Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe
This slow cooker minestrone soup delivers a hearty medley of vegetables, beans, herbs, and pasta, simmered to a tender and comforting finish. The recipe uses a base of sautéed aromatics combined with pureed white beans and a mix of fresh and dried herbs, enriched by Parmesan rind for depth. It's slowly cooked in broth to develop layered flavors and finished with fresh greens and al dente pasta for texture and substance.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce can White beans (drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy))
- 32 oz chicken broth or vegetable broth for vegetarians, reduced sodium, container
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion chopped
- 1 cup carrot diced
- 1/2 cup celery diced
- 2 garlic minced, cloves
- 1 oz can diced tomatoes petite
- Parmesan Cheese optional, rind
- 1 rosemary fresh sprig
- 2 bay leaf
- 2 tbsp basil chopped, fresh
- 1/4 cup Italian parsley chopped, fresh
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt fresh
- 1/2 tsp black pepper fresh
- 1 medium zucchini (8 oz each, diced)
- 2 cups chopped fresh (or frozen defrosted spinach)
- 2 cups small pasta al dente (or GF pasta, cooked, such as ditalini
- Parmesan Cheese optional, extra, for garnish
Instructions
- Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 15 minutes.
- Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 15 minutes.
- Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Press saute in the Instant Pot and heat oil. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to the crock pot along with the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, basil and parsley, cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Add the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, basil and parsley, cover and cook on low 40 minutes. Add the zucchini and spinach, cover and simmer until the zucchini is tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, basil and parsley, cover and cook high pressure 20 minutes.
- Forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/4 cups soup into 8 bowls with 1/4 cup pasta in each and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.
- Remove the bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/4 cups soup into 8 bowls with 1/4 cup pasta in each and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.
- Quick release, add the pasta, zucchini and spinach and cook high pressure 4 minutes. Quick release so the pasta doesn't overcook.
- Remove the bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/2 cups soup into 8 bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 190
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 11/2 cups | |
| Calories | 190kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Sodium | 483mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 8g | 32% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.