A simple but nourishing Kidney Bean, Spinach, and Orzo Soup recipe! This cozy meal comes together quick in one pot with budget-friendly pantry staples. So delicious and customizable! (Vegan, oil-free, gluten-free option.)

Overhead view of kidney bean soup with orzo and spinach in a white bowl with spoon

This cozy Kidney Bean Orzo Soup comes together quick and easy with lots of basic pantry staples. We intertwine the best of both worlds: simplicity and deliciousness!

It's a great meal to make when you're low on fresh produce but needing something nourishing, satisfying, and budget-friendly. This soup delivers!

It's warmly comforting, plus you can use the recipe as a framework to customize as you please. Simply swap in your own favorite veggies, beans, or herbs.

Red beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, carrot, and dried herb ingredients laid out on a metal tray

Ingredients for Kidney Bean Soup

For this recipe, you'll simmer in a large stockpot on the stove:

Yellow onion: Or you can substitute white onion or sweet onion.
Carrot
Fresh garlic cloves: I like the taste of fresh, but you can use dried garlic powder instead if desired.
Red kidney beans: You'll need two 15-ounce cans of cooked kidney beans for this recipe. Or substitute a different bean of choice such as white kidney beans (cannellini beans), etc.
Canned diced tomatoes: Either regular or fire-roasted diced tomatoes work great.
Vegetable broth: Be sure to use low sodium if desired.
Orzo pasta: Orzo is a type of small pasta that's shaped like a large grain of rice. Most orzo isn't gluten-free as it's typically made from semolina, which is a flour made from high-protein durum wheat. (See below for gluten-free options if needed!)
Fresh baby spinach: Or you can substitute fresh kale (or a combination of both!) if you prefer.
Dried oregano and basil: You can also add salt and black pepper to taste.
Vinegar: This is completely optional, but you can stir in one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar at the end of cooking time. This helps season the soup and deepens the flavor. It gives it that something "extra"!

A ladle lifting up kidney bean orzo soup as it cooks in a large stockpot

Customizing

Veggies: Swap in other vegetables such as leeks, zucchini, yellow summer squash, celery, green peas, sweet corn, green beans, potato, sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, etc.

Herbs & spices: Change up the dried herbs and use an Italian seasoning blend, parsley, ground cumin, smoked paprika, thyme, bay leaves, etc.

Make it spicy: Include black pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chipotle in adobo sauce, or simply top with hot sauce to taste.

Make it "meaty": Stir in your favorite vegan ground beef crumbles or vegan sausage. I suggest cooking these separately according to package instructions. Then stir them in towards the end of cooking time.

Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free orzo, such as Barilla's chickpea orzo, or a rice & corn orzo. Banza also makes a chickpea "rice" that's roughly the same size and shape as orzo. Or you can simply substitute the orzo altogether with rice, quinoa, or a small gluten-free pasta instead.

Thickness: You can also add a couple tablespoons tomato paste or puree for a thicker, richer broth.

Close-up view of a spoon lifting up some kidney bean, spinach, and orzo soup from a white bowl

Serving

Fresh herbs: Garnish your bowl with fresh parsley, cilantro, or other herbs before serving for added flavor.

Storing

After it cools completely, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I find it keeps well for about 4-5 days. (So it's a great choice for make-ahead meal prep, take-along lunches, etc.)

A white bowl of vegan kidney bean, spinach, orzo soup garnished with fresh parsley

For more inspiration, also browse all easy vegan dinner recipes.

Kidney Bean, Spinach, and Orzo Soup (Easy!)

Simple yet delicious! This cozy soup comes together quick & easy with lots of basic pantry staples. It's satisfying, budget-friendly, and easy to customize!

4.89 from 9 votes

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Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 40

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine: Gluten-Free Option, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 5

Ingredients

1 yellow onion
2 carrots
4 cloves garlic
30 oz. canned kidney beans (two 15 oz. cans)
15 oz. can diced tomatoes
6 cups vegetable broth
3/4 cup orzo pasta*
3 cups baby spinach
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Stir-in (optional):

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp. fresh parsley, cilantro, or basil

Instructions

Dice onion and carrot.
In a stockpot over medium-high heat, sauté onion and carrot for 7-8 minutes. (I use 3 Tbsp. water/broth for no-oil sauté method, adding more as needed.)
Meanwhile, mince garlic.
When onion is translucent, add garlic, basil, and oregano. Stir and sauté 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant.
Add broth, tomatoes, and kidney beans (rinsed and drained). Bring to a light boil.
Then add orzo and stir well. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10-12 minutes, or until orzo is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent orzo from sticking to the bottom. (Take care not to overcook the orzo. Be aware it will continue to expand and soak up the broth as it sits.)
Roughly chop spinach and stir in during the last couple minutes of cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in the optional vinegar and fresh herbs before serving if desired.

Notes

*For gluten-free: Orzo typically isn't gluten-free. So use a GF orzo, such as Barilla's chickpea orzo, or a rice & corn orzo. Banza also makes a chickpea "rice" that's roughly the same size and shape as orzo. Or you can simply substitute the orzo altogether with rice, quinoa, or a small gluten-free pasta instead.

Vegetables: Add in whatever else sounds good like kale, leeks, zucchini, celery, potato, green beans, bell pepper, etc.

Recipe originally published December 2017. Updated January 2024.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Kidney Bean, Spinach, and Orzo Soup (Easy!)

Amount per Serving

Calories

277

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat

0.2

Polyunsaturated Fat

Monounsaturated Fat

0.1

Potassium

880

Carbohydrates

Fiber

Sugar

Protein

Vitamin A

6470

129

Vitamin C

Calcium

123

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sodium content: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.

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Kidney Bean, Spinach, and Orzo Soup (Easy!)

Ingredients for Kidney Bean Soup

Customizing

Serving

Storing