Crock Pot Beef Minestrone Soup

This Crock Pot Beef Minestrone Soup is a hearty and vegetable-packed recipe, which includes ground beef and diced tomatoes. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in about 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Crock Pot Beef Minestrone Soup Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can, do not drain)
• 2 cups carrots, chopped
• 2 cups potatoes, chopped
• 1½ cups celery, chopped
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 4 cups beef stock
• 2 cups water
• 3 cups tomato juice
• 15 ounces red kidney beans (1 can, drained and rinsed)
• 15 ounces cannellini beans (1 can, drained and rinsed)
• 1½ cups zucchini, diced
• 1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked
• 15 ounces green beans (1 can, drained)

How To Make Crock Pot Beef Minestrone Soup

1. Brown the beef: In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until completely browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
2. Add main ingredients to slow cooker: Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker. Add diced tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour in liquids: Add beef stock, water, and tomato juice. Stir to combine.
4. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for 3–4 hours.
5. Add final ingredients: After cooking, stir in kidney beans, cannellini beans, zucchini, ditalini pasta, and green beans.
6. Finish cooking: Cook on high for an additional 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender.

Recipe Tips

• Can I use a different type of pasta?
  Yes, elbow macaroni or small shells work well as substitutes for ditalini.
• How to keep pasta from overcooking:
  Add pasta near the end of cooking to prevent it from becoming mushy.
• Can I make this vegetarian?
  Skip the ground beef and use vegetable broth instead of beef stock.
• What’s the best ground beef to use?
  Choose lean ground beef, ideally 90% lean or higher, to avoid excess grease.
• Can I use fresh green beans?
  Yes, just chop and add them in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

What To Serve With Beef Minestrone Soup

This hearty soup pairs well with comforting, simple sides:

• Crusty Italian bread
• Grated Parmesan cheese on top
• Mixed green salad
• Garlic knots
• Toasted baguette slices

How To Store Beef Minestrone Soup

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Freeze: Cool completely and freeze in individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Beef Minestrone Soup Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 394 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 64g
• Protein: 29g
• Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 35mg
• Sodium: 1218mg
• Potassium: 1660mg
• Fiber: 14g
• Sugar: 12g
• Vitamin A: 6315 IU
• Vitamin C: 37mg
• Calcium: 159mg
• Iron: 8mg

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I cook this soup overnight?
Yes, set your crock pot on low for 6–8 hours and add pasta and beans in the morning.

How to thicken minestrone soup?
Let it simmer uncovered slightly longer or mash a few of the potatoes or beans for a thicker texture.

Can I make this gluten-free?
Use gluten-free pasta and double-check your broth and canned goods for hidden gluten.

Is this soup spicy?
No, but you can add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños if you want heat.

What’s a good substitute for tomato juice?
You can use V8 or blend canned tomatoes with a little water.

Try More Recipes:

• Crock Pot Beef Mechado
• Crock Pot Beef Manhattan
• Crock Pot Beef Lo Mein

Crock Pot Beef Minestrone Soup

Recipe by Robert Course: SoupsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

8

hours 

15

minutes

Calories

394

kcal

A hearty and satisfying slow cooker soup loaded with beef, vegetables, beans, and pasta in a tomato-based broth.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
  

• 2 cups carrots
  

• 2 cups potatoes
  

• 1½ cups celery
  

• 1 yellow onion
  

• 3 tsp minced garlic

• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  

• 1 tsp salt
  

• ½ tsp pepper
  

• 4 cups beef stock
  

• 2 cups water
  

• 3 cups tomato juice
  

• 15 oz red kidney beans
  

• 15 oz cannellini beans
  

• 1½ cups zucchini
  

• 1 cup ditalini pasta
  

• 15 oz green beans

Directions

• Brown ground beef in a skillet. Drain if needed.
  
• Add beef, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, seasoning, salt, and pepper to slow cooker.
  
• Pour in beef stock, water, and tomato juice. Stir well.
  
• Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
  
• Stir in kidney beans, cannellini beans, zucchini, pasta, and green beans.
  
• Cook on high for an additional 15 minutes, until pasta is tender. Serve warm.