This Vegan Minestrone Soup is a cozy and delicious plant-based version of the classic Italian vegetable soup. It’s easy to make with healthy fresh vegetables and hearty beans. Gluten-free, dairy-free and can be made low carb, keto, Whole30 and paleo friendly.
PIN HERE for later and follow my boards for more recipe ideas
Easy Vegan Minestrone Soup Recipe
Looking for a cozy and comforting soup to warm up on a chilly day? This healthy Vegan Minestrone Soup is a favorite! It’s a thick and creamy tomato soup that is Italian-inspired comfort food and you’re going to savor every single bite of it! Makes a hearty lunch or dinner soup that comes together in a single pot with minimal effort. Plus, it’s packed with plenty of fresh herbs and healthy vegetables in every bite.
The balsamic vinegar adds richness and enhances all of the irresistible flavors in the soup, but you can choose to leave it out if you’d like. Either way, this cozy vegetable soup is sure to become a new family favorite. If you’re looking for a slow cooker or Instant Pot version, check out our Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup or our Instant Pot Minestrone Soup.
What is Minestrone Soup?
Minestrone soup is a thick Italian soup that is typically made with a variety of vegetables, beans and pasta or rice. There is no set recipe for classic Minestrone soup and many families have their own version depending on what ingredients they have.
The American version of Minestrone Soup was popularized by Olive Garden and made with a tomato base, vegetables, beans and pasta topped with grated Parmesan. This healthy take on the hearty vegetable soup is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and can easily be made paleo, low carb, keto and Whole30 with just a few swaps.
Recipe Ingredients
Let’s talk about each and every item you will need to bring this sumptuous Italian-style soup to life. Buon appetito!
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil.
- Onion: Diced.
- Garlic: Freshly minced.
- Diced Tomatoes: A 32-oz can of Fire-Roasted or Italian style.
- Tomato Paste: 3 tablespoons.
- Bay Leaf: You’ll need 1.
- Beans: You can use drained canned beans or cooked dried beans. Red Kidney Beans, Canellini Beans, Chickpeas or Great Northern Beans all work. Leave out for paleo, Whole30 and keto alternative.
- Gluten-free Dried Pasta: Any small pasta shapes work. Use Jovial Cassava Grain-Free pasta for paleo or leave out for Whole30 and keto.
- Carrot: Chopped
- Celery: Chopped
- Zucchini: Sliced into halves or quarters.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Optional but recommended for depth of flavor.
- Vegetable Broth: You can use store-bought or homemade vegetable stock.
- Dried Herbs: We use basil, oregano and thyme.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Spinach: Chopped. You can sub this for kale if preferred.
- Vegan Parmesan cheese : For serving. Leave out for paleo & Whole30.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped for serving.
How to Make Vegan Minestrone Soup
Once you’ve rounded up your ingredients, go ahead and grab a Dutch oven or a large soup pot. Let’s get cooking!
- Sauté Onions and Vegetables: In a large heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, carrots and celery and saute for about 4 minutes, or until vegetables are slightly softened.
- Add Herbs, Tomatoes and Broth: Add basil, oregano and thyme and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Stir in the Tomatoes and Broth: Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, vegetable broth and both of the beans. Depending on how large your pot is, add just enough water to cover the vegetables.
- Lower Heat & Simmer: Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Add Pasta and Zucchini: Stir in the dried pasta shells and zucchini and cook for another 10 minutes, or until pasta is cooked. Stir in the spinach and allow to wilt (about 1-2 minutes). Add more water as needed if you like a thinner soup.
- Season to taste and serve: Season with more salt and pepper as needed and stir in balsamic vinegar (if using). Serve warm with bread and top with Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley if desired.
Tips for Success
Don’t forget to go over these handy tips and tricks before you start making your soup.
- Season the Soup to Your Liking: Before you ladle your soup into bowls and add the toppings, give it a good old taste test to see if you’d like to make any adjustments. Just be sure to blow on your spoonful a few times before you slurp it up!
- Add Balsamic Vinegar: The hint of balsamic brings out all the other flavors to this dish
- Save Time with Pre-chopped Vegetables: It can take a little while to chop up your vegetables, so if you’re pressed for time, feel free to pick up a container of pre-chopped Mirepoix instead.
Topping Ideas
There are a whole lot of yummy toppings and garnishes you can use to finish off your soup. Here are some easy ideas:
- Fresh Oregano
- Grated Vegan Parmesan
- Grain-Free Crackers
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Lemon Slices
- Gluten-Free Bread
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- Rustic Sourdough
Serving Suggestions
Healthy Minestrone soup is definitely hearty and satisfying enough to serve as a main dish. Try pairing it with one of the following sides!
- Serve with Caesar Salad: Our Vegan Caesar Salad is a healthy veggie side dish that goes great with this vegetable and bean soup. Plus, it’s made in just 20 minutes!
- Pair with Roasted Squash: Tender on the inside, crispy on the outside and seasoned to your liking, this Roasted Butternut Squash will have you licking your lips. Whether you make it sweet or savory, it’s going to taste amazing alongside this soup.
- Serve with Brussels Sprouts: The caramelized flavor of these Crispy Brussels Sprouts is out of this world! They’re super easy to make with your trusty Air Fryer.
Storage and Reheating
After it has cooled, vegetarian minestrone soup should be refrigerated in an airtight container. It will last for up to 4 days. Reheat it over medium-low heat without letting it come to a boil. Remove it from the heat once it’s warmed through.
You can reheat individual portions of soup in the microwave if preferred. Cover the soup and heat it in 15-second bursts, stirring between each one and reducing the microwave time as needed, until it reaches your desired temperature.
Can I Freeze This?
This gluten free minestrone soup is best served fresh, but you can freeze cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container if you’d like. Be sure to leave extra room in the container to allow the liquid to expand during the freezing process. We wouldn’t store this soup in the freezer for much longer than a couple of weeks. Thaw it out in the fridge overnight before reheating it.
More Cozy Soup Recipes
Homemade soup is a huge part of our lives, especially during the wintertime. Check out these comforting vegan soups next!
This Vegan Minestrone Soup is a cozy and delicious plant-based version of the classic Italian vegetable soup. It's easy to make with healthy fresh vegetables and hearty beans. Gluten-free, dairy-free and can be made low carb, keto, Whole30 and paleo friendly.
- 1 small onion , about 1/3 cup, diced
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 medium carrot (about 1 cup) , chopped
- 1 large celery stalk (about 1 cup) , chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 32 oz can diced tomatoes , (we like to use fire-roasted or Italian-style)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 (32 oz carton - 4 cups) low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 medium zucchini (around 2/3 cups) , sliced into halves or quarters
- 1/4 cup canned or cooked red kidney beans , drained and rinsed (leave out for paleo, Whole30 & low carb)
- 1/4 cup canned or cooked cannellini beans, chickpeas OR great northern beans , drained and rinsed (leave out for paleo, Whole30 & low carb)
- water - add only as much as needed to cover vegetables
- 1/4 cup dried gluten-free small shell pasta , (use Jovial grain-free elbow pasta or Konjac / Shirataki Macaroni for paleo / keto or leave out for Whole30 & low carb and add chopped cauliflower & green beans instead))
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach chopped , optional
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar , optional but adds great flavor
- Shredded or grated vegan Parmesan cheese , for serving (leave out for paleo & Whole30)
- Fresh parsley finely chopped , for garnish (optional)
- In a large heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onions, garlic, carrots and celery and saute for about 4 minutes, or until vegetables are slightly softened.
Add basil, oregano and thyme and cook for an additional 1 minute. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, vegetable broth and both of the beans. Depending on how large your pot is, add just enough water to cover the vegetables.
Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20-25 minutes.
Stir in the dried pasta shells and zucchini and cook for another 10 minutes, or until pasta is cooked. Stir in the spinach and allow to wilt (about 1-2 minutes). Add more water as needed if you like a thinner soup.
Season with more salt and pepper as needed and stir in balsamic vinegar (if using).
Serve warm with bread and top with Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley if desired.
Recipe Video
- To Store: Store cooled soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: Set soup over medium-low heat until warmed. Do not let it boil. Alternatively, reheat individual servings in the microwave, covered, for 15-second bursts until warm.
- To Freeze: Freeze cooled soup in an airtight container, leaving an inch or two of free space to allow for expansion. Within 3 months, thaw it overnight in the fridge, reheat it and enjoy.
Stacy -
Congratulations, I really like your site and I am more inspired by you for my own creativity. I wanted to thank you for a number of useful and tasty recipes. Husband and children are delighted. Thanks for the help.
nancy -
this is so delicious.You can make so many recipes with leftovers, thanks for the idea