This classic Minestrone Soup recipe comes straight from my grandma’s cookbook. It’s made with simple vegetables, hearty beans, and a rich, slow-simmered broth. It’s warm, familiar, and deeply nostalgic.
This is a recipe you’d expect from an Italian Nonna! (even though my grandma isn’t Italian). Perfect for cold nights, Sunday dinners, or anytime you’re craving a truly homemade minestrone that’s timeless.
Once a year we would visit my grandma, who became a widow far too early. It always made me sad to know how much she was alone, but gathering around her table brought so much light and joy into her eyes I knew she would be ok. In the winter, she almost always made a Minestrone Soup with pasta or potatoes. The house felt cozier when it was on the stove, and you were engulfed with the smell it as soon as you walked in.
She served it with garlic knots and salad, and we’d dip the bread straight into the soup, letting it soak up the warm broth before taking a bite. It’s usually hard to get kids excited about a bowl full of vegetables and beans, but this soup is different. We always finished it, and most of the time went back for seconds. Even now, Minestrone reminds me of sitting at her kitchen table.
Ingredients for Minestrone Soup
Grandma’s recipes are ALWAYS better! This Minestrone Soup is no exception. Packed with vegetables, beans, and savory seasonings, these ingredients come together to create this classic flavorful soup!
Soup Base
- Olive Oil: Creates the base for sautéing and helps develop flavor from the very first step.
- Onion: Adds sweetness and depth as the foundation of the soup.
- Carrots: Bring subtle sweetness and color to balance the savory broth.
- Celery: Adds classic aromatic flavor and structure to the soup base.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances and layers flavor throughout the cooking process.
- Zucchini: Adds texture and a light, fresh vegetable note.
- Green Beans: Bring freshness and light crunch.
- Garlic: Builds bold, savory flavor once sautéed with the vegetables.
Broth & Seasonings
- Tomato Paste: Concentrates tomato flavor and deepens the broth.
- Dried Oregano: Adds a traditional Italian herb flavor.
- Poultry Seasoning: Brings warmth and subtle complexity to the soup.
- Black Pepper: Adds gentle heat and balance.
- Chicken Broth: Forms the rich, savory base of the soup (vegetable broth works too).
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Add acidity and a slightly smoky tomato flavor.
- Bay Leaves: Infuse the broth with a subtle, aromati