Slow-Cooker Minestrone

Name: Slow-Cooker Minestrone
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 6 h 30 min
Total time: 6 h 50 min
Yield: 12 servings (4 quarts)
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 1 carton (32 ounces) vegetable or chicken stock; 3 cups V8 or tomato juice; 2 cups water; 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 2 medium carrots, chopped; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 medium onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 bay leaves; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained; 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained; 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) cut green beans, drained; 1 small zucchini, chopped; 1 cup uncooked ditalini or other small pasta; Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Cook: 6-1/2 hours

Yield 12 servings (4 quarts)

Test Kitchen Approved

This slow-cooker minestrone soup recipe offers all the comfort and deliciousness of a homemade soup. It's incredibly easy to make and requires very little attention once it's in the slow cooker. How's that for a great meal idea?

Ingredients

1 carton (32 ounces) vegetable or chicken stock
3 cups V8 or tomato juice
2 cups water
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) cut green beans, drained
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 cup uncooked ditalini or other small pasta
Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions

Combine the first 13 ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in beans, zucchini and pasta. Cook, covered, on high about 30 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. If desired, top with cheese.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/3 cups: 165 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 813mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 6g fiber), 7g protein.

There's nothing quite like the comfort of warm homemade soup, and it's even better when your slow cooker will do most of the work for you! This minestrone is easy to put together but has all the flavor of a high-effort dish. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois

Recipe Creator

Community Cook