This Crockpot minestrone soup recipe is fairly flexible and can easily be customized to suit pretty much whatever is taking up space in your produce drawer. I like to add Italian sausage to this Crockpot tortellini soup, but if you omit the sausage and use different pasta then it’s vegan and vegetarian! We love soup night in our house! Some other recipes you may also like are my Green Chicken Chili Soup, Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup, and Easy Italian Wedding Soup. Here’s what you’ll need to make this slow-cooker minestrone soup:
Italian sausage: I like the spicy/hot Italian sausage, but you can use your favorite. Crushed tomatoes: canned crushed tomatoes is an affordable pantry staple! Sun-dried tomato pesto (optional) Vegetable stock (or chicken broth) Beans: I used canned Kidney beans and great northern but you can use dried beans if you have the time to soak them. Zucchini: a great way to use up a seasonal vegetable Tortellini (or any small pasta of choice such as orecchiette, elbow or small shell pasta)
To the insert of your Crockpot, add in the cooked Italian sausage, crushed tomatoes, pesto, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, seasonings, and bay leaves. Then, stir in the vegetable stock and water. Cover and cook these ingredients for 6 to 8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. Then, add in the kidney beans, great northern beans, zucchini, green beans, and spinach. Let the minestrone soup cook for another 20 minutes, then stir in the cooked tortellini and serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
How long does Crockpot minestrone soup need to cook?
Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3-4.
Can I add other veggies to this Crockpot tortellini soup?
Yes, minestrone soup is traditionally a soup made of mixed veggies and beans so you can play around with what you feel like adding to it! Potatoes, butternut squash, yellow squash, peas, etc. Have some fun in the kitchen.
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Yes, any type of other pasta noodle works. Orecchiette, elbow or small shell pasta would be particularly good. I like the little tube pasta for minestrone as well!
Can I freeze Crockpot minestrone soup?
Yes! Just be sure to leave the noodles out to the side. When you’re ready to eat, thaw the soup and add the tortellini in then.
Tips for the best minestrone soup recipe
I love adding the tortellini in right before we sit down to eat. If you add the noodles in while the Crockpot minestrone cooks, it tends to soak up the liquids and the noodles get mushy. You can use chicken or beef broth instead of vegetable broth if you don’t have any veggie broth on hand. You can also add a variety of different proteins, like ground turkey, Italian Sausage, ground beef, or lamb. Bacon, ham or sausage are also options. You can even make mini meatballs to go in the soup too! Or, maybe you have leftover chicken breast. Cube the chicken up and mix it in the soup!
