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Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

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A hearty, slow-cooked Italian vegetable soup loaded with beans, pasta, and a rich tomato broth.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 zucchini, diced
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 parmesan rind (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup small pasta, such as ditalini or elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
  • Grated parmesan cheese, for serving
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until softened, then transfer to the crock pot (or add raw directly to the crock pot to save a step).
  2. Add the zucchini, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, cannellini beans, green beans, vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, and parmesan rind if using to the crock pot.
  3. Season with salt and pepper, stir well, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until vegetables are tender.
  4. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the pasta and continue cooking until it is tender.
  5. Remove the bay leaf and parmesan rind. Stir in the fresh spinach and let it wilt for a few minutes.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with grated parmesan and fresh basil or parsley before serving.

Notes

For a vegan version, omit the parmesan rind and cheese topping or use a plant-based alternative. Add the pasta near the end of cooking to prevent it from becoming mushy, and freeze leftovers without the pasta for best texture when reheated.

Find it online: https://www.receipster.com/crock-pot-minestrone-soup/