AIP/Paleo Minestrone Soup (Nightshade-free)

This nightshade-free, AIP/Paleo Minestrone Soup is hearty and full of flavor. It’s filled with chunky vegetables, perfectly seasoned ground meat, and grain-free pasta for a comforting and complete one-pot meal.

If you’re a fan of my Hearty Ground Turkey Soup with Vegetables, you’ll love this AIP/Paleo Minestrone Soup!

Paleo Minestrone Soup without Tomatoes?

You heard me! This paleo and AIP minestrone soup is made without tomatoes or legumes for a nightshade-free, allergy-friendly version of this Italian dish.

While traditional minestrone soup recipes vary in ingredients, they’re most often a tomato-based vegetable soup with pasta or rice, beans, and optional meat.

In this recipe, ground beef, fresh veggies, and a medley of herbs and spices are combined with a tomato-free broth to make a delicious, warming and nourishing meal.

The flavors in this soup are complex but the recipe is so simple! It’s highly customizable and seasonally adaptable so you can enjoy a bowl all year round!

What you’ll need to make this AIP/paleo Minestrone Soup

• olive oil and ground meat – your choice of ground beef, turkey, or chicken. I used ground beef in this recipe for added depth of flavor.
• onion, celery, carrots, and garlic – this mirepoix creates the aromatic base of all my soups.
• sea salt, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes* – the herbs and spices used to mimic a classic Italian seasoning. The red pepper flakes are nightshades and lend a slight heat that adds a great depth of flavor to this soup – *omit for AIP or for a nightshade-free version of this soup
• white-fleshed sweet potatoes – you can try the Hannah, Japanese or murasaki varieties.
• chicken or beef bone broth or stock – you can use a store-bought option or make your own. If AIP, ensure the ingredients are compliant. I used a sodium free beef bone broth. Or, learn how to make your own gluten-free bone broth.
• nomato sauce and water – for the nightshade-free broth. You can use tomato sauce or paste if you aren’t nightshade-free or following AIP.
• zucchinis – or you can sub with other varieties of squash.
• grain-free and gluten-free pasta – optional. If AIP, ensure ingredients are compliant. I used cassava pasta.
• spinach – or sub with another leafy green like kale or collard greens.

how to make this aip/paleo minestrone soup on the stovetop

1. First, to a large stockpot, heat olive oil on medium heat.
2. Second, add mirepoix of onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté until onions are translucent.
3. Next, add ground meat and all seasonings and mix. Brown meat about 3-5 minutes.
4. Then, add sweet potatoes.
5. Add broth or stock, nomato sauce, water and bay leaves. Boil for 10 minutes.
6. Next, add zucchini to boiling broth and cook about 5 minutes.
7. Add pasta is using. Cook about 10 minutes or until al dente.
8. Lastly, add spinach and stir to wilt.

AIP/Paleo Minestrone Instant Pot variation 

Making this AIP/paleo minestrone in the Instant Pot is easy:

• First, sauté onion, celery, carrots and garlic in olive oil with dried herbs and beef.
• Then, add in broth, water, nomato sauce and sweet potatoes.
• Next, cover instant pot and set to pressure cook for 5 minutes.
• When the instant pot beeps, quick release to release the pressure. Open lid and return instant pot to sauté function.
• Once soup is boiling, add in zucchini, and dry uncooked pasta (if using). Cook 8-10 minutes until pasta is al dente.
• Last, stir in spinach into hot soup to wilt. 

Can I make AIP/paleo minestrone in the slow cooker?

Yes, that too is possible with this versatile and easy AIP/paleo minestrone soup recipe:

• If your slow cooker has a sauté function, I recommend sautéing onion, celery, carrots, and garlic in olive oil with dried herbs and beef.
• Next, add veggies (not zucchini), broth, water, nomato sauce and sweet potatoes to slow cooker.
• Set to HIGH and cook for 2-3 hours or to LOW and cook for 5-6 hours.
• Then, 20 minutes before serving, add zucchini and pasta, if using. Slow cook on high until pasta is al dente.
• Last, add in spinach at the last minute just until it begins to wilt. 

Want to make this recipe an AIP/paleo green minestrone soup?

It’s really easy! Simply omit the nomato sauce and adjust salt to taste.

Or, if you’d prefer the soup to look more like a traditional minestrone, add the nomato sauce later on in the cooking process for a deeper red color.

Tips for making a rich and flavorful AIP/paleo Minestrone Soup without tomatoes:

• For an even richer, more concentrated flavor, let your soup simmer for longer. This will allow all of the flavors to better meld together for a deeper, even fuller flavor. Just remember to add your pasta (if using) and the spinach towards the end of the cooking process.
• Use a variety of vegetables for even more rich textures and tastes. Easily customize this soup and use whatever veggies you have on hand that you can tolerate.
  • Try this recipe with your favorite fresh, seasonally available veggies to enjoy this soup year-round.
• If you’re using grain-free pasta but don’t intend on serving this soup right away, I recommend cooking the pasta separately. Then, stir the cooked pasta into the individual soup servings. Otherwise, it will get too mushy in the soup.
• For a little added flavor and texture, top each bowl of soup with some shredded dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast to keep it paleo and AIP-compliant.

FAQs for this AIP and Paleo Beef Minestrone

What ingredients can I substitute?

Refer to the Ingredients section for my suggestions on replacements and options.

Can i make a vegan version of this aip/paleo vegetable minestrone soup?

To make this soup vegan, omit the ground meat, and substitute the chicken or beef broth with vegetable broth or stock. If you’re looking for more vegan soup recipes, try my AIP Trinidadian Callaloo.

How do I serve this Minestrone soup?

This hearty AIP and paleo minestrone soup with vegetables and ground beef is a well-rounded meal that can be eaten on its own. You can use your choice of grain and gluten free pasta or omit it completely and add more sweet potatoes and hearty veggies if you prefer. This soup pairs really well with some slices of my AIP Sourdough Bread.

how do i store this soup?

Store this soup in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days. I recommend refrigerating without the pasta. If you plan on storing leftovers, cook and store the pasta separately. Reheat on the stovetop.

can i freeze this soup?

This soup freezes really well! I recommend freezing it without any pasta. If you plan on freezing leftovers, omit the pasta from the recipe. Cook pasta when you plan to serve. Reheat on the stovetop.

If you try this hearty AIP/Paleo Minestrone Soup (Nightshade-free) I would love if you could give the recipe a star rating and short review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious

you’ll love these other hearty, comforting AIP/paleo soups:

• AIP/Paleo Chicken and Dumpling Soup
• Caribbean-inspired Beef Soup
• Turkey & Kale Soup
• Chicken and Pumpkin Soup

try these other cozy aip/paleo one-pot meals:

• Easy Instant Pot Pot Roast
• Creamy Garlic Pork and Spinach
• Trinidadian-inspired Beef Stew
• White Chicken Chili

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