essentially the same.
The restaurant has updated its menu in recent years, and now shows this dish as a vegan option. A simple swap of vegetable stock for the chicken broth will give you the same results!
How do I save leftovers?
Allow leftovers to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. Reheat on the stove until warmed through, adding extra broth if needed.
You can also freeze Italian minestrone soup, but I recommend cooking the noodles separately and adding in a handful just before serving.
Can I make Olive Garden minestrone soup in the crockpot?
Take a look at this slow cooker version for detailed instructions. The ingredients and measurements are a little bit different, but the end result is pretty much the same.
Enjoy!
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MORE SOUP RECIPES
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- Large Stock Pot or Dutch Oven – Perfect for soups, roasts, and one pot meals!
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
- Ladle – A must for dishing up this Italian minestrone soup!
Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
Ingredients
- 2 medium yellow onions, diced (1 cup)
- 2 stalks celery, diced (1 cup)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large carrots, diced (1 cup)
- 1 cup fresh green beans, cut into pieces
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 15 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes (including the juices)
- 15 ounce can white beans (navy or cannelini), drained and rinsed
- 15 ounce can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 zucchini, lightly peeled and sliced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2/3 cup small shell pasta
- parsley for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, saute onion and celery in the olive oil until softened.
- Add the carrots, green beans, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, white beans, kidney beans, broth, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add zucchini, spinach, and pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente tender (about 10 minutes longer).
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published November 2021
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