Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
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So cozy, so hearty! Loaded with vegetables, beans, pasta + Parmesan rind for extra flavor. Vegetarian-friendly!
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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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I would make mushroom rice, I would love to have my rice turn out perfectly for once!
I would definitely make a soup with this! I’ve never used an instant pot before.
I would make yogurt.
If I win the Instant Pot, I will make Butter Chicken! I love Indian food and this will be the first dish I make!
I would make Korean beef bulgogi.
Definitely soup! That vegetable minestrone looks delicious 🙂
POT ROAST and CHICKEN AND DUMPLINS FOR SURE
I’ve wanted an Instant Pot for a long time now – not sure what I’d make first. Probably some kind of soup while I search for more recipes to try! Thanks for the opportunity.
I’d love to try out some pot roast! YUM
I will for SURE be making your creamy broccoli mac ‘n cheese recipe!
I would make Korean short rib stew and oxtail soup with it!
Mmm all the soups, rice, chicken, ribs I can smell them cooking now!!
Will definitely make Mongolian Beef and Lentil soup.
i would make some kind of yummy tacos, as much as i want to make this soup, i could never pass up a chance for tacos 🙂
Either tomato soup, or yogurt!
My favorite: Dutch pea soep ( erwten soep)! This minestrone soup looks delicious too! I kove making soups and one pot dishes, portion freeze them in and enjoy during week nights. Living alone again need to eat nice and balanced out food. Cooking big pots and freezing portions makes my life so much easier!
I am so excited to get an instant pot and start cooking some of these delicious sounding recipes. I have printed out quite a few and started a file for my new instant pot. Hopefully I will win one!
Will make butter chicken, lentil soup and mongolian beef for starters.
Anything and everything I can! My sister has one and loves it, she keeps telling me to get one, “it will change my life!”
I’d love to make this soup first in the instant pot!
I’d love an IP to make quick rice and carnitas. Seems like you can use it for everything though!!