Skip to Content

Crockpot Minestrone

Sharing is caring!

This post may contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links See Full Disclosure Here

After a “what do you cook in your crockpot?” conversation with a friend recently, I was inspired to make my traditional Minestrone soup  in the slow cooker.  This is a first for me.  I’m happy to say that it came out great, if not a little better even.


I took my original recipe and did everything the same except I cooked it real slow over the course of the day.  To be honest, I am pretty sure I will only be cooking my Minestrone soups this way in the future. 

Such a great way to have your soup ready to go at the end of a busy day! 

minestrone1

 Here’s how I make “my” minestrone soup (with a crock pot twist):

*se the full ingredient list is on the recipe card below*

1.  First dice and saute (in olive oil)  carrots, onion, zucchini and celery.

OPTIONAL: I didn’t use potatoes in this meal but I do sometimes add diced potatoes. You can saute them with the other vegetables.

minestrone2

2. Add vegetables to the crock pot with basic tomato sauce, water, beans and a vegetable bouillon cube. After stirring all together, I set the cooker to low and let it do its thing. ALTERNATIVE: If you don’t have a basic tomato sauce add about 2 cups of chopped peeled or diced italian tomatoes.  You should also add some fresh chopped parsley for additional flavor. 

NOTE ON CANNED BEANS: I like to rinse and drain my beans before adding to the soup.  Also, If you like your beans a bit firmer wait to add them until the halfway mark (like after 3 hours). 

minestrone3

 

3.  At the five hour mark I add a cup of chopped frozen/fresh spinach and changed the setting to high.  Then in the last half hour I add the frozen peas. 

TIP:  If you’re at work or just unable to change the setting on the crockpot in the last hour it will be fine on low for 8 hours. Just don’t add the frozen peas and spinach until you return home. They really don’t need a lot of time to cook. 

TOTAL TIME IN THE CROCK POT : 6-8 HOURS 

While my son prefers minestrone with pasta, I prefer it without. You can make it either way.  As a general rule, when making soup with pasta, I always boil the pasta separately and cook it about 3/4’s the way through. I then drain the pasta before adding it to the soup.  I like to  add it at the very end of the cooking process.  This is how I was taught so I stick with this rule.  The great thing about cooking is you can do it however YOU like it best!

Enjoy!  

minestrone

I look forward to your feedback so let me know what you think in the comments below.

Crockpot Minestrone

A slow cooked Italian vegetable soup.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 19oz can of Red Kidney Beans or Cannellini beans 1
  • 3 - 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced carrot
  • 1 medium zucchini diced
  • 1 cup basic tomato sauce
  • 1 cup frozen chopped spinach
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 5-6 cups water
  • 1 vegetable or bouillon cube
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a pan saute diced onion, celery, carrot and zucchini in olive oil. Season to taste.
  • Add vegetables to crock pot with water, sauce, and bouillon. Cook on low for 3 hours. After 3 hours add drained and rinsed beans and stir.
  • The last hour of cooking add the spinach and peas and cook on high until done - about 45 minutes to an hour.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

Optional: add a cup of diced potatoes
To prepare with pasta: use a small pasta like ditalini or elbows. Add to soup at the end of the cooking process,
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Thank you for stopping by and don’t forge if you like this recipe you should SHARE it with your friends by clicking one of the social media buttons below.   

Are you missing recipe posts? You should SUBSCRIBE for free email notifications on all new recipes that get posted. [jetpack_subscription_form] 

 

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.