Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
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So cozy, so hearty! Loaded with vegetables, beans, pasta + Parmesan rind for extra flavor. Vegetarian-friendly!
Featured Comment
With so many soups and stews being made, my Instant Pot has been working some major overtime this winter. We call it our magic pot. And now our lovely magic pot can make the best minestrone soup there ever was with the touch of a button.
why i love this recipe
- One pot meal. This is one of those weeknight hero recipes where you can throw all of your veggies, beans, broth, pasta and greens into one single pot for a quick and easy clean up.
- Versatile. The recipe can easily be bulked up to add meat or made vegetarian (or vegan).
- Freezer-friendly. Minestrone soup freezes very, very well (sans pasta, of course) without significant changes to flavor and texture.
is this minestrone soup or vegetable soup?
Both minestrone and vegetable soup include veggies, but minestrone is typically a thicker soup that includes beans and pasta (or rice).
tips and tricks for success
- Use short cut pasta. Ditalini, macaroni or a small shape pasta similar in size to the vegetables is ideal.
- Add more vegetables. Minestrone can serve as a clean-out-the-fridge meal, adding in other veggies you have on hand such as shredded cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes and green beans.
- Choose your meat. As written, this recipe does not contain meat but you can easily add ground beef, shredded chicken or crumbled Italian sausage.
- Save leftover Parmesan rinds. Get more out of those expensive Parmesan cheeses by using up the leftover rinds! Adding a Parmesan rind slightly thickens the broth and adds a level of nutty richness to the soup.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
what to serve with minestrone soup
Tools For This Recipe
6-qt Instant Pot®
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup: Frequently Asked Questions
Spinach, cabbage, swiss chard and collard greens are all great subs.
The red wine vinegar adds brightness and helps balance out the flavors.
The chicken broth can be substituted with vegetable broth.
Use vegetable broth and skip the Parmesan.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers without the pasta (or else they will get mushy) in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop, adding freshly cooked pasta and a splash of broth (if needed) when serving.
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon fennel seed
- 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (16-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 1 (3-inch) Parmesan rind
- 1 bay leaf
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup ditalini pasta
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan
Instructions
- Set a 6-qt Instant Pot® to the high saute setting. Add olive oil, garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in basil, oregano and fennel seed until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in chicken stock, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, zucchini, Parmesan rind and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 5 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions.
- Select high sauté setting. Bring to a boil; stir in pasta and cook, uncovered, until tender, about 8-11 minutes.
- Stir in kale until wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in red wine vinegar; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately, topped with Parmesan.
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DELICIOUS!! Followed the recipe exactly and this is going to be a winter staple.
My go to for a delicious soup that tastes fresh and is slightly addictive!
My go to soup when I’m short on time but need something delicious! Do not skip the Parmesan rind. The flavor it adds is amazing!
It is good but the flavors are a little muted (and I didn’t even use all 6 quarts the recipe called for). I’m sure the flavors will pop tomorrow, but if you want more popping the night of, you could probably double the seasonings. Family loved it though!
Made this tonight for my family and friends. Followed directions as written. Just added a cup of gluten free pasta to it at end and let the pasta cook for a few minutes. Best soup ever! This will definitely be a repeat!
LOVE this recipe and have made it several times. Easy and delicious! Thank you!
This soup was so easy and delicious. I added some frozen Italian meatballs and served it with oven toasted garlic bread. My boys loved it. Will definitely add this recipe to my favorite soup list!
AMAZINNNGGGG
This was awesome and so easy! Don’t forget the last step of adding s+p to taste. That’s the only thing I can think of maybe happened to the people who said this was tasteless. Everything really pops after a tsp of salt!
My Wife loves this recipe
Perfect. So easy and delicious. Even my picky kids loved it! Folowed your recipe as closely as I could.
With my mom living with us and she loves hot soups this would be great to have
What adjustments would need to be made if I wanted to add pasta?
This is my all-time favorite InstantPot recipe. I rig it slightly to accommodate taste like 2T of tomato paste in the veggies before adding broth and also 1/4 tsp of hot pepper flakes. My husband likes white beans so we opt those in for the kidney beans but the rest is just PERFECT. I could eat this broth all day long. SO SO very good.
Great recipe. I’ve made it a few times now and everyone at home loves it.
I love it!! Unfortunately I only have the three quart. I have medical issues, but cook for all of my family when I’m able. It’s just not big enough. I get by, but I would love a bigger one. I have been a cook all my life and haven’t used the stove much lately. I’ve never been a big fan of kitchen “gadgets”. But the Instant Pot is not a gadget… I love it.!!!
Great receipe, I added sliced mushrooms and roasted then skinned and seeded red bell peppers & jalapenos . Every time I use my instant pot I’m amazed how flavorful it comes out in such a quick time. Tasted like it stewed all day. This actually was my first time making a soup in the instant pot. We have tried quite a few of your recipes and they never disappoint.
Can you make this recipe in a slow cooker? I what would be the time adjustment? I went to but everything I didn’t have in the kitchen for this recipe and have been so excited to try it, but I realized I don’t have a pressure cooker… Still want to try it and I just really don’t want to mess it up. Help please!
The perfect minestrone! Not too tomato-y, lots of great veggies, and easy to make!
I have been making Minestrone soup for 40+ years.
This was the easiest and tastiest yet.
Thank you!