Slow Cooker Mexican Minestrone Recipes

SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine vegetable broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, onion, celery, carrots, green beans, zucchini, garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, thyme, and black pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
• Stir spinach and macaroni into minestrone; cook another 15 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese.

SLOW-COOKER MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Combine the first 13 ingredients in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in beans, zucchini and pasta. Cook, covered, on high about 30 minutes longer, until pasta is tender. Discard bay leaves. If desired, top with grated Parmesan cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add water if necessary.

SLOW-COOKER MEXICAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta and spinach.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 9 hours (or on High heat setting 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes).
• Stir in pasta and spinach until spinach is wilted. If cooking on Low, increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 25 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Serve immediately for soup consistency, or let stand for thicker, stew-like consistency.

SLOW-COOKER VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Add the beans, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, celery, sweet potato, onion, crushed red pepper flakes, Parmesan rind, if using, 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and 4 cups water. Cover and cook until the beans are tender, 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
• Stir in the kale, cover and let simmer until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan. Serve with toasted baguette, if desired.
• If using pasta, spoon 1/2 cup cooked pasta into each bowl and ladle the soup on top. Store the pasta and soup in separate containers.

MEXI-STRONI SOUP

Steps:

• Place first 11 ingredients in a 6- or 7-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 7-9 hours. Stir in zucchini, cabbage, celery, beans and pasta. Cook, covered, on high until vegetables and pasta are tender, 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cilantro.

SPRUCED-UP SLOW COOKER MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Transfer beef to a slow cooker.
• Add pinto beans, minestrone soup, corn, green beans, diced tomatoes, and diced tomatoes and green chiles. Stir and close the lid.
• Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 4 hours.