There are few things as comforting on a cold winter day as a bowl of homemade soup.
Our busy weeknights are usually too rushed for simmering soup on the stove, though. That’s why I love this slow cooker Minestrone. It just requires a few minutes to prep and saute the vegetables before throwing everything into a slow cooker and putting a lid on it. If you have a slow cooker with a stovetop-safe insert, then this minestrone recipe becomes a one-pot meal! And who doesn’t love having fewer dishes to wash? This one from All-Clad has been on my wishlist for a while. After a little searching on Amazon, I found this one from Ninja that allows you to saute right in the slow cooker – no need to move the insert from stovetop to slow cooker! It’s half the price of the All-Clad one I’ve been eying, so I may give it a try first.
This minestrone is full of fresh veggies and lots of seasoning. The beans and pasta keep bellies warm and full, perfect for a cold winter evening!

Slow Cooker Minestrone
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup italian dressing
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 2 carrots peeled & chopped
- 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 15 oz. can cannellini beans drained
- 1 15 oz. can red kidney beans drained
- 32 oz. chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups small pasta (like elbow macaroni or ditalini) uncooked
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- salt & pepper
Instructions
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In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
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Add onion, celery, and carrots to the skillet and cook until crisp-tender, (about 3-4 minutes) stirring occasionally.
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Move the vegetables/dressing mixture to the slow cooker.
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Add diced tomatoes, beans, chicken broth, water, and Italian seasoning, stirring the ingredients together before covering with the lid.
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Cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or LOW for 6 hours.
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Stir in the pasta and baby spinach, cooking for an additional 10-15 minutes, until pasta is tender.
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Season with salt & pepper to taste. Garnish bowls with parmesan cheese just before serving.
I like to serve the minestrone with plenty of parmesan cheese and a good loaf of crusty bread.
Wayne Horton
March 6, 2019 at 8:08 pmI was wondering if you ever used tofu in a soup?
I haven’t had minestrone soup in years. We will have to try it!
Emilee Wright
March 6, 2019 at 10:03 pmI actually haven’t ever cooked with tofu before. If you try it in this, let me know how it turns out!