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This single serving minestrone soup is hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. Filled with vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a comforting Italian classic perfectly sized for one.
Featured Comment
“I made this recipe last week for the first time and absolutely loved it!”
– Deepti
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly Portioned: This single serving minestrone soup gives you just the right amount.
- Easy to Customize: Use your favorite vegetables, beans, and broth to make it exactly how you like it.
- Nutritious and Satisfying: Packed with vegetables, beans, and pasta for a hearty, well-balanced meal.
- Full of Flavor: Bacon adds smoky richness, and a sprinkle of Parmesan takes it to the next level.
- Easily Doubled: Want more than one bowl? This recipe doubles perfectly.
What I love most about this minestrone soup is how flexible it is. I can open my fridge, see what I have, and know this recipe will work with almost anything. Sometimes I keep it simple with beans, pasta, and a few vegetables, and other times I’ll toss in extra greens or leftover chicken. No matter how I make it, it always feels warm, satisfying, and comforting – the kind of meal that makes use of what’s on hand and still feels special every time.
Looking for more single serving soup recipes? Try our creamy tomato soup for one, taco soup for one, black bean soup for one, and vegetable soup for one.
Ingredients
The great thing about Minestrone Soup is how flexible it is. This version is my go-to recipe for a flavorful, balanced meal, but you can easily adjust it based on what you have on hand. Skip the beans, use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, or add extra vegetables – it’s completely customizable.
Ingredients
- Bacon
- Chopped onions
- Garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- Canned beans (any variety)
- Diced tomatoes
- Mixed vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- Chicken broth
- Salt & pepper
- Small shaped pasta (such as elbow or ditalini)
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch minestrone soup recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
How To Make Minestrone Soup
- Cook the Bacon: In a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add the chopped onions and garlic to the pot and cook until softened.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the beans, vegetables, diced tomatoes, cooked bacon, chicken broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the pasta and simmer until tender.
Expert Tips
- Make It Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and leave out the bacon.
- Cook Pasta Just Right: Simmer the pasta until al dente; it will continue to soften as the soup cools.
- Prep Ahead: If making the soup in advance, cook the pasta separately and stir it in before serving.
- Customize Freely: Mix and match ingredients based on what you have – any type of pasta, beans, or vegetables work well.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked chicken, ground beef, or even sausage for a heartier meal.
- Try Rice Instead: Use cooked rice instead of pasta if you prefer a different texture.
Serving Suggestions
Enhance your single serving minestrone soup with simple sides and toppings that complement its hearty flavors:
- Small Loaf of French Bread: Enjoy with a slice of warm, crusty bread to soak up every bit of broth.
- Grated Parmesan: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan over the top for extra flavor.
- Italian Chopped Salad: Serve alongside a crisp salad with a light vinaigrette for balance.
- Fresh Herbs: Add a sprinkle of basil or parsley for color and freshness.
- Red Wine: Pair with a glass of Italian red wine for a complete meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minestrone soup is a traditional Italian soup made with a mix of vegetables, beans, tomatoes, broth, and pasta or rice. It’s flexible and easy to adapt based on what you have on hand.
Yes. Simply skip the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a delicious vegetarian version.
Small pasta shapes like ditalini, elbow, or small shells (conchiglie) work best since they cook quickly and blend well with the other ingredients.
This single serving minestrone soup cooks in about 25–30 minutes from start to finish.
Mash a few of the beans directly in the pot or let the soup simmer a little longer to reduce the broth slightly.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
If you’ve tried this small batch of minestrone soup or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it.
Minestrone Soup For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 strips bacon
- ½ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ cup canned red beans -rinsed and drained
- ½ cup canned diced tomatoes
- ¾ cup frozen mixed vegetables or use a similar amount of fresh, chopped vegetables
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ cup dried small shaped pasta
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into ¼-inch pieces. In a medium pot over medium heat, cook until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same pot, add the chopped onion and cook for about 1 minute until slightly translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, beans, diced tomatoes, and mixed vegetables. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the chicken broth and return the cooked bacon to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the pasta and simmer until tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into a bowl and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Make It Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and leave out the bacon.
- Cook Pasta Just Right: Simmer the pasta until al dente; it will continue to soften as the soup cools.
- Prep Ahead: If making the soup in advance, cook the pasta separately and stir it in before serving.
- Customize Freely: Mix and match ingredients based on what you have — any type of pasta, beans, or vegetables work well.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked chicken, ground beef, or even sausage for a heartier meal.
- Try Rice Instead: Use cooked rice instead of pasta if you prefer a different texture.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This recipe looks awesome!
BUT, I am a little bummed because, yes its cut down to size for one… but I can half or 1/4 any recipe. The problem is, now what do I do with all the leftover 1/2 can of beans, 1/2 can of tomatoes, the rest of the bag of frozen veggies? Either i have to get super creative to use them up, or (more commonly) they spoil before I can. That is what is so frustrating about cooking for one.
Hi Ana, I always suggest saving the rest of the ingredients not used in a recipe to use in different recipes. For instance, the remainder of the beans can be used in a Chili Cheese Baked Potato ( https://onedishkitchen.com/chili-cheese-baked-potato/ ) or in a Red Beans and Rice For One (https://onedishkitchen.com/slow-cooker-red-beans-and-rice-for-one/). Keep the remainder of the frozen vegetables in the freezer to use again when you need it. Canned diced tomatoes can be frozen once the can has been opened or use the remainder in other recipes like chicken chili (https://onedishkitchen.com/chicken-chili-for-one/) or Pasta with Vodka Sauce (https://onedishkitchen.com/pasta-with-vodka-sauce-for-one/). You can search our site for the ingredient and a list of recipes made with that ingredient will show up for you. I hate to waste food and don’t recommend it. Hope these suggestions help.
Make double using all the ingredients and freeze.BC
I just made this minestrone as it’s 24 degrees outside! My husband opted for a cheeseburger (he’s not really a soup person – his loss!! LOL!) So I found this because I am actually always looking for recipes we can both eat that are healthy but sometimes, he ends up eating something else and I still want to eat things he may not be crazy about. Anyway, made this tonight – it was delicious! I omitted the bacon and the Worcestershire sauce, sprinkled some cheese on it and it was so warming on this cold night! I used really tiny shells (soup shells) and it really made a good amount of soup! I ate it all!!
Annamaria, I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you so much for letting me know.
This soup is gorgeous! I am a huge fan of minestrone soup, and I am loving how easy this recipe is! I can't wait to try it!
This looks amazingly delicious! Loving all the flavors! 😀
Love that this can be made for one. I love all these flavors all packed into each bite.
Oh my! I love that this is single serve. This would be great for me for lunch!
This sounds wonderful, and I am loving all of your other recipes as well!
Yum! I love minestrone soup! This recipe looks delish! I'm always looking for new soup recipes for the fall and winter!
xo Ashley
I love fall for so many reasons, but one is because it's soup season!! Love this tasty version of minestrone!
This soup sounds so easy to make – no reason not to try it!! Thanks!