Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup Italian Inspired Comfort in a Bowl

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup: Italian-Inspired Comfort in a Bowl

When it comes to simple and satisfying meals, few dishes can compare to a bowl of hearty minestrone soup. This classic Italian soup is packed full of vegetables, beans, and pasta, making it a complete meal in itself. The best part? You can easily make this delicious soup in your trusty slow cooker, allowing the flavors to meld together slowly and creating a rich and comforting dish that is perfect for any time of year.

Ingredients:

To make a delicious batch of slow cooker minestrone soup, you will need the following ingredients:

Vegetables:

- 1 onion, diced

- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced

- 2 stalks of celery, chopped

- 2 zucchinis, diced

- 1 cup of green beans, trimmed and chopped

Beans:

- 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed

- 1 can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Tomatoes:

- 1 can of diced tomatoes

- 1 can of tomato sauce

Herbs and Spices:

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1 tablespoon of dried oregano

- 1 tablespoon of dried basil

- Salt and pepper, to taste

Broth:

- 4 cups of vegetable broth

Pasta:

- 1 cup of small pasta, such as ditalini or elbow macaroni

Instructions:

1. In your slow cooker, combine the diced onion, sliced carrots, chopped celery, diced zucchinis, chopped green beans, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper.

2. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, cannellini beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth to the slow cooker, stirring to combine all the ingredients.

3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

4. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the small pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is tender.

5. Serve hot, topped with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.

Benefits of Slow Cooking:

One of the main advantages of using a slow cooker to make minestrone soup is that the long, slow cooking process allows the flavors of the vegetables, beans, and spices to meld together beautifully, creating a rich and complex flavor profile that is hard to achieve with traditional stovetop cooking methods. Additionally, slow cooking is a convenient way to prepare meals, as you can simply set it and forget it, allowing you to go about your day without having to worry about constantly stirring or checking on your dish.

Conclusion:

With its rich flavors, hearty ingredients, and simple preparation, slow cooker minestrone soup is the perfect dish to warm you up on a cold day or to enjoy as a light and satisfying meal any time of year. Give this Italian-inspired comfort food a try in your own kitchen and see why it is a favorite among home cooks everywhere.

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