Freezer Slow Cooker Mini Meatball Minestrone Recipes

SLOW-COOKER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine the first 13 ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in beans, zucchini and pasta. Cook, covered, on high about 30 minutes longer, until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. If desired, top with grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

EASY CROCK POT MEATBALL MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add meatballs and brown on all sides. Just before they are completely browned, add the onion to the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking about 2 more minutes or until the onions are soft.
• Add 1 cup of the beef broth to the pan, stirring up all the browned particles from the bottom of the pan. Carefully pour contents of skillet into your crock pot. I used a 4-quart sized crock pot.
• Add the rest of the beef broth, tomatoes, carrots, celery, green pepper, oregano, basil and parsley to the crock pot. Cover and cook on LO for 6 to 8 hours.
• Turn the heat to HI. Add the macaroni and rinsed and drained beans; stir. Cover and cook about 30 minutes until the macaroni is fully cooked.
• Taste before serving. If necessary, adjust seasoning. Serve in soup bowls with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

MINI MEATBALL MINESTRONE

Steps:

• To prepare the meatballs:
• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and roll into 1/2 inch meatballs.
• Place on a cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes or until brown.
• To prepare soup (while meatballs are cooking):.
• Heat oil in a large stockpot. Saute the onions until softened and lightly brown, about 4 minutes.
• Add garlic and saute 2 minutes longer.
• Add stock, juice, green beans, carrots, kidney beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer on medium low for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add meatballs.
• Add pasta, cover pot, and cook about 10 minutes longer.

LOW-CARB MEATBALL MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Chop the vegetables.
• Defrost the meatballs in the microwave according to directions, which helps remove some of the fat. If you want to skip this step, just drop the meatballs into the simmering soup.
• Saute the onion, celery, zucchini, pepper, and eggplant in the oil.
• Add all of the rest of the ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until vegetables are soft (and meatballs are heated through.)
• erve with grated parmesan cheese.

EASY SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat oil in the bottom of a 4- or 6-quart slow cooker on High. Add zucchini, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper; stir to combine.
• Pour in vegetable stock, chickpeas, undrained tomatoes, and green beans. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 7 hours.
• Add ditalini and cook for 1 more hour. Stir in pesto and serve.