
Welcome to the warmth of a hearty Winter Minestrone Soup, perfect for those chilly days when you crave something comforting and nutritious. This soup is packed with a variety of vegetables, legumes, and herbs, making it not only delicious but also a wholesome meal to share with family or friends. The rich broth and colorful ingredients will bring a touch of summer to your winter table.
Ingredients for Winter Minestrone Soup
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 potato, peeled and diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 6 cups vegetable broth (low sodium)
- 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or small shells)
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
How To Make Winter Minestrone Soup
Start by preparing all your vegetables. Dice the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, potato, and zucchini. Trim and cut the green beans.
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Add the diced carrots, celery, and potato to the pot. Stir and cook for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften slightly.
Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice, vegetable broth, green beans, zucchini, cannellini beans, dried basil, and dried oregano. Bring the soup to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about an hour or until the vegetables are tender. The longer the better!
About 10 minutes before serving, add the pasta to the soup. If you prefer, you can cook the pasta separately to avoid it absorbing too much broth, but cooking it in the soup adds flavor. Cook until the pasta is al dente.
Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.

Tips & Tricks
- Prep Ahead: Chop all your vegetables in advance to streamline the cooking process. This not only saves time but also ensures even cooking.
- Enhance Flavor with Parmesan Rind: If you have a Parmesan rind, add it to the soup while it simmers. It infuses the broth with a rich, savory depth, and you can remove it before serving.
- Freeze for Later: This soup freezes well. Make a large batch, let it cool, then portion it into freezer-safe containers. It’s perfect for quick, healthy meals on busy days.
- Customize Your Veggies: Feel free to adjust the vegetables based on what’s in season or what you have on hand. Adding kale or spinach towards the end of cooking can boost nutrition and add vibrant color.
More Yummy Soup Recipes
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup
- Minnesota Chicken Wild Rice Soup
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We are happy to share our collection of “Old Fashioned Cravings” with you! This is our collection of family recipes that we have to collected, modified and created over the years. Our favorite meals are comfort foods tweaked to be a little bit healthier! We hope you enjoy the content and we would love to hear your favorites and suggestions!