Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Who says you can’t enjoy soup all year-round? Especially this Copycat Minestrone Soup!

This big ol’ pot features al dente pasta, loads of veggies including mirepoix, green beans, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, zucchini and leafy greens, plus beans and fresh basil in a super flavorful Parmesan broth.

It’s cozy, flavorful and you’ll want to curl up with a bowl, ASAP.

How to make copycat Olive Garden minestrone soup

Featured Ingredients

• Mirepoix. Onions, carrots and celery – almost every soup starts with ’em!
• Spinach. Several handfuls of it.
• Dried herbs. Italian seasonings, for flavor.
• Diced tomatoes. From the can.
• Beans. Cannellini beans are the best for this soup.
• Pasta. Elbow macaroni – I use whole grain.
• Stock. Vegetable or chicken will work.
• Parmesan. If you can find a rind, let it simmer in the broth. Also shave some for a garnish.
• Zucchini and green beans. Fersh zucchini and frozen green beans work perfectly here!
• Basil. Fresh basil is the perfect way to top off this delicious copycat Olive Garden minestrone soup.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a Dutch oven or stock pot, heat olive oil to medium.
2. Add onion, carrots and celery; cook 7-8 minutes or until soft. 
3. Add garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper; sauté 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
4. Add diced tomatoes, beans and stock; bring to a simmer.
5. Add pasta and Parmesan rind to the pot; bring to a slow simmer.
6. Cook 8-10 minutes or until pasta is almost al dente.
7. Stir in green beans, zucchini and spinach or kale; cook 2-3 more minutes or until veggies are slightly soft.
8. Scoop minestrone into bowls and top with fresh basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
9. Discard the Parmesan rind or save for another use.

Recipe Substitutions and Alternatives

• Mirepoix: If you don’t want to chop fresh veggies, you can usually find a bag of frozen chopped mirepoix at the grocery store.
• Spinach: You can also use kale or another dark leafy green.
• Cannellini beans: Any white bean will work here. Even chickpeas would be delish!
• Green beans: Use fresh, just add them to the pot a few minutes sooner so they can fully cooked.
• Stock: You can use store-bought or make your own.
• Add meat: Chicken or Italian sausage are delicious in this soup.

Nutrition Considerations

• To make this gluten free: Use gluten free shaped pasta. Be sure all other packaged ingredients are gluten free.
• To make this dairy free: Skip the Parmesan and use nutritional yeast as a garnish.
• To make this vegan: Skip the Parmesan and use nutritional yeast as a garnish.
• To make this nut free: This recipe is naturally nut free. Be sure all other packaged ingredients are nut free.

Cozy soup recipes:

• Old-Fashioned Ham and Cabbage Soup with Potatoes
• Instant Pot Split Pea & Ham Soup
• Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup
• Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
• Zuppa Toscana
• Loaded Cheesy Potato Soup
• Instant Pot Beef & Barley Soup

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