Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe (Instant Pot directions too!) (2024)

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This is by far the BEST Slow Cooker Minestrone soup – a classic, hearty Italian soup with tomatoes, white beans, vegetables and pasta.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe (Instant Pot directions too!) (1)

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

This soup recipe is SO easy to make in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot (directions provided for both). If you don’t like buying extra appliances, no worries you can check out my stove top minestrone soup recipe. One thing I love about this soup, I puree the beans which thickens which is also great for picky eaters. Adding the rind from a wedge of parmesan or Romano cheese is my tip for adding extra flavor! I always stash them in my freezer just for soups, if you don’t have one toss some grated cheese into the soup while it’s cooking.

Helpful Cooking Tips

To keep the pasta al dente, I cook the pasta separate and add it to each bowl when I serve it, rather than throwing it in the soup which winds up soaking up all the broth. It’s totally your call, you can also just add the pasta to the soup at the end.

Freezer Directions

You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Let it cool then transfer to freezer-safe containers.

Minestrone Soup Variations:

  • Swap the spinach for Swiss chard or baby kale.
  • To keep this low-carb, omit the pasta, you honestly won’t miss it with everything else in this soup.
  • Add some mini turkey meatballs, or even some sauteed crumbled turkey sausage.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe (Instant Pot directions too!) (2)

More Soup Recipes You Will Love

  • Turkey Chili Taco Soup
  • Chicken Enchilada Soup
  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup
  • Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe (Instant Pot directions too!) (3)

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe

4.94 from 101 votes

This is by far the BEST Italian minestrone soup in the slow cooker, a classic, hearty Italian soup with tomatoes, white beans, vegetables and pasta.

Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe (Instant Pot directions too!) (4)

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 45 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 8 servings

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy)
  • 32 oz container reduced sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth for vegetarians
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes
  • Parmesan cheese rind, optional
  • 1 fresh rosemary sprig
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt and fresh black pepper
  • 1 medium zucchini, 8 oz each, diced
  • 2 cups chopped fresh, or frozen defrosted spinach
  • 2 cups cooked small pasta such as ditalini, al dente (or GF pasta)
  • extra parmesan cheese for garnish, optional

Instructions

Slow Cooker Version:

  • Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 15 minutes.

  • Transfer to the crock pot along with the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, basil and parsley, cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

  • Forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/4 cups soup into 8 bowls with 1/4 cup pasta in each and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Stove Top Directions:

  • Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 15 minutes.

  • Add the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, basil and parsley, cover and cook on low 40 minutes. Add the zucchini and spinach, cover and simmer until the zucchini is tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.

  • Remove the bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/4 cups soup into 8 bowls with 1/4 cup pasta in each and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Instant Pot Directions:

  • Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender. Press saute in the Instant Pot and heat oil. Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 10 minutes.

  • Add the remaining broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, bay leaves, basil and parsley, cover and cook high pressure 20 minutes.

  • Quick release, add the pasta, zucchini and spinach and cook high pressure 4 minutes. Quick release so the pasta doesn't overcook.

  • Remove the bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Ladle 1-1/2 cups soup into 8 bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 1/2 cups, Calories: 190 kcal, Carbohydrates: 32 g, Protein: 9 g, Fat: 3 g, Sodium: 483 mg, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 4 g

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Categories:

  • Dinner Ideas
  • Fall
  • Freezer Meals
  • Gluten Free
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Kid Friendly
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  • Pasta Recipes
  • Pressure Cooker Recipes
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Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Recipe (Instant Pot directions too!) (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to cook in Instant Pot vs crockpot? ›

Cooking meat in the slow cooker usually takes 6 to 8 hours, but it will only take about 30 minutes in the Instant Pot.

What is the soup setting on the Instant Pot? ›

Locate the soup setting on your Instant Pot control panel. It is usually labeled with a soup icon or the word “soup”. Press the button to activate the setting. The Instant Pot will automatically adjust the time and temperature for cooking soup.

What are the settings on a Crockpot slow cooker? ›

Most slow cookers have two slow cooker temperature settings. The 'Low' cook setting reaches temperatures between 164-182°F (reaching a peak of around 205°F after 4 hours). Wondering what temperature is 'High' on a Crockpot slow cooker? The 'High' cook setting tops off at around 205°F after cooking for 4 hours.

Is slow cooker same as Crockpot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker.

Which is better slow cooker or pressure cooker? ›

Slow cookers are much better for cooking root vegetables and tough cuts of meat because the long, low-temperature cooking process is great for adding moisture and breaking down fat. Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't.

Do pressure cookers cook faster than crock pots? ›

Like slow cookers, pressure cookers can also be used to make excellent meals. Unlike slow cookers, pressure cookers work quickly for short cooking times.

What is the thickening agent for minestrone? ›

Use Tomato Paste For A Hearty, Thick Minestrone

You can prepare it at home or buy it in a tube and mix it with other food ingredients as needed. If your minestrone is too thin, add a few tablespoons of tomato paste while it's cooking. Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons, stir well, and see how it turns out.

How do you make minestrone soup thicker? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What is a interesting fact about minestrone soup? ›

Minestrone is one of the cornerstones of Italian cuisine, and may even be more widely dispersed and enjoyed throughout Italy than pasta. The soup was initially made from small things leftover from previous meals, combined so as not to waste perfectly good food.

What temp is a slow cooker on high? ›

The high setting on a Crock-Pot is between 170 and 280 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range will cook the food quicker, but it is more likely to overcook or dry out the food. We recommend using this setting only when you're in a hurry or if your Crock-Pot doesn't have a low setting.

Do you vent or seal a slow cooker? ›

#1 Use the Right Lid

If you do choose to just use the standard lid that is meant to seal tightly and keep all moisture in, just make sure you open the valve to “venting” so some of the moisture and steam can escape while slow cooking or you could overcook your slow cooker recipes.

What is the temperature of a slow cooker on low? ›

The low setting on a slow cooker typically corresponds to a temperature range of about 190°F to 200°F (88°C to 93°C). This gentle and prolonged cooking at a low temperature allows for flavors to develop and meats to become tender over several hours.

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