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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I’d make the mushroom risotto.
I want to try something weird/unique, I found a recipe for one giant pancake you make in the instant pot, or cheese cake O_o or I’d love to try to make yogurt, my yogurt maker has never worked right.
I would make some sweet potato and apple sauce for my six month old twins 🙂 And this minestrone soup of course!
I’d love to make a chicken and dumplings recipe in my instant pot, as well as try many of your recipes!
Thanks.
I would like to try pulled pork in an Instant Pot. I would freeze the cooked pork in meal-sized portions and use it for kalua pork by adding liquid smoke, or barbecued pork sandwiches. You have posted some good-sounding IP recipes on your website and I think I need to buy one of these pots! Thanks for the contest.
Definitely soups then I would be more adventurous and try chicken dishes.
I’d make All your instant pot recipes. Every single one I’ve seen I’ve been sooo sad because I don’t have an instant pot. Was going to save up and buy one just to make your recipes
I would make this soup recipe first!! It looks so yummy!
I have had to say awwww out loud when I look at your recipes that involve the Instant Pot. I saw the Korean Beef and so wanted and Instant Pot, unfortunately cannot afford it. I looked at it however, lol,,wishing one day! And the soups! I love to make and freeze part for later. What a wonderful contest,,,good luck to all! Thank you for all your recipes!
I’ll make a delicious New Orleans-style red beans and rice 🙂
I’ve always wanted to try to make Japanese jiggly cheesecake in an Instant Pot!
So many recipes I want to try, it’s hard to pick just one!! But I want to cook beans, any and all kind of dried beans quickly!
I was hoping I would receive one for Christmas, but no. I would make the beef stew recipe. It will last my hubby and about 3 lunch and dinners.
I would love to make soups and stews in my instant pot!
Wine! Heard it can be done! Healthy red! Then any of your fantastic recipes!!
I would make brisket.
I’ll make all your recipes with the instapot, starting with this soup! Yummy
I’m turning 50 in June and for the past year I finally made peace with my kitchen. Lol! I never liked to cook. I am now loving the hours spent in the kitchen. I have seen so many recipes for the instapot and would love to try it. I do make recipes in the crock pot but I definitely have put an Instapot on my wish list. Thanks for all your great recipes!!
I would make the Korean Beef dish for sure! My family would enjoy the Potato Corn Chowder, so that’s definitely on my list too. I never use had an instant pot but would love to own one so I can try the delicious recipes. Thanks for offering the opportunity to all your readers!
I’d try chili!