Crock Pot Minestrone Soup Recipe

There’s nothing quite like a warm, hearty bowl of Crock Pot Minestrone Soup simmering all day in your kitchen. This classic Italian-inspired soup is packed with colorful vegetables, tender pasta, and savory beans — all cooked low and slow for the perfect blend of flavor and comfort.

Whether you’re craving a cozy winter meal or looking for a healthy way to use up your veggies, this slow cooker minestrone is the perfect recipe. It’s completely customizable, freezer-friendly, and absolutely bursting with wholesome goodness.

Let’s dive into how to make this effortless crock pot version that tastes just like something from your favorite Italian café.

🥣 Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes (with juices)
• 1 (15 oz) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
• 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow)
• 2 cups baby spinach or kale (added at the end)
• Grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, for serving

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prep the Vegetables
Chop all vegetables into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.

2. Load Up the Crock Pot
Add olive oil, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, zucchini, green beans, diced tomatoes (with juices), kidney beans, cannellini beans, vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper into your slow cooker.

3. Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors meld beautifully.

4. Add the Pasta
In the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the pasta. Cover and let it cook until tender. (For firmer pasta, boil it separately and add before serving.)

5. Finish with Greens
Remove the bay leaf. Stir in baby spinach or kale and let it wilt into the hot soup for 5–10 minutes.

6. Serve & Enjoy!
Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve warm with crusty bread for a cozy, complete meal.

🍅 Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Minestrone

• Easy, hands-off cooking: The slow cooker does all the work!
• Healthy and hearty: Packed with fiber, protein, and vitamins.
• Budget-friendly: Uses simple pantry and fridge staples.
• Great for meal prep: Makes big batches and freezes perfectly.
• Comforting flavor: A soul-warming bowl that’s both light and filling.

🌿 Recipe Tips

1. Don’t overcook the pasta: Add it near the end so it doesn’t get mushy.
2. Boost the protein: Add cooked sausage, shredded chicken, or extra beans.
3. Make it vegan: Simply omit cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
4. Use fresh herbs if available: They brighten the flavor near the end of cooking.
5. Add a Parmesan rind: For a deeper, savory flavor, toss a rind into the pot while it cooks.

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

A hearty and healthy Italian-style soup made easy in your slow cooker, packed with fresh vegetables, beans, pasta, and herbs in a savory tomato broth.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8 bowls

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Calories: 180

Ingredients

  

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 3 carrots peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 zucchini chopped
• 1 cup green beans trimmed and cut
• 15 oz diced tomatoes with juices
• 15 oz red kidney beans drained and rinsed
• 15 oz cannellini beans drained and rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
• 0.5 tsp dried basil
• 0.5 tsp dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt to taste
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup small pasta like ditalini or elbow
• 2 cups baby spinach or kale added at end
• Parmesan cheese and basil for serving

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Ladle

Method

 

1. Add all ingredients except pasta and greens to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
3. Add pasta during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Stir occasionally.
4. Remove bay leaf, stir in greens, and let wilt for 5–10 minutes before serving.
5. Serve hot with Parmesan and fresh basil.

Notes

To freeze, omit pasta and add fresh pasta when reheating. For extra flavor, add a Parmesan rind during cooking.

🥦 Variations

• Tuscan Minestrone: Add chopped kale and white beans for a rustic Tuscan-style twist.
• Spicy Version: Stir in red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne for extra heat.
• Pesto Finish: Add a spoonful of pesto before serving for a fresh, herby kick.
• Meaty Option: Brown Italian sausage or pancetta before adding it to the crockpot.
• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta or rice instead of wheat-based pasta.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

This minestrone soup pairs beautifully with:

• Garlic bread or focaccia
• Parmesan-topped salad
• Roasted vegetables
• A glass of red wine or sparkling water with lemon

For a full Italian-inspired dinner, serve it alongside a light antipasto platter or finish the meal with a small dessert like tiramisu or almond biscotti.

🧄 Storage & Freezing

• Store: Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Freeze cooled soup (without pasta) for up to 3 months. Add freshly cooked pasta when reheating.
• Reheat: Warm on the stove or in the slow cooker until hot.

🇮🇹 A Little History of Minestrone

Minestrone, from the Italian word minestra (meaning soup), dates back to ancient Rome, where it was made with seasonal vegetables and legumes. It evolved over centuries as each region of Italy added its local ingredients — making every version unique.

This slow cooker take pays homage to the traditional recipe while making it modern, easy, and family-friendly. It’s a wholesome one-pot meal that brings the taste of Italy to your table — no passport required!

❤️ Why This Recipe Works

The beauty of this Crock Pot Minestrone Soup is in its simplicity. Every ingredient — from the humble carrot to the rich tomato broth — comes together in harmony after hours of gentle simmering.

The slow cooker locks in the flavor, ensuring a soup that tastes like it’s been lovingly tended to on the stove all day — but with almost no effort at all.

Serve it as a light dinner, a healthy lunch, or the start to a comforting Italian feast. Once you make it, it’ll become a staple in your cold-weather rotation!