Easy Minestrone Soup with Ground Beef

Last Updated on July 13, 2026 by Allison Lancaster

This easy minestrone soup with ground beef is hearty, filling, and comes together in under 30 minutes. Make it stovetop or in the slow cooker for a family dinner everyone loves!
This easy minestrone soup with ground beef has been a staple in my house for years, and honestly? My family never gets tired of it. It is so filling, so flavorful, and it comes together faster than you might think. Whether you are cooking on the stovetop on a busy weeknight or setting it up in the slow cooker in the morning, this hearty minestrone soup recipe is the kind of meal that makes everyone feel cozy and well-fed.

I have made this dozens of times, tweaking it here and there until I landed on the version my kids ask for by name. The combination of ground beef, tender vegetables, pasta, and a rich tomato broth is exactly what comfort food is supposed to taste like. And the best part? It uses simple pantry staples you probably already have on hand.

If you love a good bowl of homemade soup, this one is about to become a regular in your rotation. From my go-to slow cooker chicken noodle soup to this hearty minestrone, I am always chasing that cozy, comforting bowl-of-something feeling.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Great for meal prep since it reheats beautifully throughout the weekiner!
• Ready in about 30 minutes on the stovetop (or let it simmer all day in your slow cooker)
• Uses simple, affordable ingredients you can grab at any grocery store
• Packed with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and celery for a filling, nutritious meal
• Kid-friendly (yes, even the cabbage disappears in this one)

Ingredients for Minestrone Soup with Ground Beef

• (Serves approximately 6)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans stewed tomatoes, with juices
• 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 (8 oz) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (8 oz) can corn, drained
• 1 cup elbow macaroni (uncooked)
• 3 cups water
• 4 beef bouillon cubes

How to Make Easy Minestrone Soup with Ground Beef (Stovetop)

Step 1: Brown the beef.
Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned. Drain any excess fat.

Step 2: Saute the aromatics.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic directly to the pot with the browned beef. Saute until the onions are soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Your kitchen is going to smell amazing right about now.

Step 3: Build the broth.
Add the stewed tomatoes (with all the juices), tomato sauce, water, and beef bouillon cubes to the pot. Then add the celery, carrots, cabbage, and elbow macaroni. Stir everything together and bring to a boil.

Step 4: Simmer.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer for 7 minutes.

Step 5: Add the beans and corn.
Uncover the pot and stir in the drained kidney beans and corn. Season generously with salt and pepper to your taste.

Step 6: Finish and rest.
Simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes. Then remove the pot from heat, keep it covered, and let the soup rest for 20 minutes before serving. This resting time lets all the flavors come together and allows the pasta to finish absorbing the broth perfectly.

How to Make This in the Slow Cooker

If you love a hands-off dinner, this slow cooker minestrone soup version is for you! Here is how I do it:

1. Complete Steps 1 and 2 above (brown the beef and saute the onion and garlic). This step is worth the extra 10 minutes because it adds a deeper, richer flavor to the whole pot.
2. Transfer the beef mixture to your slow cooker.
3. Add all remaining ingredients (tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, bouillon, celery, carrots, cabbage, kidney beans, corn, and pasta).
4. Cook on LOW for 6 hours.

Tip: If you prefer your pasta a little firmer (not mushy), add the macaroni during the last 30 minutes of cooking time rather than at the start.

Tips and Variations

• Swap the protein. Italian sausage works beautifully here in place of ground beef for a slightly spicier, more herby flavor.
• Add more greens. A big handful of fresh spinach stirred in right before serving adds even more nutrition and a lovely color.
• Boost the Italian flavor. Add 1 tsp of Italian seasoning and a pinch of red pepper flakes with your aromatics in Step 2 for a more pronounced herby taste.
• Make it heartier. Dice a couple of zucchini and toss them in with the other vegetables.
• Gluten-free option. Simply swap the elbow macaroni for your favorite gluten-free pasta.

How to Store and Reheat Minestrone Soup

Refrigerator: Let the soup cool completely, then transfer to airtight containers. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezer: This soup freezes beautifully! Store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Leave a little room at the top of each container since the soup will expand as it freezes.

Reheating from frozen: Let the soup thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then add it to your slow cooker with an extra 1/3 cup of water and heat on LOW for 2 to 3 hours, or HIGH for 1 hour.

Reheating from the fridge: Use the slow cooker method above (LOW for 1 hour, HIGH for 30 minutes) or simply microwave in a microwave-safe bowl until heated through, stirring once or twice.

What to Serve with Minestrone Soup

This hearty minestrone soup is a full meal on its own, but a few good sides make it even better:

• Crusty garlic bread or a warm dinner roll for soaking up all that delicious broth
• A simple green salad on the side
• A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese right on top of the bowl

Planning a game day spread? My slow cooker buffalo chicken sliders are a great companion alongside this soup for a crowd.

More Cozy Dinner Recipes to Try

If you love a hearty slow-cooker dinner, you have got to try my slow cooker lasagna too. It is pure comfort in a bowl.

FAQ: Your Minestrone Soup Questions Answered

Q: What makes a good minestrone soup?
A great minestrone comes down to a flavorful, well-seasoned broth, a variety of vegetables for texture and nutrition, and enough protein to make it a complete meal. The ground beef in this version is what takes it from a light vegetable soup to something truly filling and satisfying.

Q: Can I make minestrone soup ahead of time?
Yes, and it actually tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had time to meld together. Make a big pot on Sunday and enjoy it for lunches or quick dinners throughout the week.

Q: What pasta works best in minestrone soup?
Small pasta shapes work best because they hold up well in the broth without getting too mushy. Elbow macaroni is my go-to, but ditalini, small shells, or orzo all work great too.

Q: Can I freeze minestrone soup with pasta in it?
You can, though the pasta will soften a bit more after freezing and thawing. If you plan to freeze a large batch, consider cooking the pasta separately and adding it fresh when you reheat. This keeps the texture much better.

Q: Is this minestrone soup healthy?
It is packed with vegetables, lean protein, beans, and fiber, which makes it a pretty nutritious, balanced meal. You can lighten it up further by using lean ground beef (90/10 or leaner) and adding extra vegetables like spinach or zucchini.

Continue to Content

Easy Minestrone Soup with Ground Beef

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Additional Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

This easy minestrone soup with ground beef is hearty, filling, and comes together in under 30 minutes. Make it stovetop or in the slow cooker for a family dinner everyone loves!

No Ratings

Print

Ingredients

• 1-tbsp. olive oil
• 1-lb. ground beef
• 1-yellow onion, chopped
• 2-cloves garlic, minced.
• 1-stalk celery, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1-8 oz. can red kidney beans
• 1-8 oz can corn
• 1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
• 2 -14.5 oz can stewed can tomatoes, with juices
• 1-cup elbow macaroni
• 3-cups water
• 4-beef bouillon cubes
• 1-8 oz. can tomato sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large stockpot, add oil  and brown ground beef and drain.
2. Add olive oil, onion, and garlic to ground beef, sauté until onions are translucent.
3. Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, cabbage, water, bouillon cubes, pasta, and tomato sauce to boiling.
4. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 7 minutes, covered.
5. Uncover and add beans and corn, stir.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Simmer for another 10  minutes.
8. Remove from heat but keep covered. Allow sitting for 20 minutes before serving.

Notes

If you'd like to make this recipe in your slow cooker, do steps 1-2 (cook your ground beef & onions) then add those to a slow cooker with all other ingredients and cook on low for 6 hours.