Slow Cooker Summer Vegetable Soup Recipe

4.18 from 35 votes

Slow Cooker Summer Vegetable Soup Recipe

This slow cooker summer vegetable soup (minestrone) is delicious hot and even better served as the Italians do during hot weather, at room temperature with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and sprinkling of Parmesan.

Prep Time30

Cook Time10 40

Total Time11 10

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: low-fat soup, slow cooker soup, vegetarian soup

Servings:

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups fresh chopped tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes
14 ounces canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
2 medium onions chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium zucchini, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
6 cups water or vegetable broth
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup long-grain white rice
1 cup chopped fresh basil
Extra-virgin olive oil, for serving, if desired
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese, for serving, if desired

Instructions

Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 5- to 6-Quart.
Combine the tomatoes, garbanzo beans, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, garlic, bell pepper, zucchini, water, 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste, stirring well.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 - 9 hours or on HIGH for 4 - 5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender.
Stir in the rice. Cover and cook on HIGH, 30 minutes longer, or until the rice is tender and the soup is thick.
Stir in the basil and let the soup cool to room temperature.
Taste and add more salt and pepper to suit your tastes. Spoon into bowls. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Serving size: 1-1/4 cups

WW Points: 1

Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)

3 SmartPoints (Green plan)

2 SmartPoints (Blue plan)

0 SmartPoints (Purple plan) (with brown rice)

5 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Additions, Substitutions and Variations:
Simply Filling?
Use brown rice.

No garbanzo beans?
Substitute whatever beans you like best—white beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, etc.

No fresh vegetables?
Substitute your favorite combination of frozen veggies if you don't have fresh on hand or are not in the mood for chopping.

Spicier?
Add crushed red pepper flakes to taste when serving.

Brighter?
A splash of red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar should work.

Nutrition