Hearty Minestrone Soup Meal Prep

Hearty Minestrone Soup Meal Prep

A vegetable-packed Italian soup that reheats well, making it a reliable lunch for the week ahead.

Total 1 hr 5 min Makes 6 servings Calories 310/serving

Dietary

Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Nut free, Halal, Kosher

Allergens

Dairy, Wheat

This rustic minestrone simmers beans, pasta, and seasonal vegetables in a tomato-herb broth until tender and deeply flavored. Portioned into containers, it holds up over several days without the pasta turning mushy, making it a dependable weekday lunch or light dinner. A Parmesan rind added during simmering lends a savory depth often found in traditional versions.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 Parmesan rind
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup small pasta, such as ditalini or elbow
  • 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Method

  1. Heat olive oil in a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

  2. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  3. Stir in zucchini and green beans, and cook for 3 minutes.

  4. Add crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, cannellini beans, kidney beans, Parmesan rind, oregano, basil, and bay leaf. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

  5. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes to let the vegetables soften and flavors meld.

  6. Stir in pasta and cook until al dente, about 9 minutes.

  7. Remove the Parmesan rind and bay leaf. Stir in spinach, salt, and pepper, and cook until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.

  8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let the soup cool slightly before dividing into 6 airtight containers.

  9. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, topping each serving with grated Parmesan before eating.

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    Hearty Minestrone Soup Meal Prep

    This rustic minestrone simmers beans, pasta, and seasonal vegetables in a tomato-herb broth until tender and deeply flavored. Portioned into containers, it holds up over several days without the pasta turning mushy, making it a dependable weekday lunch or light dinner. A Parmesan rind added during simmering lends a savory depth often found in traditional versions.

    1 hr 5 min 6 servings 310 cal

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 yellow onion, diced
    • 2 carrots, diced
    • 2 celery stalks, diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 zucchini, diced
    • 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 4 cups vegetable broth
    • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 Parmesan rind
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 cup small pasta, such as ditalini or elbow
    • 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

    Method

    1. 1

      Heat olive oil in a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

    2. 2

      Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

    3. 3

      Stir in zucchini and green beans, and cook for 3 minutes.

    4. 4

      Add crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, cannellini beans, kidney beans, Parmesan rind, oregano, basil, and bay leaf. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

    5. 5

      Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes to let the vegetables soften and flavors meld.

    6. 6

      Stir in pasta and cook until al dente, about 9 minutes.

    7. 7

      Remove the Parmesan rind and bay leaf. Stir in spinach, salt, and pepper, and cook until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.

    8. 8

      Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Let the soup cool slightly before dividing into 6 airtight containers.

    9. 9

      Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, topping each serving with grated Parmesan before eating.