This Crockpot Minestrone Soup is a hearty and comforting meal, filled with a colorful array of vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and celery, alongside protein-packed kidney and great northern beans. The slow-cooking process allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully, creating a wholesome and flavorful soup that’s perfect for cold days. With the rich base of tomatoes and a secret pesto ingredient, this soup is both simple to prepare and deliciously satisfying. Whether you’re serving it for a weeknight dinner or meal prepping for the week, it’s sure to be a family favorite, filling your home with the comforting aroma of home-cooked goodness.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 (14 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, drained
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 1 large white or yellow onion, diced
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons pesto
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 ½ cups ditalini pasta (tubular pasta)
Directions:
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, red kidney beans, great northern beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, pesto, vegetable stock, water, oregano, rosemary, and bay leaves into the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-5 hours.
- About 45 minutes to an hour before serving, add the diced zucchini.
- About 10-15 minutes before serving, add the pasta and cook until fully cooked.
- Serve immediately, optionally topped with parmesan or other cheese.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 7 hours | Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
Kcal: 152 kcal | Servings: 8 servings (2 cups per serving)
A Hearty and Nutritious Comfort Food
As the colder months approach, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a big bowl of homemade soup. Among the many classic soup recipes, minestrone stands out as a favorite for its rich flavor, hearty ingredients, and nourishing qualities. Traditionally an Italian dish, minestrone soup is a versatile meal that can be adjusted to suit various tastes and dietary needs. While you may have tried a version at a restaurant, like Olive Garden’s famous take, making this dish at home – especially in a crockpot – can elevate it to a new level of flavor and convenience.
Minestrone literally translates to “thick vegetable soup,” and it has a long history in Italian cuisine. Over time, it has evolved into countless variations, with each family or region in Italy putting their own spin on the recipe. What makes minestrone so special is that it doesn’t have a rigid set of ingredients. It’s adaptable and forgiving, making it a perfect option for those who like to use seasonal vegetables or customize recipes to their own preferences. Whether you’re a meat-eater, vegetarian, or even vegan, minestrone can easily be tailored to fit your needs.
Why Crockpot Minestrone Soup Is a Must-Try
Minestrone soup, when cooked in a crockpot, allows the flavors to develop slowly over time, which results in a deeply satisfying and flavorful soup. The slow-cooking process enables the beans to soften, the vegetables to become tender, and the herbs and seasonings to infuse the broth fully. This hands-off approach is perfect for busy people who want to enjoy a nutritious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
The beauty of crockpot cooking is its simplicity. You can prep the vegetables and beans in the morning, toss everything into the slow cooker, and let it cook while you go about your day. By the time you’re ready to sit down for dinner, you’ll have a hearty and wholesome soup waiting for you – all with minimal effort. This kind of convenience is especially valuable during busy weeks or after a long day when you don’t have the energy to make an elaborate meal.
Another major advantage of Crockpot Minestrone Soup is its incredible nutritional value. This soup is packed with healthy ingredients like beans, zucchini, carrots, and tomatoes. These vegetables provide a wide array of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and dietary fiber. Additionally, beans, which are a significant part of this dish, offer plant-based protein, fiber, and a variety of important nutrients like iron and folate. Altogether, these ingredients make this soup a powerhouse meal that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Customizing Your Minestrone
One of the reasons that minestrone soup has stood the test of time is its versatility. While this particular version of Crockpot Minestrone includes ingredients like kidney beans, great northern beans, zucchini, and ditalini pasta, you can easily make changes based on what you have available or what suits your tastes best.
For example, if you prefer more greens, you can toss in a few handfuls of spinach, kale, or Swiss chard. These leafy greens not only add vibrant color but also boost the soup’s nutritional content by offering extra fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Want to change up the type of beans? No problem! While kidney and great northern beans are traditional choices, you could also use black beans, pinto beans, or even chickpeas for a different flavor and texture. If you’re a fan of legumes, lentils are another great option. They cook down beautifully in the crockpot and provide a different texture while still adding plenty of protein and fiber.
For those looking to make this soup heartier, you could add meat like Italian sausage, ground beef, or shredded chicken. These proteins will enhance the flavor and make the soup more filling, perfect for anyone who craves a little extra sustenance. If you opt to add meat, you may want to brown it on the stovetop first before adding it to the crockpot to develop the best flavors. Pasta is another customizable element of minestrone. While ditalini pasta is a great choice because of its small, bite-sized shape, you can substitute it with any small pasta you have on hand, such as macaroni or small shells. If you are gluten-free, you can use gluten-free pasta or omit the pasta entirely and add extra beans or vegetables to maintain the soup’s hearty texture.
The Secret Ingredient: Pesto
What sets this Crockpot Minestrone Soup apart from other versions is the addition of pesto. While it may seem like an unusual ingredient in soup, pesto adds a rich, herbaceous flavor that elevates the overall taste. The combination of basil, garlic, and olive oil found in pesto pairs beautifully with the vegetables and beans, giving the soup a fresh and vibrant finish. It’s a small addition that makes a big difference.
For those following a vegetarian or vegan diet, be mindful that many store-bought pestos contain Parmesan cheese, which is made using rennet – an enzyme sourced from animals. To keep the dish truly vegetarian or vegan, you can either find a plant-based pesto or make your own at home without cheese.
Nutritional Benefits of Minestrone
Crockpot Minestrone Soup is not just delicious but also highly nutritious. Each bowl is loaded with vegetables that provide essential vitamins and minerals. Tomatoes, for instance, are rich in vitamin C and lycopene, an antioxidant known for its heart-health benefits. Carrots offer beta-carotene, which is great for eye health, while zucchini provides hydration and fiber.
Beans are another key component of this soup, offering a significant amount of plant-based protein and fiber, which helps keep you full and satisfied for longer periods. They also help regulate blood sugar levels, making this soup a fantastic option for those looking to maintain a balanced diet.
The slow-cooked nature of this recipe helps preserve the integrity of the vegetables, ensuring you get the maximum amount of nutrients in every bite. Plus, with a lower fat content and fewer calories than many other comfort foods, Crockpot Minestrone Soup is an excellent choice for those seeking a nutritious and filling meal that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
Conclusion:
In summary, Crockpot Minestrone Soup is a versatile, nutrient-packed dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal prep option, a nutritious family dinner, or a hearty dish to enjoy on cold winter nights, this soup ticks all the boxes. Its slow-cooking process ensures a depth of flavor that you won’t get from faster-cooking methods, and the combination of vegetables, beans, and pasta creates a satisfying meal that’s both delicious and healthy.
The real magic of minestrone is in its adaptability. You can make this dish your own by swapping out ingredients, adding in your favorite veggies, or even throwing in some protein if you’re craving a meatier meal. And with the addition of pesto, this recipe has a unique twist that sets it apart from more traditional versions.