Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (2024)

Home » Slow Cooker » SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP

Jump to Recipe

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup – Loaded with fresh vegetables, beans, pasta and cozy rich flavors of tomato and herbs, this healthy minestrone soup is naturally low fat, yet it’s packed with protein and fiber!

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (1)

This minestrone recipe has been one of my family’s favorite soups for as long as I can remember! Filled with vegetables, beans, and pasta, it is naturally low in fat and oil free making it a hearty yet healthy vegan soup recipe.

This easy slow cooker soup recipe requires just a bit of chopping the veggies in the morning, then you can let it simmer away in the crock-pot until dinnertime.

A squeeze of lemon at the end adds a little acidity to make all the flavors pop, and then you’ll wilt in some fresh spinach just before serving so that it stays green and vibrant rather than disintegrating into the soup.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (2)

Ingredients You’ll Need

In this Italian minestrone recipe, we’ll be slow-cooking a variety of vegetables in a crockpot creating a flavorful clear broth soup that’s hearty and delicious.

Here’s everything you’ll need:

  • Onion
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Zucchini
  • Green beans
  • Spinach
  • Kidney beans
  • Cannellini beans
  • Garlic
  • Tomatoes
  • Pasta
  • Herbs
  • Veggie broth
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (3)

How To Make Slow-Cooker Minestrone Soup

Cooking soup in a slow cooker is so easy, you can set it and forget it with a just a few easy steps and 10 minutes hands on.

  • Add all the ingredients, except for the spinach and pasta, to the bowl of your slow cooker, ending with the broth and water. Give a good stir.
  • Turn on HIGH and cook for 4 – 5 hours, or LOW and cook for 7 – 8 hours.
  • 30 minutes before the soup is done, add the spinach to the slow cooker.
  • While the soup is finishing, cook the pasta and add it to the soup when ready to serve. Remove the bay leaves.

Can I make minestrone soup on the stovetop? Yes, this Vegan Minestrone Soup is made on the stovetop and is super easy to make, and is ready in about 30 minutes.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (4)

Tips For Your Best Minestrone Soup

  • Change up the veggies: The ingredients for this Italian minestrone soup can be changed up with the seasons using what is available. Add other seasonal veggies such as corn, potatoes, winter squash, peas, parsnips, cabbage, kale, etc. Use frozen veggies when applicable.
  • Make it gluten-free: Use gluten free pasta for a gluten free minestrone soup.
  • Vary up the herbs: Change up the herbs using fresh or dried. Herbs such as Italian seasoning and herbs de provence are great. Individual herbs, dried or fresh, you can use include: oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram and parsley. Basil is a popular herb for minestrone.
  • Add vegan sausage: Toss in some vegan sausage, diced or sliced for extra hardiness and protein.
  • Cook the pasta separate, if it’s cooked in with the soup it becomes mushy and extremely unpleasant. For best results, cook the pasta ahead of time or 30 minutes before the soup is ready. You’ll be very happy to have firm pasta instead of mush!
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (5)

How To Store Leftovers

  • Refrigerator:Leftovers can be kept for 5 – 6 days in a covered container in the refrigerator.
  • Freezer: This soup is freezer-friendly and freezes well for 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store infreezer-safe containers(affiliate link), leaving 1/2 inch head space for expansion. Let thaw before reheating. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags or containers.
  • Reheat:Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. Alternately, reheat in the microwave using 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until warm. It makes a great meal prep for the week with homemadevegan cornbread,no knead bread,ornaanon the side for soaking up the juices.

Serving Suggestions

I like to garnish my soup with parsley, a squeeze of lemon and twist of fresh cracked pepper. Here are a few of my favorite sides:

  • Salad: Serve with a side salad like this Vegan Caesar Salador Green Salad + Lemon Tahini Dressing.
  • Toppings: And it pairs perfectly with this Almond Parmesansprinkled overtop.
  • Bread: Pair with homemade Artisan Bread,Sweet Chia CornbreadorVegan Naan Bread for soaking up the juices.
  • Sandwich: Serve with Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich, or Favorite Vegetable Sandwichfor a delicious soup and sandwich meal.
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (6)

More Veggie Soup Recipes

  • Tex-Mx Quinoa Vegetable Soup (Slow Cooker + Stovetop)
  • Lemony Chickpea Orzo Soup

If you try this slow cooker minestrone recipe, please let me know!Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

EASY MINESTRONE SOUP (SLOW COOKER)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 7 reviews

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe – Loaded with vegetables, beans and pasta, this minestrone soup is made even easier in the slow cooker!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 5 hours
  • Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
  • Category: Soup, Entree
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Vegan, Italian

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 zucchini, cut into half moons
  • 1/3 lb. green beans cut into 1 inch pieces, about 1 1/2 cups
  • 34 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (14oz) cannellini or northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (28oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 23 bay leaves
  • generous pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
  • 45 cups vegetable broth or water (or combo)
  • big handful of fresh spinach
  • 1 cup pasta (small pasta such as elbow, shells, mini penne or rotini)
  • mineral salt & pepper to taste

Optional garnish

  • lemon, juice of
  • fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker, except for the spinach and pasta, ending with the broth last. Give a good stir and cook:

  • HIGH for 4 – 5 hours
  • LOW for 7 – 8 hours

Add spinach during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Cook the pasta according to package directions, adding to the soup once it has finished cooking. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Serve with squeeze of lemon and parsley overtop. Pairs great with Artisan Bread!

Serves 4 – 6

Store: Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 – 5 days. To freeze, place into freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months.

Notes

Vary up the seasoning with 1 or 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning or herbes de provence. Other dried herbs that would work include thyme or rosemary. Fresh herbs are great too!

Recipe adapted from Food Network.

FOLLOW TSVonFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest,orRSSfor more updates and inspiration!

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup (Italian Recipe) - The Simple Vegansita (2024)

FAQs

What is the thickening agent for minestrone? ›

Use Tomato Paste For A Hearty, Thick Minestrone

You can prepare it at home or buy it in a tube and mix it with other food ingredients as needed. If your minestrone is too thin, add a few tablespoons of tomato paste while it's cooking. Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons, stir well, and see how it turns out.

What is the sardinian minestrone soup made from? ›

What is this? There are a lot of versions of Sardinian minestrone around but most start with is a soffritto (onion, celery and carrot) and then layers vegetables, beans and broth.

How to make minestrone soup Gordon Ramsay? ›

Method:
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and add the onions, carrots, celery and some seasoning. ...
  2. Add the thyme, bay leaf and bacon. ...
  3. Tip in the borlotti beans and cherry tomatoes, then pour in the chicken stock or water to cover. ...
  4. Add the spaghetti and cook for 10 minutes.
Nov 6, 2023

What is Olive Garden minestrone soup made of? ›

Ingredients- 2 Tbs olive oil; 1 onion diced (1 cup); 1 celery diced; 1 carrot, peeled & diced; 1 zucchini, chopped; 2 tsp minced garlic; 14 oz can diced tomato; 32 oz vegetable stock; 1 bay leaf; 1 1/2 Tbs Italian seasoning; 2 Tbs tomato paste; 15 oz canned small white beans, rinsed drained; 15 oz canned kidney beans ...

What do restaurants use to thicken soup? ›

Corn Starch

This completely versatile starch is used in savory and sweet dishes alike: gelatinizing fruit pie fillings or thickening your hefty, stick-to-your-bones soups.

How do you upgrade minestrone soup? ›

Onions, carrots, and celery add depth of flavor to its herb-flecked tomato broth, and starchy beans and pasta make it nice and thick. I toss in green beans for texture, and, as a final finishing touch, I top it off with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Do Italians eat minestrone every day? ›

A bountiful dish that is eaten every day for lunch by some of the world's longest-lived families in Sardinia, Italy. It can be made with seasonal vegetables from the garden, but always includes beans and fregula, a toasted pebble-size semolina pasta that is popular in Sardina.

What does minestrone mean in Italian? ›

Etymology. The word minestrone, meaning a thick vegetable soup, is attested in English from 1871. It is from Italian minestrone, the augmentative form of minestra, "soup", or more literally, "that which is served", from minestrare, "to serve" and cognate with administer as in "to administer a remedy".

What soup is eaten by the longest living people in the world? ›

But one recipe that has been around for ages is minestrone soup. This soup is thought to help you live a long and healthy life. The Melis family, who hold the Guinness World Record for the oldest combined age for nine siblings, have enjoyed this dish for years.

Is pasta fa*gioli the same as minestrone? ›

Pasta fa*gioli and minestrone are both Italian soups with similar flavors that make use of whatever vegetables you have on hand. The main difference is the beans in the pasta fa*gioli that result in a thicker soup than minestrone, which is traditionally very brothy.

Why is minestrone soup so good? ›

Made with lots of vegetables, greens and various beans, this dish can provide you with super nutrients that slow aging and help you stay fit. Minestrone has always been a symbol of traditional Italian cuisine and the Mediterranean diet. Made with vegetables, greens and beans, it is a super-healthy mixture.

Is Olive Garden's minestrone soup vegan? ›

Olive Garden doesn't have an extensive menu of vegan options. However, some of their most beloved items are vegan, including the minestrone soup and the unlimited salad and breadsticks (with a few modifiers).

What's in Campbell's minestrone soup? ›

Each satisfying spoonful of Campbell's® Condensed Minestrone Soup brims with a bounty of farm-grown veggies—from carrots, potatoes, green beans, peas, tomatoes, zucchini and more! —combined with beans and enriched pasta shells. You'll find comfort in this Italian classic.

What's the difference between minestrone and vegetable soup? ›

Minestrone soup is unique because it typically includes beans, pasta, or rice, as well as vegetables, and the ingredients are always left chunky (it's never blended), making it a heartier option. Vegetable soups are usually simpler and don't typically include beans or pasta, and you could have a blended vegetable soup.

What is the best thickener for soup? ›

So, What Is the Best Way to Thicken Soup? Whisking beurre manié (butter-flour paste) into simmering soup is the best way to thicken an otherwise too-watery soup. Add bits of the paste gradually and simmer to cook out any raw flour taste.

What is the best thickener for vegetable soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What are the two main thickening agents in soup? ›

cooking sauce or soup. Arrowroot starch thickens very quickly and it is unnecessary to bring the mixture to a boil for it to work. Cornstarch, on the other hand, requires heating the mix- ture to a boil to fully thicken the mixture and to avoid any “starchy” taste or texture in the fin- ished product.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5312

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.