This insanely easy minestrone soup is one of my FAVORITE soups, I make it multiple times throughout the winter and it’s also a hit with the Weeknight Dinner Club members because it utilizes a smart shortcut to give it max flavor, without needing hours of simmer time. This hearty and comforting minestrone soup is made with fresh vegetables, plenty of beans, and major tomato flavors. And it will warm you up from the inside out, so it’s perfect for the cooler months. But there is the question…what to serve with minestrone soup? I’m here to help and I’m sharing plenty of side ideas for this warm bowl of soup.
Whip up a batch of the best minestrone soup for the main course and then choose a side dish or two from there. These side dishes are items that the whole family can enjoy.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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Can Minestrone Soup Be A Standalone Dish?
Yes! Minestrone soup can absolutely be a standalone dish. In the original recipe, I recommend serving bread at a minimum, but skip it if you prefer and leave it all on its own. Just be sure to add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, drizzle of good olive oil, flaky sea salt, and a little freshly cracked black pepper for the best flavor.
And if you want something more? I’m sharing more than 20 side dish ideas that will compliment the minestrone soup below.
Sides to Serve With Minestrone Soup
Bread
Whether you serve with a homemade dinner rolls, freshly baked bread, or garlic bread you will find bread is always a great option (and my #1 side for minestrone soup). You can use the bread for dipping in the soup broth and soaking up all the flavors of the soup. The rich flavors of the soup soak into the nooks and crannies of the bread and create a complete meal in one. Any crusty bread is a great way to soak up the broth. Try a baguette with butter, garlic toast, a loaf of fresh bread, or even Hawaiian rolls (my kids love them!).
Side Salad
I love a simple green salad paired with delicious soup. Now you can keep it super simple with a basic romaine lettuce or salad greens, sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced radish, and chopped cucumber. Then drizzle with your favorite dressing and serve it with the soup. Or try my simple green salad that has a few elevated flavor ingredients like avocado, goat cheese, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. This lemon arugula salad or lemon kale salad are delicious options for some nutrient-dense greens.
TIP: Give any salad a boost of flavor (even just a vegetable salad) by finishing it with a drizzle of olive oil, a drizzle of good vinegar, flaky sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
Sandwiches
Soup and sandwiches are a classic combination for a reason! Whether you pair the soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, a tomato mozzarella panini, or even a blt sandwich, you will love this combo. You can also whip up your favorite sandwich (turkey, ham, roast beef, tuna, etc.) to pair with the soup. Obviously with the classic Italian flavors, an Italian sub style sandwich would also be delicious.
Seasonal Vegetables
Simple vegetables are another great side. Choose your veggie by the seasonal options and keep the seasonings simple with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt – it’s a great way to showcase the fresh flavors of the veggies. We love butternut squash, acorn squash, or delicata squash in addition to family faves like air fryer broccoli or air fryer broccoli and cauliflower – or even frozen broccoli if this is a last-minute addition.
Sweet Potatoes or Baked Potato
Our last idea is potatoes! Roasted baby potatoes or air fryer baby potatoes are quick and easy or try roasted sweet potatoes, or even a baked potato served with all the seasonings like butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Any of these options will add even more satisfying staying power to your minestrone soup meal.
More Soup Recipes
If you love soup (hi, we should be besties), you might want to try one of these easy soup recipes next time:
Did you like this recipe? Please leave a review and let me know what you thought! I appreciate it so much.