This is the best authentic Italian Minestrone Soup with cabbage, beans, pasta, a rich broth, and topped with Parmesan cheese. It's just like the minestrone soup you love at your favorite Italian Restaurant and is so easy to make.
Your family is going to love this old fashioned Minestrone Soup Recipe. It's just like the minestrone soup you love at your favorite Italian Restaurant. It's a classic Italian soup recipe that can be made with different veggies, beans, and pasta. Serve with fresh bread or rolls for dinner or lunch all year long.
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Best Minestrone Soup with Cabbage
Do you have a favorite Italian restaurant that serves your favorite Minestrone soup? I sure do. Carrabba's minestrone soup recipe and the Olive Garden Minestrone Soup are some of our favorites. I worked at a couple of Italian Restaurants during my college years and this is a recipe knock-off of all the best minestrone soup recipes that I love.
Minestrone Soup is good for you and hearty enough to be a meal all by itself. This minestrone soup with cabbage is loaded with vegetables, beans, and so much flavor too. It really is the best minestrone soup recipe.
Minestrone Soup Video Tutorial
Minestrone Soup Ingredients
- Olive Oil- This is used to cook the onion and give it a deep, rich, Italian recipe flavor.
- Chopped Onion- Adding onion will give the soup a sweet flavor. We like to caramelize our onions before adding everything else. I promise this little bit of extra time is well worth the hassle.
- Minced Garlic- Fresh is always best but the jarred garlic works great too.
- Carrots- The best carrots to use are fresh, big carrots. They are even sweeter than the mini ones and don't have any preservatives on them.
- Cauliflower- A must with Minestrone soup.
- Zucchini- small zucchini is best. If you're using small zucchini, no need to peel the skin, wash and dice.
- Shredded Cabbage- You can buy the cabbage pre-shredded or do it yourself. It's a really flavorful, healthy, and hearty ingredient.
- Chicken Broth- You can use the jarred chicken base from Costco and make your own broth, use a carton of broth, or even homemade chicken broth. They all work great. If you're wanting a vegetarian or vegan minestrone soup recipe, just replace the chicken broth with your favorite vegetable broth.
- Stewed Italian Tomatoes- San Marzano tomatoes work great here. Just be sure they're diced or crushed or do it yourself in the blender before adding the tomatoes to the soup.
- Kidney Beans- Black Beans or Pinto Beans would work in a pinch. Kidney beans are the classic bean to use a Minestrone Soup Recipe.
- Macaroni Pasta- This recipe can be made with or without pasta. If you're making this for the main course, the beans and pasta really help make it hearty.
- Parsley- Adding some parsley will give it a fresh taste. YUM.
- Italian Seasoning (or Parsley, Oregano, Basil) or add equal parts of these three herbs. It is the perfect balance of Italian Herbs.
- Oregano- This is is to top off the herbs in this amazing soup.
- Salt- You can start with half of the salt and then add more if desired. I error on the side of maybe a little salty.
- Pepper-Black pepper works great.
- Parmesan Cheese- If you have a parmesan cheese rind, throw it in the soup while the veggies cook. You can take it out before you serve the minestrone soup and then add some more fresh parmesan cheese on top before serving. Oh, so delicious.
How To Make Minestrone Soup
- Cook the onions. In a large dutch oven or stockpot, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Saute on medium heat until the onions are soft and lightly golden brown - about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Add the minced garlic, carrots, and cauliflower and saute another 2 minutes before adding the zucchini, cabbage, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, beans, pasta, and herbs.
- Simmer the soup. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium and cover with a lid. Let simmer for about 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta and veggies are tender.
- Serve. Remove from the heat and cool for a few minutes before serving with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese. Enjoy!
Minestrone Soup Variations
You can easily add one or a few of these ingredients to switch up your minestrone soup recipe. This soup recipe reheats nicely too so you could even have the classic version one night and then add a couple more ingredients to switch it up. I love adding some Ground sausage, a splash of cream, and a little extra cheese. There are so many great options.
- Ground Beef
- Ground Sausage
- Sausage Links
- Shredded Chicken
- Blend it up and add a splash of cream for a creamy vegetable soup
- Add Parmesan and some Crusty French Bread or Homemade Breadsticks
- Chopped green onions
- Fresh chopped chives
- Croutons
- Red pepper flakes
- Other herbs like rosemary or oregano
- Creme Fraiche
Frequently Asked Questions
You can freeze minestrone soup. Just cool completely and transfer to freezer bags. Lay them flat in the freezer and store for up to 5 months. Once you are ready to use, you can thaw overnight in the fridge, or else transfer directly into a pot on the stovetop and re-heat on medium-low heat, stirring often.
If you want to go the microwave route, just transfer into a microwave-safe container and reheat for about 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between.
Yes! I still recommend sauteeing the onions and garlic over a stovetop. From there, add to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 3-4 hours.
The Best Minestrone Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil or avocado oil
- 2 cups Onion white or yellow onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoon Garlic minced
- 2 large Carrots peeled and cut into ¼" slices
- 1½ cups Cauliflower washed and chopped into ¾" chunks
- 1 small Zucchini washed, sliced and quartered
- 2 cups Shredded Cabbage pre-shredded works great.
- 1½ quarts Chicken Broth Vegetable Broth works great too.
- 1 28-oz can Italian Stewed Tomatoes crushed or diced
- 2 cans Kidney Beans (drained)
- ¾ cup Macaroni Pasta or sub your favorite small pasta
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- 2 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese Mozzarella works great too.
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or stockpot, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Saute on medium heat until the onions are soft and lightly golden brown - about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic, carrots, and cauliflower and saute another 2 minutes before adding the zucchini, cabbage, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, beans, pasta, and herbs.
- Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium and cover with a lid. Let simmer for about 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta and veggies are tender.
- Remove from the heat and cool for a few minutes before serving with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More of the Best Soups Recipes
- Taco Soup
- Southwest Black Bean
- Turkey Enchilada Soup
- Broccoli Potato Cheese Soup
- Lemon Orzo Soup
- Lasagna soup
- Creamy Tortellini Soup Recipe
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Tomato Soup
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Turkey and Rice Soup
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Healthy Turkey Chili
- More Soup Recipes
This is the Best Minestrone Soup recipe. It's just like the classic Italian minestrone soup you love at your favorite Italian Restaurant. The soup is loaded with vegetables, rich broth, and topped with delicious parmesan cheese. It's so easy and your family is going to love it.
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