Slow Cooker Minestrone Recipes

HEARTY SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 10 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender., Stir in the beans, spinach and macaroni. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese. Freeze option: Cool soup and transfer to freezer containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. To use frozen soup, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer to a saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese.

SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
• Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a slow cooker, add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, parmesan cheese, vegetable broth, water, carrots, celery, onions, garlic, ginger, oregano, rosemary, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
• Cook on Low heat for 6-8 hours or High heat for 3-4 hours.
• Add red kidney beans, Northern beans, zucchini, pasta and cook on High heat for an additional 20- 25 minutes until pasta is tender.
• Stir in the spinach, green beans and cook for an additional 10 minutes until cooked through. Enjoy!

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.

SLOW-COOKER PESTO MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Toss the carrots, leeks, potatoes and fennel with the olive oil in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Add 5 cups water, the tomatoes, parmesan rind, 2 tablespoons pesto, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and cook on high until the vegetables are tender, 7 to 8 hours.
• Uncover and stir in the beans and ditalini. Cover and continue cooking on high until the pasta is al dente, about 15 minutes. Remove the parmesan rind. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon pesto and season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with more pesto, the parmesan and fennel fronds. Serve with the focaccia.

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Add the beans, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, celery, sweet potato, onion, crushed red pepper flakes, Parmesan rind, if using, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and 4 cups water. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
• Stir in the kale, cover and let simmer until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with toasted baguette, if desired.
• If using pasta, spoon 1/2 cup cooked pasta into each bowl and ladle the soup on top. Store the pasta and soup in separate containers.

SLOW COOKER BEEF MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, brown ground beef until completely cooked.
• Place your ground beef, diced tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper into your slow cooker.
• Add in beef stock, water, and tomato juice.
• Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
• After cooking time is up, add in red kidney beans, cannellini beans, zucchini, pasta, and green beans. Cook on high heat for an additional 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.

SLOW-COOKER VEGETABLE MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
• Stir in pasta. Increase heat setting to High; cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle each serving with cheese. Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer's directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.

SLOW-COOKER MEXICAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta and spinach.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 9 hours (or on High heat setting 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes).
• Stir in pasta and spinach until spinach is wilted. If cooking on Low, increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 25 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Serve immediately for soup consistency, or let stand for thicker, stew-like consistency.

SLOW-COOKER PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Sort beans and rinse in cold water. Add beans to a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Add the next 10 ingredients; stir., Cook, covered, on high 2 hours. Reduce heat to low; cook until beans are tender, 6-7 hours. Serve with slotted spoon. If desired, top with fresh thyme sprigs. , Freeze option: Freeze cooled beans in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

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.