The BEST Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

Instant Pot Minestrone Soup cooks in just 5 minutes! This easy soup is loaded with veggies, beans, and delicious pasta, then topped with lots of nutty parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve it with crostini for dipping into that delicious broth.

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Hopefully you guys aren’t over the Instant Pot soups yet, because I’ve got another delicious soup recipe for you – and it’s amazing!

Instant Pot Minestrone Soup.

This hearty soup will quickly become one of your soup recipes!

The best part may be all that melty parmesan cheese that’s piled on top. But really, it’s also all about the creamy beans, the delicious tomato broth and all those bright, vibrant vegetables. Serve it up with some crusty bread and you’re in for a real treat!

It’s the perfect soup recipe to sneak lots of fresh vegetables into your diet too.

Ingredients for minestrone soup instant pot recipe on counter.

Ingredients needed

  • Olive Oil
  • Onion
  • Celery
  • Carrot
  • Garlic
  • Dried Oregano
  • Dried Basil
  • Bay Leaf
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Crushed Tomatoes
  • Chicken Broth (or bone broth or parmesan broth)
  • Kidney Beans
  • Garbanzo Beans
  • Ditalini Pasta (or any preferred pasta)
  • Zucchini
  • Kale (or baby spinach)
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Parmesan
  • Parsley

How to make it

  • Press SAUTE and add olive oil to Instant Pot. Add onions, celery & carrots. Saute until softened.
  • Add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Hit CANCEL.
  • Add oregano, basil, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, chicken broth (or vegetable broth), parmesan rind, beans and pasta to the pot.
  • Set the cook time for 5 minutes. on high pressure.
  • Once the time is up, quick release the remaining pressure.
  • Press SAUTE and add zucchini and kale (or spinach). Saute 2-3 minutes until pasta is fully cooked and vegetables are tender.
  • Add red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Side view of minestrone soup in bowl.

Recipe tips

  • Add a parmesan rind into the mix. This adds tons of yummy flavor to your soup. I save my parmesan rinds in the freezer for special occasions like this. I’ve also found that stores sometimes carry parmesan rinds in the cheese section (love that this is happening now!)
  • Don’t add the veggies until after pressure cooking time. To ensure the healthy vegetables don’t get overcooked and soggy, I add them after the pressure cook. Then, once the lid is removed, I turn the pot to SAUTE and simmer the zucchini and kale or spinach for a few minutes, until they’re just tender.
  • Season at the end. After the soup is cooked, I add in a glug of red wine vinegar to add a bit of acidity (lemon juice also works). Then I season really well with salt and black pepper. The amount of seasoning you need will depend on the salt levels of your broth and the canned beans.

Variations

  • Swap out the zucchini for frozen green beans.
  • In place of the kidney beans, use cannellini beans or white beans.
  • Don’t have oregano and basil on hand, simply use some italian seasoning.
  • In place of kale, throw in some baby spinach.
  • Make it dairy free by using nutritional yeast in place of parmesan.
Overhead close up of bowl of minestrone on wood background.

FAQs

What kind of pasta for do you use?

  • Any pasta will work for minestrone. I used small shells. But ditalini, elbow macaroni, small shell pasta and mini farfalle will all work here. You can also omit the pasta for a low carb healthy soup. A great option is to add in some cauliflower to your soup when pressure cooking.
  • What’s the difference between minestrone soup and vegetable soup?

    Minestrone soup adds in beans and pasta, but it’s still loaded with veggies. So, it’s essentially a more hearty version of vegetable soup.

    Does minestrone soup contain meat?

    As written, this minestrone soup recipe does not contain meat. However, it would be delicious with some shredded chicken, or with browned and crumbled Italian sausage or ground beef.

    What can I add to bland minestrone soup?

    Wondering how to add flavor to your minestrone? I’ve got a couple key tips in this recipe:
    Add a parmesan rind. This adds tons of yummy flavor to your soup. I save my parmesan rinds in the freezer for occasions like this. I’ve also found that stores sometimes carry parmesan rinds in the cheese section.

    Season at the end. After the soup is cooked, I add in a glug of red wine vinegar to add a bit of acidity (lemon juice also works). Then I season really well with salt and black pepper. The amount of seasoning you need will depend on the salt levels of your broth and the canned beans.

    Can you freeze Minestrone Soup?

  • You can definitely freeze this Instant Pot Minestrone. However, the pasta will become soggy, and the soup will become thicker as the pasta will continue to soak up that liquid. To solve this, I like to prepare the soup without the pasta, then when I’m ready to serve it, I add some cooked pasta to the warm soup.
  • What to serve with it

    Wine pairings

    • Look for Italian red wines to pair with this lasagna soup. Chianti, Barbera, Barolo are all great picks.
    Hands holding bowl of instant pot minestrone soup.

    More instant pot soup recipes

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    Overhead close up of bowl of minestrone on wood background.

    Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

    Instant Pot Minestrone Soup cooks in just 5 minutes! Loaded with veggies, beans, and delicious pasta, then topped with lots of nutty parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve it with crostini for dipping into that delicious broth.
    5 from 36 votes
    Print Pin
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Time for Pressure to Build: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6 people

    Ingredients

    After Pressure Cooking:

    • 1 medium zucchini (sliced into half coins)
    • 2 cups fresh kale (or baby spinach , chopped)
    • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

    For Serving:

    Instructions

    • Press SAUTE and add olive oil to Instant Pot. Once hot, add onions, celery and carrots. Saute 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Hit CANCEL.
    • Add oregano, basil, bay leaf, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, broth, parmesan rind, beans and pasta to the pot. Stir to combine.
    • Set pot to seal and cook on MANUAL high pressure for 5 minutes. It will take about 15 minutes for the pressure to build, then the countdown timer will begin.
    • Once the time is up, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Press SAUTE and add zucchini and kale (or spinach). Saute 2-3 minutes until pasta is fully cooked and vegetables are tender.
    • Add red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Don’t add the veggies until after pressure cooking time. To ensure the healthy vegetables don’t get overcooked and soggy, I add them after the pressure cook. Then, once the lid is removed, I turn the pot to SAUTE and simmer the zucchini and kale or spinach for a few minutes, until they’re just tender.
    • Freezing: You can freeze this soup. However, the pasta will become soggy, and the soup will become thicker as the pasta will continue to soak up that liquid. To solve this, I like to prepare the soup without the pasta, then when I’m ready to serve it, I add some cooked pasta to the warm soup.
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

    Equipment

    Nutrition

    Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 855mg | Potassium: 1223mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 4392IU | Vitamin C: 55mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 5mg

    This post was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2022 to add new photographs and information. The original minestrone soup recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

    20 thoughts on “The BEST Instant Pot Minestrone Soup”

    1. 5 stars
      Ah this looks so easy and delicious! I love my instant pot. I think I’d use brown rice pasta. Good idea to add the veggies at the end, I hate overcooked veggies!

      Reply
    2. Just by reading the recipe it has already become my favourite. Instant pot soups are a delight as they are easy and quick to make. I like the addition of red wine vinegar gives it a citrus taste.

      Reply
    3. 5 stars
      AH-mazing Minestrone! So good. Especially wonderful during the coldest month of the year. The zucchini was just the right texture (not mushy at all!). I will never leave it out of minestrone again. Be sure to use San Marzano tomatoes — the flavor of quality tomatoes really shines with all these wonderful veggie flavors. I used balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar in error but it didn’t hurt the outcome. Top with sprinkled fresh grated parm and you have satisfying, healthy meal. This was such a great recipe – and IP minimized the mess and cooking time. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Had this tonight and it was the bomb.com! My fiancé can’t stop raving about it. The only addition I made was ground turkey. I cooked it first, with the onions, carrots, and celery. This is definitely in our rotation.

      Reply
    5. 5 stars
      This soup had so much flavor! I followed the recipe exactly and will be making again in the future. Tasted even better the days after. Thanks for such an easy and satisfying minestrone!

      Reply
    5 from 36 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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