This Crockpot Vegetable Minestrone Soup is the perfect easy recipe for a chilly day. This soup is warming and hearty, filled with delicious plant-based ingredients.
*Originally published January 5, 2022 and updated with new copy and photos 1/19/23.
I'm a soup girl through and through. This year we have had more rainfall in California than I have ever experienced in my lifetime. Everyday I just want to warm up with a hearty bowl of soup. This vegetable minestrone soup is perfect for cold weather. A set it and forget it crockpot meal, this recipe couldn't be easier. Throw everything in the crockpot before work and then come home to a hearty, delicious and warming dinner!
For some more delicious soup recipes, check out this 15 Bean Cowboy Soup, this Vegan Split Pea Soup or this Low Carb Butternut Squash Soup!
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Why You'll Love This Minestrone Soup
- Hearty and Filling- Packed with healthy protein and filled with vegetables, this soup is hearty and filling!
- Budget Friendly-This soup is friendly on the wallet. Beans are an inexpensive staple in our house and perfect for doctoring up.
- Dump-and-Go Meal-This is the perfect easy dump-and-go meal for a busy day!
- Full of Flavor-Packed with flavor, from the tomatoes to the spices, you will love this!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Elbow Noodles- I like to use elbow noodles in this recipe, however you can use whatever noodles you prefer. Some other common types of noodles are ditalini or mini farfalle.
- Beans- My favorite types of beans to use in this recipe are kidney beans and cannellini beans. However, feel free to use your favorite canned beans in this recipe.
- Fresh Vegetables- Fresh vegetables are super important in this vegetable minestrone soup. I like to use celery, onion, carrots, green beans and zucchini. Feel free to add any other fresh vegetables that you like. Sometimes I add squash and spinach which are both great additions.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Step By Step Instructions
Step One: Finely chop the zucchini, onions, celery, and carrots. Add them to the crockpot along with the tomatoes, garlic, spices, broth, and beans. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-6 hours.
Step Two: 30 minutes before serving, add the frozen green beans, elbow noodles and 2 cups of water. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on high. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!
Recipe Serving Suggestions
This soup is hearty and filling enough on it's own, however here are some ideas of what to serve with it if you want a full meal!
- French Bread
- Chopped or Caesar Salad
- Cranberry Orange Fall Harvest Salad
- Focaccia Bread
- Garlic Bread
- Loaded Burger Bowl
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Check out this other delicious soup recipe!
Storage
- Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, see the top tips to find out how to keep the noodles from breaking down!
- Freezer: This minestrone is a great freezer-friendly meal and freezes well for up to 3 months. The best way to freeze this soup is to make it without the noodles and add the noodles when you reheat. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers. Always make sure to leave some space in the containers for expansion when it freezes. Let thaw before reheating. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags or containers.
- Reheat: Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through.
Top tips
- If you are making this soup for meal prep, I would encourage you to skip the step of adding the noodles and instead boil the noodles in a separate pot. Drizzle a little olive oil over the noodles and store in an airtight container. When reheating the soup, add the noodles to a bowl and then add the soup over the noodles. Doing this will help keep the noodles from breaking down and make the soup stretch much farther!
- Save time by prepping all the ingredients ahead of time! You can add all of the ingredients, minus the broth and noodles to a gallon size ziplock bag and store it in the refrigerator. Then in the morning, dump everything into the crockpot and cook. It makes prepping a breeze!
- I love to garnish my soup with some fresh cracked pepper and some vegan parmesan.
Recipe FAQ's
No, this Vegetable Minestrone Soup is not Whole30 or Paleo. Legumes are not allowed on the Whole30 diet and grains are not allowed on the paleo diet. While this plant-based minestrone soup is not Whole30 or Paleo, it is full of whole and nourishing ingredients and is fully plant-based.
While I didn't use gluten-free noodles when I made this, this Italian Minestrone Soup can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free noodles.
Yes! This plant-based minestrone soup can easily be made without beans. If you choose to make it without beans, feel free to bulk up the vegetables to keep this hearty.
More Soup Recipes
Crockpot Vegetable Minestrone Soup
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 cup elbow noodles
- 3 stalks celery
- 2 carrots
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 can can kidney beans 15.5 ounces
- 1 can can cannellini beans 15.5 ounces
- 2 small zucchini
- 1 can diced tomatoes 28 ounces
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup frozen green beans
Instructions
- Finely chop the zucchini, onions, celery, and carrots.
- Drain and rinse the beans
- Add everything to the crockpot EXCEPT the green beans, noodles, and water.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-6 hours.
- 30 minutes before serving, add the frozen green beans, elbow noodles and 2 cups of water. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on high.
- Ladle into bowls and enjoy!
Notes
- If you are making this soup for meal prep, I would encourage you to skip the step of adding the noodles and instead boil the noodles in a separate pot. Drizzle a little olive oil over the noodles and store in an airtight container. When reheating the soup, add the noodles to a bowl and then add the soup over the noodles. Doing this will help keep the noodles from breaking down and make the soup stretch much farther!
- Save time by prepping all the ingredients ahead of time! You can add all of the ingredients, minus the broth and noodles to a gallon size ziplock bag and store it in the refrigerator. Then in the morning, dump everything into the crockpot and cook. It makes prepping a breeze!
- I like to garnish this minestrone soup with fresh parsley and some fresh cracked pepper.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Zhen says
Minestrone soup is 1 of my Mom's faves- this is such a clever way to use red pepper pesto! Will have to make this for her
Gloria says
I love my slow cooker. This soup sounds hearty and delicious. Easy to make, and looks like it would freeze well too.
Rosanna says
I love a minestrone in cold weather it’s so comforting! Thanks so much for this, really handy to have a vegan version
Marysa says
I love pesto, and this soup sounds delicious. A perfect wintertime recipe. I haven't made minestrone in ages and I love what you chose for ingredients.
Michelle | Taste As You Go says
Minestrone soup is one of my family's favorite soups, especially now that we're in the cold winter months. I never thought to use red pepper pesto in it, though! I love the added depth of flavor that it adds to the soup. So good!
Sunrita says
Love such easy put together and cook dishes. This one is perfect with all the goodness and flavours.
Emily says
Great recipe. I just bought an Instant Pot, so I'm going to try that variation next time if I don't have time to slow cook it.
Christina's Bread Bakes says
Soup is my go-to dinner in the winter and this one is fantastic. Do not skip the pesto in this recipe, it creates a delicious flavor!
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says
I absolutely LOVE soup season. I am excited to have found this one! It was so flavourful and filling, even for my 2 ravenous teens 🙂
Gina Abernathy says
I love a good soup recipe. This looks like a nice hearty soup with great veggies. Not only comforting but good for you.
Gregory Halpen says
I love this! So clean and healthy. I think I have all the ingredients too. Definitely making it this weekend!
Bobbie says
So flavorful and easy to make!!
Jeannie says
The right meal to have after all the celebrations full with veggies
nancy says
one of my fav soups of all time
Kristina says
I've been making minestrone for years and never thought to add in some pesto. This is a great idea! Can you use regular pesto?
Gregory Halpen says
This soup looks so homey and warming! Perfect soup for the weather we’re about to get here in NYC. Delish!!
dave says
my wife made this the other night and I'm asking her to make it again tonight!
Megan Ellam says
One of my all-time favourite soups ever! Thanks so much for another delicious recipe Kayla!
Alexandra says
So comforting and delicious, this soup is simple to prepare and has such wonderful flavour!
Jerika says
I'm sure I will add this as one of my comfort foods. Our weather here now is a bit chilly in the mornings, so this Slow Cooker Vegan Minestrone Soup with Pesto is just perfect for this season. Thanks!:)
Brittany Fiero says
Hearty and perfect for these cold winter days! This soup is delicious.
Jacqui says
Minestrone is one of my absolute favorites! Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe.
Michelle says
Seriously one of my fave soups. This recipe turned out perfectly and so flavorful!
Agnieszka says
This recipe is genius! So easy and delicious and love that it's made in a slow cooker. Definitely making this soup again.
Addie says
Such a hearty and flavorful soup!