Minestrone Soup (An Easy One-Pot Meal)
Minestrone is a hearty Italian soup that usually has lots of vegetables. There are lots of different variations of Minestrone soup. I like to make it with Italian Sausage, a combination of favorite vegetables, and cheese tortellini.
I end up making this a fair amount in the fall as I’m trying to use up zucchini and peppers from my garden. I love it throughout the winter, though, because it is hearty, flavorful, and easy to put together for a weeknight meal. Served with some crusty bread, it is perfect for a chilly evening!
Minestrone Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian Sausage*
- 1/2 of a Yellow Onion, diced
- 2 stalks Celery, chopped
- 2-3 Carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3–4 cloves Garlic, pressed
- 1 package frozen Spinach
- 1 Zucchini, chopped
- 1 Red Pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 tablespoons Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Basil
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
- Small can Tomato Paste
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 2 cups Water
- 1 package Cheese Tortellini
- For Serving—
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Crusty Bread (like a French baguette or an Easy Boule Bread Loaf)
Directions
- In a large pot, cook the sausage over medium heat until it is just about cooked through.
- Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes or so until the veggies have softened.
- Add in the frozen spinach and cook until the spinach has defrosted and broken apart. Give it a good stir to distribute the spinach.
- Add the oregano, basil, thyme, and crushed red pepper. Add the tomato paste. Stir until well combined.
- Pour in the chicken broth and water. Toss in the zucchini and red pepper.
- Bring the soup to a boil, and let it boil for 10–15 minutes.
- Toss in tortellini and cook according to package directions.
- Serve immediately with parmesan cheese and crusty bread.
*NOTE: I prefer to buy ground sausage, but sometimes it is easier to buy the sausage in links. If that’s the case, just remove the casing and break the sausage apart as it cooks.
