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You have to try this super easy dump-and-go slow cooker minestrone soup that is loaded with hearty, fiber-rich vegetables. It tastes amazing – way better than the can!
*Please note* this post was originally published in 2018. I’ve redone the text and added Instant Pot instructions.
You guys, my 3 year old has the most incredible memory. It’s hilarious! It’s almost become a game. This morning, I noticed that the earplugs I keep by my side of the bed were missing (my husband SNORES), and I asked Oscar if he knew where they were. He didn’t even skip a beat before responding “yes, they’re behind Dad’s radio on the floor”. This is like, the most obscure place they could be. But he was right.
The other day I couldn’t find Wally’s toothbrush, and Oscar saw me looking for it and told me to look under Wally’s crib. Yup, there it was. So funny! I don’t know if it’s just a 3 year old thing, but it’s awesome. He’s actually so helpful sometimes.
Anyway, how was your weekend? We ended up getting a sitter Friday night so we could go out and celebrate a friend’s birthday, and then the rest of the weekend was pretty low-key. I was SO productive on Sunday! There was tons of cleaning, cooking and baking. I even made a crazy good no-churn ice cream that I can’t wait to share with you all! After Sundays like that, I love, LOVE having an easy meatless Monday meal for the next day. This slow cooker minestrone soup is the easiest!
How do you make crockpot minestrone soup?
This soup is truly a “dump and go” crockpot recipe. I bet you have most of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge already! PS – don’t you hate when people say that and then the ingredients listed are something really random?
Anyway, this recipe really is made with pantry staples; diced tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, tomato paste, stock and of course, noodles! Add everything into the slow cooker, other than the pasta and green beans, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours (or 3 to 4 on high).
30 minutes or so before you plan to eat, add the pasta and green beans. Top the soup with parmesan cheese before serving!
It does make a TON of soup, but I actually like making a huge batch so I can freeze the other half for later. I’m big into freezing extras these days (baby prep)!!
Can you make this soup in the Instant Pot?
Yes! To make this soup in the Instant Pot, add all of the ingredients except for the canned beans and cheese, and cook on manual pressure on high for 3 minutes. Release the pressure naturally for 5 minutes before performing a quick release. Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode on high, and then add the beans, letting everything cook together for 2-3 minutes. Serve with the parmesan cheese!
This soup is pretty flavorful, but feel free to add extra seasonings or some spice if you like things spicy! Oh, and don’t forget the garlic butter breadsticks on the side. 🙂
Some of my other favorite soup recipes from the blog:
- sausage gnocchi soup
- creamy roasted tomato basil soup
- spicy Thai chicken noodle soup
- Instant Pot loaded cauliflower soup
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
Description
You have to try this super easy dump-and-go slow cooker minestrone soup that is loaded with hearty, fiber-rich vegetables.
Ingredients
- 1 large can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) navy (white) beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 parmesan rind
- 6 cups vegetable stock
- 2 cups water
- Â 1 cup frozen green beans (thawed)
- 1 1/2 cups ditalini pasta
- grated parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- To the slow cooker, add the diced tomatoes, white and red beans, carrots, celery, onion, tomato paste, garlic, and seasonings. Add the parmesan rind, along with the vegetable stock and water, and stir with a large spoon to combine. Set the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Roughly 30 minutes before you plan to eat, add the pasta and thawed green beans, and stir to combine; the pasta will cook in this time.
- Serve with grated parmesan cheese on top, and my easy garlic butter breadsticks!
Leftovers should be cooled completely before being stored in an airtight container, for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Notes
*For Instant Pot instructions, see the post text above
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: soup
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Want more easy, soul-warming recipes?
Try my easy leftover white chicken chili!
Hahaha! Can you send Oscar down here for a few days? Maybe he could help me find all of Cookie’s toys that have somehow disappeared. I’d ask you to send some minestrone with him because this looks SO good, but I know you’ll be needing all the extras in a few weeks :). Have a wonderful rest of your day, Katherine!
Haha YES – I bet he would find them all. It’s bizarre what that guy remembers! Ah thank you, Kelsie! We will definitely need a lot of freezer foods!! Enjoy your day too, my friend! XO
Sometimes I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, lol 😀 Sounds like you had a lovely weekend! They always go too fast, don’t they?? How could I ever forget those yummy breadsticks to go with this fabulous soup? You can never go wrong with those one pot recipes where everything goes in and way to go! This would go over so well today since it’s a snow day. Have a great week, my friend! XO
Haha me too Dawn – when someone asks what I did on the weekend I usually give them a blank stare, lol! The weekends really do fly by! I love the one pot recipes too – it makes my life so much easier! Thanks friend! Hope things warm up for you out there! 🙂
Perfect with the breadsticks on the side. Such a hearty, comforting winter meal Katherine!
You definitely the breadsticks 😉 Thanks friend! It is great for these cold winter days 🙂
I was thinking as I was reading your post that your breadsticks would be perfect with this soup! Love minestrone soup, and I love being able to add it to the slow cooker and walk away! It snowed here yesterday so I could definitely go for a warm bowl of soup right now! Enjoy the rest of your week Katherine!
Too funny – it’s certainly a breadstick-worthy soup!! I love using the slow cooker too, it makes my life so much easier on some days! Thank you Leanne – I hope you have a great week too!
I haven’t had minestrone in ages and yours looks so tasty! Love that it’s made in the crockpot…
It sounds like Oscar has a great memory and is really observant. It’s fun to recognize kid’s natural abilities and wonder how they’ll play a part as they grow up…
I used to think minestrone was just the type you get in the small can 😉 This one is much better!! He is a very observant little boy, it’s actually quite amazing. It is so fun to watch him grow!!
This soup looks so comforting Kathy, can’t go wrong with minestrone and I love the fact that it’s so easy to make. On a side note, I’m gonna start copying that idea of earplugs in the bed 🙂
Haha! They’ve become a bit of a crutch – but it really helps if you’ve got a snorer next to you!! Thanks Maria – hope you’re having a great week!
We’re kind of on the same page today Katherine, haha. Love this kind of soup – thick, lots of good things, and so satisfying. That’s the quintessence of a winter dish to me. Also, it’s just perfect for almost the end of winter – 3 weeks until official spring (dancing) 🙂
Woo! I like when our minds think alike 🙂 I’m so with you on the dancing for spring – it can’t come quick enough!! Thanks Ben!
Oscar is becoming such a big helper! My son used to love to vacuum when he was around 3 years old, so we bought him his own little vacuum cleaner. This soup looks wonderful! It’s a perfect dish to make at the beginning of the week to keep around as a quick, light and healthy go-to option for me during the week.
That is SO cute, Thao. I’ve actually heard from a few people that they bought their toddler vacuums, haha we might need to follow suit! Thank you!! It is definitely a quick and healthy option for dinner! The slow cooker makes my life easier 🙂
loving how cozy this sounds!!! i’ve been more in a cozy food mood this past week than all of nov-mid feb. and haha who needs those bluetooth trackers that help you find lost things when you have a 3 year old? (;
I’m with you Heather!! Maybe it’s because we’re anticipating spring that everything feels colder!? Haha – true – except I think I need a Bluetooth tracker ON my 3 year old 🙂
That’s such a cute story about Oscar remembering everything! I swear, my teens remember everything EXCEPT their chores. LOL I love minestrone soup and I pretty much always have everything I need to make it. This looks so good and I want to make a big batch this weekend!
Hah! I know I have that to look forward to 😉 I love minestrone too – I hope you get a chance to try it! It makes the best leftovers!! Thanks Marcie!