Slow Cooker Minestrone

4.80 from 5 votes

This classic Italian soup, featuring a tomato base, fresh vegetables, beans, and pasta, is simmered to perfection in the crockpot for one of the easiest, healthiest soup recipes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time8

Total Time8 5

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Calories: 216kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Equipment

6-8 quart Slow Cooker

Ingredients

28 ounces diced tomatoes
4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
15 ounces marinara sauce or prepared spaghetti sauce
15 ounces kidney beans rinsed and drained
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 cups fresh or frozen green beans cut into 1 inch chunks
3 cups diced zucchini about 2 medium
1 cup diced carrot
½ cup dry red wine optional
2 cups cabbage sliced into thin ribbons
1 cup elbow noodles
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

In a large slow cooker, mix together the broth, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, garlic, onion powder, zucchini, carrots, and green beans. Stir in cabbage and red wine if using.
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.

Notes

Tomatoes: If you have textural issues with diced tomatoes, replace them with tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes.

Marinara: For the BEST flavor in minestrone soup, use your favorite prepared spaghetti sauce or marinara.

Vegetables: 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.

Using Spinach instead of Cabbage: If you prefer spinach over cabbage, omit cabbage and stir in spinach when you stir in the red wine vinegar and let wilt before serving.

Beans: Kidney beans, cannellini beans, northern white beans, and pinto beans all work in Minestrone. Use all of one variety or mix and match.

Red Wine: Use a dry red wine, such as Merlot or a Cabernet, to add additional flavor and depth. But feel free to omit it.

Broth: If you don't have vegetable broth and are not vegetarian, chicken stock works just as well in this soup.

Storage: Store leftover Minestrone soup in a sealed container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. You may need to add a splash of stock or water before warming up as the noodles absorb the stock as as they sit.

Nutrition