Enjoy a comforting bowl of slow cooker chicken minestrone, perfect for a light and satisfying meal.
This easy crockpot soup recipe is packed with flavor and simple to prepare. It’s a hearty dish that comes together with minimal effort, making it ideal for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend dinner.
This recipe delivers on both taste and convenience, allowing you to set it and forget it while your slow cooker does all the hard work. The result is a delicious, wholesome soup that the whole family will love, brimming with tender chicken, vegetables, and pasta in a savory broth.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Minestrone
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes - 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Description
Enjoy a comforting bowl of slow cooker chicken minestrone, perfect for a light and satisfying meal. This easy crockpot soup recipe is packed with flavor and simple to prepare. It’s a hearty dish that comes together with minimal effort, making it ideal for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery. Saute for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. This step helps build a deeper flavor base for your soup.
2. Transfer the sauteed vegetables to your slow cooker. Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, crushed tomatoes, rinsed and drained cannellini beans, rinsed and drained kidney beans, chicken broth, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
3. Stir all the ingredients gently to combine. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. The chicken should be cooked through and easily shreddable when done.
4. Once the cooking time is complete, carefully remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
5. Stir the small pasta into the soup. Continue to cook on high for another 15-20 minutes, or until the pasta is tender to your liking. Keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking.
6. Stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts, which usually takes just a couple of minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or basil and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-6 hours
- Category: main dish
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: italian-american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
Keywords: minestrone, chicken, slow cooker, crockpot, soup, easy, comfort food, healthy, weeknight meal, meal prep
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This slow cooker chicken minestrone recipe is a true lifesaver for anyone seeking a delicious, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s perfect for busy parents, students, or anyone who appreciates the magic of a crockpot. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity: you toss the ingredients into the slow cooker, and it transforms into a flavorful, comforting soup. It’s a fantastic option for meal prepping, as it reheats beautifully, and the flavors only deepen over time. Serve it as a light yet satisfying main course, perhaps with a side of crusty bread, or as a hearty appetizer on a chilly evening. It’s also an excellent way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet in a way that feels indulgent and satisfying.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Making this slow cooker chicken minestrone is incredibly straightforward, relying on readily available ingredients you likely already have or can easily find at any grocery store. The key is using fresh, quality ingredients for the best flavor, but don’t hesitate to use frozen vegetables for convenience if that suits your schedule better. This recipe is designed to be flexible and forgiving, allowing for simple substitutions without compromising the delicious outcome.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup small pasta (such as ditalini or elbow macaroni)
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
For simple substitutions, feel free to use a mix of your favorite vegetables. Zucchini, green beans, or even corn can be excellent additions. If you don’t have cannellini or kidney beans, any white bean or even chickpeas would work well. Vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth for a vegetarian option, just omit the chicken or replace it with extra beans or hearty mushrooms. For the pasta, any small shape will do; just ensure it’s something that cooks relatively quickly.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal active effort. The prep work is quick and easy, allowing you to get the soup started without any fuss.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours on low, or 2-3 hours on high in the slow cooker
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (on high) to 6 hours 15 minutes (on low)
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this comforting slow cooker chicken minestrone is a breeze. Follow these simple steps for a perfect bowl every time.
- Prepare the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. This step helps build a deeper flavor base for your soup.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the sautéed vegetables to your slow cooker. Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, crushed tomatoes, rinsed and drained cannellini beans, rinsed and drained kidney beans, chicken broth, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Stir all the ingredients gently to combine. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. The chicken should be cooked through and easily shreddable when done.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the cooking time is complete, carefully remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- Add Pasta and Spinach: Stir the small pasta into the soup. Continue to cook on high for another 15-20 minutes, or until the pasta is tender to your liking. Keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts, which usually takes just a couple of minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or basil and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This slow cooker chicken minestrone is wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can use fun-shaped pasta like alphabet pasta or small shells, and ensure the vegetables are diced very finely. You can also offer a variety of toppings at the table, like extra Parmesan, a dollop of pesto, or even a swirl of cream, allowing everyone to customize their bowl.
To make it heartier, consider adding some small meatballs or Italian sausage (browned first) along with the chicken. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the chicken and add more beans or a can of drained diced tomatoes for extra body. This soup is fantastic for a casual family dinner, a potluck, or even a cozy lunch. Serve it with warm, crusty bread for dipping, a side salad, or garlic knots to complete the meal. It’s also a great option for a buffet, as it holds well on a “keep warm” setting in the slow cooker.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with a simple slow cooker recipe, a few common mistakes can impact the final result. One frequent slip-up is overcooking the pasta. To avoid mushy pasta, always add it in the last 15-20 minutes of cooking, and check for doneness frequently. Different pasta shapes and brands can vary in cooking time, so trust your taste buds.
Another common issue is blandness. Don’t forget to season generously with salt and pepper throughout the cooking process, and taste the soup before serving to make any final adjustments. The slow cooking process can sometimes mellow flavors, so a final seasoning boost is often needed. Also, resist the urge to peek too often! Lifting the lid of your slow cooker releases heat and can significantly extend the cooking time, so try to keep it covered as much as possible until it’s time to add the pasta.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This slow cooker chicken minestrone is fantastic for meal prep and stores beautifully. Once the soup has cooled completely, transfer it to airtight containers. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the soup for up to 2-3 months. If you plan to freeze it, it’s often best to cook the pasta separately or add it just before serving after reheating, as pasta can become mushy when frozen and thawed in soup.
To reheat, simply warm individual portions in the microwave or a larger batch on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. If the soup has thickened too much, you can add a splash of chicken broth or water to reach your desired consistency. Making it ahead allows the flavors to meld and deepen, often making the soup even more delicious the next day.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, you can use frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. However, it’s generally recommended to thaw chicken before adding it to the slow cooker to ensure even cooking and food safety. If using frozen, add an extra hour or two to the cooking time on low.
What if I don’t have cannellini or kidney beans? Any white bean, like great northern beans or even chickpeas, would be a suitable substitute. Feel free to use what you have on hand.
Can I make this vegetarian? Absolutely! Omit the chicken and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. You can add extra vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers, or more beans for a heartier vegetarian option.
How do I prevent the pasta from getting mushy? The key is to add the pasta during the last 15
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
