Description

This Slow Cooker Vegetable Minestrone is a nutrient-dense, vegetable-packed soup that simmers in a slow cooker, delivering a thick, hearty texture and robust flavor. It's perfect for meal prepping, and requires minimal cleanup, allowing you to focus on your day while it cooks itself.

Ingredients

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2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 medium Yellow Onion, diced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
2 large Carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
2 stalks Celery, sliced
1 cup Green Beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium Zucchini, diced
1 can (15 oz) Diced Tomatoes (no salt added)
1 can (15 oz) Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz) Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
6 cups Organic Vegetable Broth (low sodium)
2 teaspoons Dried Oregano
1 teaspoon Dried Basil
1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 cup Small Pasta (such as ditalini or elbow)
2 cups Fresh Baby Spinach or Chopped Kale
Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Optional: Fresh Parsley and Extra Virgin Olive Oil for garnish

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Instructions

Place the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Diced Onion, minced Garlic, Carrots, and Celery into the bottom of your slow cooker
Incorporate the Green Beans, Diced Tomatoes (with their juices), Cannellini Beans, and Kidney Beans into the pot. Stir gently to combine the ingredients
Sprinkle the Dried Oregano, Dried Basil, Dried Thyme, Sea Salt, and Black Pepper over the mixture. Ensure an even distribution of the herbs
Add the Vegetable Broth until all ingredients are submerged, and give it one final stir
Cover the pot with the lid. Set your slow cooker to Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours
About 30 to 45 minutes before serving, add your Small Pasta directly into the slow cooker, ensuring it is submerged
Once the pasta is al dente, stir in the Fresh Baby Spinach or Chopped Kale until wilted
Ladle the soup into bowls and finish with a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a crack of fresh Black Pepper

Notes

For best results, avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain heat.

To keep pasta from becoming mushy, consider cooking it separately and adding it to individual bowls.

Taste and adjust seasoning before serving; a splash of lemon juice or balsamic vinegar can brighten the flavors.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 6-8 hours
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 245 kcal
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 540mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 9g
Protein: 11g
Cholesterol: 0mg