If you love dining at Carrabba’s Italian Grill you’ll love this copycat Minestrone Soup recipe. This hearty Italian minestrone soup has seven different vegetables and three beans. This soup recipe is done in just over an hours time and taste just like the soup you order at Carrabba’s.
My husband and I have been eating at Carrabbas Italian Grill for well over a decade now. We love their food, as do our children. My absolute favorite soup is Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup. I order it every time we go as a starter or sometimes even as a main meal. The soup is hearty with a variety of vegetables, filling with three types of beans, and full of so much flavor thanks to the prosciutto.
I’m warning you now, this copycat recipe makes a massive amount of soup. Unless you are feeding an army you will need to freeze some of the soup to enjoy at a later date. I’ve been making this minestrone soup for over a decade now, and still have yet to figure out how to scale down this recipe. However, my minestrone soup with noodles and my fall minestrone soups make much less.
Ingredients
- Salted butter & Olive Oil – Both are used to soften and caramelize the celery, onions, and carrots as they begin to cook.
- Vegetables – Carrabba’s puts the following vegetables in their soup: celery, carrots, onion, garlic, green beans, cabbage, and zucchini.
- Prosciutto – This is key to having a developed and deep flavor in the minestrone soup.
- Seasonings – I like to use a blend of dried parsley, basil, salt, and black pepper.
- Chicken Stock –
- Bay Leaf – A bay leaf will help keep the soup light and balanced.
- Pecorrino Romano – For this recipe you will use the rind of the cheese as well as grated on top once the soup is done and served.
- Russet Potatoes – The russet potato holds its shape the best. Take the time to peel the potato just as Carrabba’s does.
- Beans – Carrabba’s uses three different types of beans in their soups. They use garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and cannelini beans in the soup.
Directions
Melt the salted butter and olive oil in a 10 quart stock pot on medium heat. Sauté celery, carrots, onion, prosciutto, and garlic and cook until soft about 5 minutes.
Add the chopped green beans, cabbage, zucchini, parsley and basil and cook for about 10 minutes or until soft.
Add chicken stock, bay leaf, tomatoes, Pecorino Romano rind and potatoes. Bring the soup to boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
Add canned garbanzo, kidney, and cannelini beans and simmer for 5 additional minutes.
Remove the Pecorino Romano rind and prosciutto (if you kept it whole). Stir in the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, stirring constantly until melted in.
Ladle evenly among bowls.
FAQs
No, Carrabba’s minestrone soup is not vegan nor is it vegetarian. The soup is cooked in chicken broth and has flavors and pieces of Prosciutto as well as the rind of Pecorino Romano cheese.
I love using Prosciutto and a rind of either Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese to the broth of minestrone soup.
If you enjoy minestrone soup from scratch, then yes it is good for you. It is chocked full of fresh vegetables and broth that leaves you full.
Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve found helpful when making this Carrabba’s minestrone soup recipe.
- Mise en Place – This soup has A LOT of vegetables and ingredients in general. It is important you prep as much vegetables as possible.
- Prosciutto – Do not skip adding the Prosciutto to the broth. It lends so much flavor and is exactly why this soup is so flavorful.
- Freeze – You can freeze the leftover cooled soup in freezer safe containers for up to 3 months.
- Thaw – Remove the soup from the freezer. Place in the refrigerator to thaw for up to one day. Then reheat on the stove top on medium heat until piping hot. OR place the frozen soup (out of the container) in a sauce pot and cook on high heat until hot and bubbly.
- Vegetarian – Make this soup vegetarian by omitting the prosciutto and using vegetable broth instead.
Carrabba’s Copycat Recipes
It’s no surprise that we love Carrabba’s Italian Grill. I’ve created quite a few Carrabba’s Copycat recipes. Here are a few other Carrabba’s Copycat Recipes that I’ve made over the years. Nothing better then “home” takeout without spending the restaurant price tag!
- Carrabba’s Sausage Lentil Soup
- Pasta Rambo
- Instant Pot Sausage & Rigatoni with Goat Cheese
- Penne with Fenel Sausage Pomodoro
- Slow Cooker Sicilian Chicken Soup
- Cavatapi Amatriciana
If you make this copycat minestrone soup recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!
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Carrabba’s Minestrone Soup
Equipment
- Stove Top
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Salted Butter
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 4 Celery Stalks
- 5 Carrots
- 1 White Onion
- 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
- 2 oz. Prosciutto (Left Whole)
- ½ cup Green Beans Cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 lb. Green Cabbage Chopped in 1×1-inch pieces
- 1 Zucchini Diced
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- 1 tablespoon Dried Basil
- 3 32 oz. Boxes of Chicken Stock
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 2 Plum Tomatoes diced
- 1 Pecorrino Romano Rind
- 2 Russet Potatoes Peeled and Diced
- 1 15 oz. Can of Garbanzo Beans Drained
- 1 15 oz. Can of Kidney Beans Drained
- 1 15 oz. Can of Cannelini Beans Drained
- 2 oz. Pecorino Romano Cheese Grated
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the salted butter and olive oil in a 10 quart stock pot on medium heat. Sauté celery, carrots, onion, prosciutto, and garlic and cook until soft about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped green beans, cabbage, zucchini, dried parsley and basil and cook for about 10 minutes or until soft.
- Add chicken stock, bay leaf, diced tomatoes, Pecorino Romano rind and potatoes. Bring the soup to boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
- Add canned garbanzo, kidney, and cannelini beans and simmer for 5 additional minutes.
- Remove the Pecorino Romano rind and prosciutto (if you kept it whole). Stir in the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, stirring constantly until melted in. Ladle evenly among bowls.
Notes
- Mise en Place – This soup has A LOT of vegetables and ingredients in general. It is important you prep as much vegetables as possible.
- Prosciutto – Do not skip adding the Prosciutto to the broth. It lends so much flavor and is exactly why this soup is so flavorful. I have made this soup multiple ways and prefer to remove the prosciutto from the broth and discard. You can always chop it up and put it back in the soup OR chop it up and top each bowl of soup. Totally up to you.
- Freeze – You can freeze the leftover cooled soup in freezer safe containers for up to 3 months.
- Thaw – Remove the soup from the freezer. Place in the refrigerator to thaw for up to one day. Then reheat on the stove top on medium heat until piping hot. OR place the frozen soup (out of the container) in a sauce pot and cook on high heat until hot and bubbly.
- Herbs – If you don’t have dried herbs feel free to use fresh herbs. Measurements will be the same.
- Vegetarian – Make this soup vegetarian by omitting the prosciutto and using vegetable broth instead.
- Tomato – I have had a reader ask the question if you need to peel the skin of the tomato. This is all a preference and totally up to you. I always keep the skins on but they don’t bother me at all.
Nutrition
Disclosure: There are affiliate links present in this post. That means if you click on a link and purchase something. I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continuous support of Katie’s Cucina!
Carol Tormey
When I’m on your site, I’m given the option of ordering all the ingredients from local grocers. While this seems tremendously helpful, it’s a trick. In addition to all the ingredients called for in the recipe, the link inserts pecan pieces, and will not allow me to delete this ingredient. I understand you earn $$ by us clicking on the links, but this makes me angry….. especially because my husband is deathly allergic to nuts.
Katie
Hi Carol, I’m so sorry to hear this. I will definitely bring this up to my ad management company because that is not a good user experience. It should not be adding additional ingredients. Ads are what keep the website running, but I don’t get paid any more or less when people click on the ads. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback.
Hillary
I am making this tonight. I grew up and continue to always go to the original Carrabba’s in Houston. I stay away from the franchises (though I have been) who are no longer associated with the family because once you eat at the original you will understand! I was wondering why your recipe doesn’t contain ditalini pasta? I have looked at other recipes and they have small pasta as an ingredient.
Katie
Hi Hilary, Oh wow what a treat to eat at the original! I have only eaten at the franchise and their Minestrone soup does not contain any pasta at all. Just vegetables and beans. The Mama Mandola’s Chicken Soup; however, does contain ditalini pasta. I have a similiar recipe on Katie’s Cucina that tastes almost like the one I get at the restaurant.
D
Good except Carrabba‘s minestrone soup is vegetarian. There is no prosciutto and no chicken stock. It’s made with vegetable stock and made with the rhine of Parmesan cheese. Some of the beans need to be a little seeded with the broth to create thickness. This way the soup remains healthy and you do not add flour or cornstarch to get a thicker consistency. The recipe above sounds delicious but I am a vegetarian and know there is no meat in Carrabba’s minestrone soup.
Katie
Hi D, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment on my recipe. I don’t understand why you would give it a 2-star rating when you never even made the recipe. The star rating is for those who actually cook the recipe After consulting with multiple people who worked at the restaurant they confirmed that it had meat in it. Please take note that the recipe was first published in 2012/2013 then recently republished in 2020. You can make this vegetarian by using vegetable broth and omitting the meat. The flavors will not be nearly as developed but will still be delicious.
Sena
It is made with chicken stock and also prosciutto. I worked at Carrabba’s for 5 years. This recipe is exact.
Katie
Hi Sena, thank you so much for sharing the accuracy of this recipe!
Scott
As a person who loves carrabba’s Minestrone soup (and their sirloin marsala), this recipe is a gift because there are no Carrabba’s within less than 3 hours of me. This recipe that I tried a few weeks ago absolutely nails the restaurant version. I second the gentleman who said that the flavor improves from day 1 to day 2. I find that true with most soups as flavors condense as it sits, but it is especially true for this soup. Excellent recipe that I recommend to any soup lover!
Katie
Scott so happy to read that you loved this soup recipe so much. I agree too that it only gets better as the days pass. Thank you for taking the time to leave a 5 star rating!
Rachel Jaffe
This is a dream come true.. I have always wanted to make this.. I just have one question do you need to purée the beans at all?
Katie
Hi Rachel, no I do not puree the beans at all. I find that over time a few of the beans will break down making the soup a little thicker.
Tony Z
Are measurements for fresh herbs same as dried? And once the prosciutto is pulled out, should it be sliced thinly and put back in the soup?
Katie
Hi Tony, I apologize for the delayed response. I was on vacation. Yes, you can use the same amount of fresh herbs for dried herbs; however, I have never tested with fresh herbs. So you may need to add more if desired. As for the prosciutto. I discard it all together. However, you can chop it up put it back in the soup and/or chop and top each bowl of soup before serving. Totally up to you. The prosciutto is really used to help flavor the broth.
Dan II
Having managed the kitchen at Carrabbas many years ago I have made thousands of gallons of this stuff. Your recipe is indeed very close. They use standard dried basil and If I remember correctly freshly chopped parsley. The MOST important thing to remember is that this soup recipe should be made the day before at minimum, and 2 days before is better. The difference in taste and texture on the day you make it is no where near as good as the following day. The only time this is served the same day at carrabbas is if they run out and had to make some during the shift.
Katie
Hi Dan, thank you so much for your feedback! I do agree, I enjoy the soup even more the days following after I make it. I will add in fresh parsley next time I make the recipe. Do you know the seasoning blend for the dipping oil they serve at the table? I would love to make that at home!
Tara
Love this soup! however, my peccorino romano rind melted and i can’t pull it out. is this normal?
Katie
Hi Tara, I have had it happen before and it was either because it wasn’t a hard rind or it was left in too long. Sorry that this happened to you.
Wendy Cimbora
This is a great recipe. And my son loves it!
Katie
Hi Wendy, thank you for taking the time to leave a 5-star review! So happy you all love this recipe so much. It is one of my favorites, too!
N
I can’t wait to try this recipe. Do you dice the tomatoes? Do you leave the skin on? Are the freeze dried herbs easy to find?
Katie
Hi! Yes, dice the tomatoes and I always keep the skin on. But that is preference. You can use dried herbs–no need to worry about finding the freeze dried herbs!
Ann
Delicious thank you so much for sharing your recipe!
Katie
Ann, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5-star review. I’m actually making this for dinner tonight. It’s one of our favorites!
Jeannine Wallace
It is fabulous just like Carrabas. I’m so happy you shared this recipe. 5 stars the best minestrone soup ever!!!
Katie
Hi Jeannine, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5-star review! I agree–it’s one of my favorites and tastes just like Carrabba’s! Glad you enjoyed it so much!
Jeannine Wallace
This is my favorite minestrone soup of all time. It was great! Thank you!
Katie
Hi Jeannine, it’s mine too! I make this recipe at least once a month. So happy to read you enjoyed it!
BretH
This recipe is spot on, tastes just like theirs. We have made it several times and the whole family loves it. I have contemplated putting some chicken in it but I guess that wouldnt make it minestrone any more. I do add a bit more cheese though.
Oh, and liked your comment about soup for breakfast. Believe it or not, i eat soup almost everyday of the week for breakfast have been for years now. I just dont care for traditional breakfast food, cereal, oatmeal, etc. I will eat eggs and bacon/sausage. Otherwise soup it is, and this recipe for dinner has made my breakfast also!!
Katie
Hi Bret, thank you for leaving feedback! Glad you love this recipe. It makes a bunch and perfect for leftovers or soup for breakfast!
Merrie
Katie, how best to cut the recipe down in size? Just me and my two girls. It sounds Fantastic. We love veggies.
Thanks
Katie
Merrie–oh gosh, I honestly don’t know. Maybe try cutting in half with all the ingredients. If not–you can always freeze the leftovers in small freezer ziplock bags and then reheat at a later date!
Linda
I eat at Carrabba’s frequently, including the original family location. My soup has never had tomatoe in it!
Katie
Hi Linda! Wow–very cool you get to eat at the original one! My Carraabba’s has tomatoes in the soup. Didn’t think that the ingredients would vary from store-to-store!
Deanie
Tried your minestrone recipe tonight and it is delicious ! Carrabbas version is my favorite and your recipe is a perfect remake! Thanks for sharing it!! I have a Carrabbas cookbook with their “version” and it didn’t come close to the restaurant version… Yours does!
Katie
Deanie–thanks for the kind compliments! I haven’t made a batch of this soup in a while… I need too! I love it!
Angie
Now that looks just wonderful! I miss their food so much, I need to try this!
Katie
Thanks! I could not live without this soup in my life!
Rose Rodier
This sounds delicious…more like my Mom always made. I’ll be making it tomorrow…can wait. Thankd
Katie
Rose–I hope you are enjoying it as much as we do!