Crockpot Minestrone Soup
A warm and comforting minestrone soup packed with vegetables, beans, and Italian sausage, perfect for chilly days.
Ingredients
Meat Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
Vegetables
- 3 large carrots, diced (about 1½ cups)
- 5 stalks celery, chopped (about 1½ cups)
- ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (approximately 2½ tsp)
- 8 small/medium red potatoes or 3–4 small Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 1½ cups)
- 1 zucchini diced
- 2½ cups frozen baby spinach
- 1 cup frozen green beans
Liquids
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken/beef broth for extra richness)
- 2 cups water
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomato pesto (optional)
Beans
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) great northern beans, drained and rinsed
Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- to taste Salt and pepper
Pasta (Optional)
- 1½ cups cooked pasta or tortellini (optional; can keep separate)
Garnish
- to taste Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
Preparation
- Layer in the cooked Italian sausage first in your slow cooker.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and optional sun-dried tomato pesto.
- Follow with the diced carrots, cubed potatoes, chopped celery, chopped onion, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Adding Liquids
- Pour in the vegetable broth and water, ensuring that everything is well submerged.
Cooking
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours until the vegetables are tender.
Incorporate Additional Ingredients
- Add the kidney beans, great northern beans, diced zucchini, frozen green beans, and frozen spinach about 20 minutes before serving.
- Stir gently to combine and re-cover until the spinach has wilted and all vegetables are tender.
Final Touches
- Remove and discard the bay leaves.
- Taste the minestrone and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
Serving
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
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Notes
Use fresh vegetables and quality broth for the best flavor. Customize the recipe to suit your taste by swapping out beans and vegetables.