Minestrone Soup

Stovetop
Instant Pot
Slow Cooker
A white slow cooker on a black stovetop with a wooden spoon and other utensils in a white container nearby, a domestic plant in a white pot to the right, and a wooden cutting board in the background, with an orange towel hanging from the oven handle.

Classic Minestrone Soup

What you’ll need:

  • 4 cups broth or water

  • 28 ounce can diced tomatoes

Optional Extras:

  • 2 cups diced veggies (carrots, zucchini, celery, etc)

  • Fresh basil

  • Parmesan

Meat Variation:

  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage

Stove Top:

  1. Pinch the bag just below pasta and pour noodles into a small bowl. Set aside.

  2. Pour remaining package contents into a large pot with 4 cups broth or water, 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, and additional diced veggies if desired.

  3. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the last 15 minutes, add pasta and cook until al dente. Soup is ready when lentils are tender and pasta is cooked through.

Optional Extras:

Garnish with chopped basil and freshly grated Parmesan.

Meat Variation:

Before starting the recipe, sauté the sausage in the soup pot, then set it aside. Continue with the recipe as written, adding the sausage back in during the last 30 minutes of cooking to blend the flavors.

Close-up of a modern stainless steel gas stove with multiple burners and control knobs, a blue pot on one burner, and a plant with green and white patterned leaves on the right side.
A modern electric pressure cooker on a kitchen countertop with blurred kitchen elements in the background.

Instant Pot:

  1. Pinch the bag just below pasta and pour noodles into a small bowl. Set aside.

  2. Pour the package contents into the Instant Pot with 4 cups of broth or water, 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, and additional diced veggies if desired.

  3. Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on Manual (High Pressure) for 15 minutes, then quick release. Carefully open lid and stir in reserved pasta. Pressure cook for 3 more minutes, then quick release again. Soup is ready when lentils are tender and pasta is cooked through.

Optional Extras:

Garnish with chopped basil and freshly grated Parmesan.

Meat Variation:

Before starting the recipe, sauté the sausage in the Instant pot, then set it aside. Continue with the recipe as written, adding the cooked sausage back in with the pasta.

Slow Cooker

  1. Pinch the bag just below pasta and pour noodles into a small bowl. Set aside.

  2. Pour the package contents into the slow cooker with 3 cups of broth or water, 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, and additional diced veggies if desired.

  3. Cover and cook on Low for 6-7 hours or High for 3-4 hours, until the lentils and barley are tender. In the last 30 minutes, stir in reserved pasta and continue cooking until pasta is al dente.

Optional Extras:

Garnish with chopped basil and freshly grated Parmesan.

Meat Variation:

Saute sausage and add to the slow cooker at the last 1-2 hours of cooking time.

A black and silver slow cooker on a kitchen counter surrounded by fresh vegetables like carrots, radishes, garlic, broccoli, and onions, with a cutting board, a bowl of ginger, and kitchen utensils.