What To Serve With Minestrone Soup: 12 Easy Sides
Colourful, nutritious, and packed full of beautiful Italian flavours, you can’t beat a good bowl of minestrone soup.
It’s the kind of versatile dish that’s just as good for lunch on a hot summer day as it is for a comforting dinner on a cold winter evening, and part of its beauty is that you can chuck in any veggies that you might have left over from other meals to create an impressive bowl that everyone will love.
The addition of pasta means that it’s satisfying and filling, but even so, you might be wondering what to serve with minestrone soup.
Here, I’ve put together a variety of the very best suggestions for side dishes and accompaniments.
Whether you’ve got time on your hands that you’re happy to spend in the kitchen, or you just want something fuss free that you can have on the table within a few minutes, you’ll find plenty of inspiration right here…
1. Baked potatoes
For me, baked potatoes are the absolute ultimate in comfort food! When roasted and slathered in salted butter, the humble potato becomes a real treat.
I like to use the Maris Piper variety, and I’ve got a kitchen hack that will save you lots of time!
Prick your potato all over and microwave for around 8 minutes, or until softened.
Next, rub some vegetable oil on your potato, season well with salt and pepper, then bake in the oven until crispy.
This method ensures that you’ll get baked potatoes that are fluffy on the inside and beautifully golden on the outside, in a fraction of the time that they’d typically take to cook in the oven.
Snip over some chives, or if you’re feeling indulgent, add some grated cheese!
2. Crusty bread
You can’t serve soup without serving some crusty bread!
It’s perfect for dipping and can turn a bowl of soup into a filling meal.
I like to keep some part baked baguettes in my pantry, so it only takes ten minutes to have freshly baked bread on the table.
Be sure to spread with a little salted butter.
Another option here is to make your own croutons.
You’ll need some leftover bread, olive oil, and your favourite seasonings, and they can be kept in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
They’re super handy to have in the cupboard if you regularly have soup for lunch.
3. Toasted cheese sandwich
Soup and a sandwich is a tasty combination that you’ll often see on offer at cute cafes.
Recreate the experience at home and take things up a notch by making a toasted cheese sandwich!
It’ll be totally delicious when dipped into your minestrone soup, and it’s super simple to make.
I like to choose a sourdough bread, and cheddar cheese.
4. Pizza
Pizza and minestrone soup are both classic Italian meals, so why not combine them for the best of both worlds?
After all, everyone knows that bread is a must-have with soup, and what could be better than bread topped with melted cheese and a selection of your other favourite toppings?
If you’d like to keep things a little lighter, check out my recipe for pizza calzone.
They’re made using tortilla wraps, so they’re perfect at lunchtime or when served as a side dish.
5. Steamed green beans
If you like to make sure that everyone’s getting their 5-a-day in your household, adding a portion of green beans is a great idea.
Steaming tends to be quicker than boiling, and you won’t need to cook them for long so you can retain a satisfying crunch.
6. Cheese and onion pasties
Cheese pasties might be a slightly unusual choice for what to serve with minestrone soup, but trust me when I say it’s a match made in lunchtime heaven!
My cheese and onion pasties are quick and easy to make, and are best when served fresh and piping hot from the oven.
7. Roasted chicken drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks are one of my ultimate favourite cuts of meat.
They’re budget friendly, tasty, tender, and so wonderfully versatile.
Just drizzle with some oil, season well with sea salt and black pepper, and bake in the oven until they’re cooked through and the skin is golden and slightly crispy.
It’s worth making more than you need, as they’re great when shredded up with a fresh salad for lunch the next day.
8. Grilled lamb kebab skewers
If you plan to enjoy your minestrone soup on a warmer day, why not fire up the barbecue or grill and make some lamb kebab skewers?
Simply thread chunks of lamb meat on to skewers, add chunks of your favourite veggies such as courgettes and peppers, drizzle with a little olive oil, and grill under cooked through.
I like to serve lamb pink so it’s beautifully tender and full of flavour!
9. Steak
If you’re feeling a little decadent, why not choose steak to turn your soup into a real treat?
You’ll be getting a generous serving of protein and iron, and all carnivores will agree that it’s a meal worthy of a special occasion!
Remember that different people will have different preferences for how they like their steaks cooked, so take their orders in advance and get yourself organised in the kitchen so you know exactly how long you need to cook each piece of meat for.
A little Italian seasoning will go a long way here and help to tie all the flavours together.
You can pick up ready made seasonings in most large supermarkets, or this homemade Italian seasoning recipe is quick, easy, and delicious.
10. Cheese and bacon scones
If you fancy a change from the usual soup and bread combination, try making a batch of these cheese and bacon scones.
They’re much lighter than traditional scones, making them the perfect option for what to serve with minestrone soup if you’re trying to lose a few pounds or you just want to make your daily calorie allowance go further.
11. Grilled halloumi
Halloumi is a robust cheese that lends itself really well to grilling, and it won’t fall apart.
Brush with olive oil, sprinkle over your favourite dried herbs (my choice here is always oregano!) and grill until charred.
This is a great choice if you’re cooking for vegetarians but still want to offer something substantial alongside the soup.
12. Marmite roast potatoes
Marmite roast potatoes are beautifully golden and crispy, and they’re so moreish when dipped into a hot bowl of minestrone soup!
They can be baked in the oven or an air fryer, and they’re always popular with the whole family.
The Marmite gives them a rich savoury taste.
If you’re uncertain about whether they’re for you, use the Marmite sparingly.
You can always add a little more the next time you make them, until you get them just right for your tastes.
I hope you’ll love these ideas for what to serve with minestrone soup!
If you’ve tried them, do leave a comment below and share your thoughts around what worked best for you, and what you enjoyed the most.
I absolutely love hearing about your adventures in the kitchen!
And if you want to save these ideas for another day, why not pin the image below to Pinterest?
Before you go, head over and check out what to serve with tomato soup.
