Description

A warm, hearty Olive Garden Copycat Minestrone Soup packed with vegetables, beans, and ditalini pasta. This easy dinner recipe is vegetarian, healthy, and perfect for meal prep. It’s one of those comforting food ideas you’ll return to again and again. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy, budget-friendly option, this minestrone fits all your dinner ideas perfectly.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 medium zucchini, diced

1 cup green beans, chopped

1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cups vegetable broth

1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cup ditalini pasta

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Salt and black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 6–8 minutes until softened.

2. Add garlic and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

3. Add zucchini, green beans, and diced tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 2–3 minutes.

4. Pour in the vegetable broth. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes.

5. Add red kidney beans and cannellini beans. Simmer for another 5 minutes.

6. Add ditalini pasta and cook until just tender, about 8–10 minutes.

7. Adjust seasoning. Add fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

To prevent mushy pasta in leftovers, cook and store pasta separately.

Add a parmesan rind to the broth for extra richness, but remove before serving.

If you want a thicker soup, mash a portion of the beans before adding them.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 210
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 680mg
Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fiber: 9g
Protein: 9g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: minestrone, Olive Garden copycat, easy dinner, vegetarian soup, healthy soup, one-pot meal, budget-friendly recipe