Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
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!
Servings: 6
Equipment
- Skillet
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
- About 30 minutes before serving, add the pasta to the crockpot and cook for 30 minutes or less. Check the pasta occasionally for doneness.
Finish
- Add in the spinach or kale and stir. Unplug the crockpot.
- Serve the soup with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, some grated parmesan and bread.
Notes
Tips
To make this a vegetarian soup: Omit the beef and use vegetable broth. Pasta: When cooking small pasta in a slow cooker, watch it carefully as it can overcook quickly. Italian seasoning: Use 2 teaspoons in place of other herbs.Storage
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Nutrition With Ground Beef: Calories: 365 | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Carbohydrates: 41g | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 880mg | Potassium: 1100mg | Vitamin A: 95% DV | Vitamin C: 40% DV | Calcium: 15% DV | Iron: 25% DVVegetarian Version (No Beef): Calories: 270 | Protein: 10g | Fat: 6g | Carbohydrates: 43g | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Sodium: 780mg
Nutrition
Calories: 365kcal
