Name: Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 375 min
Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil; 1 pound Lean Ground Beef ((or ground Turkey or Sausage)); 1 cup Diced Onion; 1 cup Diced Carrot; 1 cup Diced Celery; 1 cup Diced Potatoes; 1 cup Green Beans ((canned, fresh, frozen)); 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic; 28 ounce can Diced tomatoes ((fire roasted, if possible)); ¼ cup Tomato Paste; 4 cups Beef Broth ((or vegetable)); 1 teaspoon Black Pepper; 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt; 15 ounce can Cannellini Beans, (drained and rinsed); 2 sprigs Oregano ((or ½ teaspoon dried) See Notes); 2 sprigs Thyme ((or ½ teaspoon dried) See Notes); 1 cup Ditalini Pasta ((or small elbows, shells, etc.)); Parmesan Rind ((adds great rich flavor)); 2 cups Chopped Spinach or Kale; Grated Parmesan, (to taste, for serving); ⅓ cup Chopped Parsley, (for garnish); Crusty Bread

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Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup recipe is a hearty, flavorful, easy to make dinner. This Italian-inspired soup is loaded with beef, vegetables, beans, and pasta. A cozy, nourishing dinner that’s as easy as it is delicious. And you can make Minestrone without meat if you want a vegetarian option.

Minestrone Soup in the Crockpot

When you want a healthy crockpot soup that is also a cozy, hearty meal, this Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup is just the thing. It's packed with vegetables and rich Italian flavors.

Crockpot Minestrone Soup is made with seasoned ground beef, tender vegetables, savory broth, and pasta, it’s a comforting and nourishing classic that’s perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping.

This also makes a great vegetarian slow cooker recipe. Use up some canned or frozen veggies, and any fresh vegetables you have hanging around.

Why We Love Making Minestrone Soup in the Slow Cooker

• Easy to Make – Just chop, sauté, and let the slow cooker do the work.
• Customizable – Use what you have! Any beans, pasta, or greens will work.
• Hearty and Satisfying – Thanks to the potatoes, beans, and optional ground beef.
• Perfect for Meal Prep – It stores well and makes great leftovers. Tastes even better the next day!

This crock pot Minestrone Soup recipe is super flexible — whether you make it a vegetarian Minestrone soup or add ground beef, ground turkey or sausage for extra protein and heartiness.

Everything cooks low and slow in the crockpot, so the flavors have time to blend well. It’s the perfect soup for chilly evenings, meal prepping for the week, or feeding a hungry family with minimal effort.

Ingredients in Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

Though there are a lot of ingredients in Minestrone soup, they are simple and take minimal prep.

Here's what you'll need to make this Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup. It’s pantry-friendly and easy to adapt:

Olive Oil: For sautéing the beef & onion. Adds richness.
Lean Ground Beef (hamburger): or use Ground Turkey or Sausage. The meat adds rich flavor and protein (optional).
Onion, Carrot, Celery: The classic soup base (mirepoix).
Potatoes: Any kind works — russet, Yukon gold, or red.
Green Beans: Use canned, fresh or frozen.
Garlic: Fresh minced, jarlic, or garlic powder.
Diced Tomatoes: Canned fire-roasted tomatoes or Italian diced tomatoes add great flavor.
Tomato Paste: Adds depth and richness.
Beef Broth: or Vegetable broth.
Cannellini Beans: or any canned beans you like — red, kidney, or pinto.
Seasonings: Salt & Pepper, Oregano and Thyme – Fresh sprigs or dried herbs both work. Or use Italian seasoning.
Ditalini Pasta: Or any small pasta you have on hand, such as small macaroni or small shells.
Kale or Spinach: For a pop of green and more nutrients.
Fresh Parsley & Grated Parmesan: For serving. The Parmesan adds great flavor and richness.
Crusty Bread: Highly recommended to serve with the soup.

How to Make Minestrone Soup in the Crockpot

This easy Slow Cooker Minestrone only needs a few simple steps to make it:
1) In a skillet, cook the ground beef and onion in olive oil until beef is no longer pink. Then add the garlic and sauté for a minute.
NOTE: If making Vegetarian Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup, simply sauté the onion, then add the garlic for a minute. Continue with directions.

2) Add the meat, carrot, celery, potatoes, green beans, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth (or veggie), pepper, salt, beans, oregano and thyme to crockpot. Stir to combine.
3) Cover with lid and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 3 hours.

4) 30 minutes before serving, add the pasta to the crockpot and cook for 30 minutes or less. Check the pasta occasionally for doneness.
5) Add in the spinach or kale and stir. Unplug the crockpot.
6) Serve the soup with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, some grated parmesan and bread.

Storing & Reheating

• Store leftover Minestrone soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The pasta may soak up some broth, so you can add a splash of water or broth when reheating.
• This soup also freezes well! Just leave out the pasta before freezing, and add it fresh when reheating.

More Delicious Slow Cooker Soup Recipes:
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Crock Pot Mexican Corn Chicken Soup
Slow Cooker Corn Chowder
Slow Cooker Clam Chowder
Slow Cooker Creamy Sausage Gnocchi Soup

I hope you enjoy making the best Crockpot Minestrone Soup recipe! If you do, please leave a comment with a star rating.

5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

6 hrs

Total Time

6 hrs 15 mins

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup that is flavorful, healthy, and hearty. Make it with meat or easily make it vegetarian. It's so comforting and delicious!

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: crockpot beef soup, hearty soup

Servings: 6

Calories: 365 kcal

Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 pound Lean Ground Beef (or ground Turkey or Sausage)
1 cup Diced Onion
1 cup Diced Carrot
1 cup Diced Celery
1 cup Diced Potatoes
1 cup Green Beans (canned, fresh, frozen)
1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
28 ounce can Diced tomatoes (fire roasted, if possible)
¼ cup Tomato Paste
4 cups Beef Broth (or vegetable)
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
15 ounce can Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
2 sprigs Oregano (or ½ teaspoon dried) See Notes
2 sprigs Thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried) See Notes
1 cup Ditalini Pasta (or small elbows, shells, etc.)

Optional

Parmesan Rind (adds great rich flavor)

To Finish

2 cups Chopped Spinach or Kale
Grated Parmesan, to taste, for serving
⅓ cup Chopped Parsley, for garnish

For serving

Crusty Bread

Instructions

Brown the Meat (if using)

In a skillet, cook the ground beef and onion in olive oil until beef is no longer pink. Then add the garlic and sauté for a minute.
NOTE: If making Vegetarian Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup, simply sauté the onion, then add the garlic for a minute. Continue with directions.
Add the meat, carrot, celery, potatoes, green beans, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, pepper, salt, beans, oregano and thyme (and Parmesan rind, if using) to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
Cover with lid and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 3 hours.

Add the Pasta