Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup: A classic Italian Soup, featuring a tomato base, fresh vegetables, beans and pasta, is simmered to perfection in the crockpot.

Minestrone is one of my all time favorite soups.

From the rich broth, to fresh vegetables, to the hearty pasta, it is a light, yet filling soup that is easy to prepare, especially when made in the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

This Minestrone Soup recipe is my tried and true version of this classic Italian soup.

It’s not my mom’s minestrone recipe. Not a restaurant copy-cat recipe.

This is the BEST Minestrone Soup Recipe that I have adapted for all 4 picky eaters at my house, so that we all lick the bowl clean and ask for seconds, thirds, or even fourths!

How to Make Minestrone Soup in the Crockpot

• Put broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, red beans, zucchini, carrots, green beans, and diced cabbage in the slow cooker.
• Add red wine if using.
• Add in seasonings.
• Place lid on slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
• Turn slow cooker to high and add elbow noodles to minestrone and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes.
• Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Adding Spinach to Minestrone Soup

I love spinach in Minestrone Soup at times instead of the cabbage.

• Omit the cabbage.
• Add the spinach to the Minestrone with the pasta.
• If you are using FROZEN spinach, add at the beginning of the cooking process.

Modifications for Minestrone Soup

• If you have textural issues with diced tomatoes, replace with tomato puree.
• To keep kids happy, I choose to use onion powder instead of diced onions. Feel free to use 1 small diced onion instead of the onion powder.
• Add any vegetables you like to this soup–chopped zucchini, carrots, green beans, yellow squash, celery, etc–whatever your family likes or you have on hand.
• Instead of kale, you can use spinach or broccoli rabe in slow cooker minestrone. If you use fresh, add it in for the last 30 minutes of cooking. If using frozen greens, add it to the beginning of the slow cooking process.
• Kidney beans, cannellini beans, northern white beans and pinto beans all work in Minestrone.
• I love the addition of red wine in this soup–give it such flavor, but feel free to use extra stock.
• If you don’t have Vegetable stock and are not vegetarian, chicken stock works just as well in this soup.
• It is traditional to top Italian Minestrone with shaved Parmesan, but to keep this vegan, just omit cheese.

Delicious Soup Recipes

• Healthier Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup
• Easy Homemade Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Topper
• 4 Ingredient Tortellini Soup

Minestrone Soup Recipe

Slow Cooker Minestrone

A classic Italian Soup made in the crockpot. 

4.75 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 201kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• 28 oz diced tomatoes
• 2 cups cabbage sliced into thin ribbons
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• 1/2 cup red wine optional
• 15 ounces marinara sauce
• 2 cups red beans pre-cooked or canned
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/2 pound green beans cut into 1 inch chunks
• 2 large zucchini diced
• 1 large carrot diced
• 1 cup whole wheat elbow noodles
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

• Place all ingredients expect for pasta and cheese in slow cooker.  
• Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
• Turn the slow cooker to high. Add in the pasta and cook for 20-30 minutes until pasta tender.
• Remove bay leaf, stir in vinegar, and serve with a generous grating of Parmesan.

Equipment Needed

• 6-8 quart Slow Cooker

Notes

I recommend using 15 ounces of spaghetti sauce or marinara in place of tomato sauce for additional flavor in this minestrone soup, but you can certainly use tomato sauce if that is all you have on hand. 

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Minestrone

Amount Per Serving

Calories 201 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Sodium 670mg29%

Potassium 940mg27%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 7g29%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 2485IU50%

Vitamin C 38.9mg47%

Calcium 102mg10%

Iron 4.4mg24%

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

I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!