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 used to use one of those “old fashioned”pressure cookers, & a new instant pot would be a dream come true! I would make turkey chili first, then your awesome minestrone soup! Yum!!
I have started a diet this morning … I’m 70 years old with high blood pressure. I’m overweight and motivated to get my health back. This cooker will be well used and grately appreciated.
I would make the minestrone soup fir lunch and molten lava chocolate cake for desert in it- for dinner 🙂
I’m thinking ribs is my meal of choice for this nifty device.
I would make this delicious looking hearty soup…perfect for this cold day!
I would make bodacious soups and stews, esp with dried beans and lentils because they will cook so much faster!
I’d make a beautiful lentil soup or a beef stew.
I would make the zuppa toscana copycat
Most definitely soup or chicken for quick dinners.
I’ll canning homemade pickles and using the Instant Pot for all the soups!!!
I would make Key Lime pie and a moelleux aux pommes!
Carnitas would be amazing and quick!
I have never used a pressure cooker, crock pot or rice cooker. So, I’d try your minestrone and then my minestrone, my mom’s chile without meat, yogurt and so many more recipes! Thanks for offering this and thanks for all of your delicious recipes.
Would love to win the instant pot!
Would certainly make this great minestrone soup!
I honestly think I would love to try a risotto recipe in the Instant Pot, it has for some reason always intimidated me, and if I could just throw it in a pot, walk away and cross my fingers I think I would be less scared to give it a try haha.
I would make brisket.
Oooo! I would make the IP Korean beef recipe from your website! It looks so yummy!
This soup!!! A corn chowder sounds good too!!!! YUM!!!
This soup sounds delicious! I would love to make soup and chili!!
My first family meal using the IP would be my Mom’s recipe for jook which is a Chinese porridge. I love cooking & eating this but it takes many hours on the stove to make and I see that the IP has a selection for porridge! Love that the IP is a way of making a nutritious family meal in half the time or less!