Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone
Ingredients
- 2 tbspextra virgin olive oil
- 1 lblean ground beef
i use 90% lean
- ½ tspsalt
- to tastefreshly ground black pepper
- 1 cdiced sweet yellow onion
- 1 cpeeled and chopped carrot
- 1 cchopped zucchini
- 2ribs celery
chopped
- 2 tspminced garlic
- 4 clow-sodium beef broth
- 28 ozcan crushed italian seasoned tomatoes
- 1 tspdried basil
- 1 tspdried oregano
- ½ tspdried thyme
- 1bay leaf
- 15 ozcanned cannellini beans
rinsed and drained
- 15 ozcanned kidney beans
rinsed and drained
- 1 cditalini pasta
uncooked
- ½ cgrated parmesan
plus additional, for garnish
Directions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over MEDIUM heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring to break it up. Season with salt and pepper and cook until no longer pink. Drain off as much of the grease as possible and transfer the cooked beef to the slow cooker. Add the onion, carrot, zucchini, celery, garlic, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, thyme, and bay leaf to the slow cooker with the beef. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW 5 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
- 2
After initial cooking time, add the beans, ditalini pasta (uncooked), and Parmesan. Cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until pasta is al-dente.
- 3
Garnish individual servings with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone
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About this Recipe
When the craving for a truly comforting, hearty meal strikes, this Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone delivers. Packed with fresh vegetables, savory ground beef, and tender pasta, it’s a warming bowl that feels like a hug on a chilly evening. The magic of the slow cooker truly shines here, transforming simple, fresh ingredients into a deeply flavorful soup with minimal hands-on effort. By allowing the medley of vegetables, savory ground beef, and aromatic Italian herbs to slowly simmer together over hours, the broth develops an incredible richness and complexity. This extended cook time tenderizes the vegetables and melds the flavors beautifully, creating a comforting, satisfying meal that tastes like it simmered all day, without you having to stand over the stove. Prepare for a robust and savory experience, where every spoonful of this Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone offers a delightful balance of textures and deep flavors. You'll find tender ground beef, creamy cannellini beans, and hearty kidney beans alongside perfectly cooked ditalini pasta. All these ingredients swim in a rich, Italian-seasoned tomato-beef broth, infused with basil, oregano, and thyme. The blend of sweet onion, crisp carrot, fresh zucchini, and subtle celery contributes a wonderful freshness and varied texture, making this soup incredibly engaging to eat. This truly is a hearty dish designed to be a complete meal, providing a satisfying 293 calories per serving, leaving you feeling wonderfully full and content. While delicious as written, feel free to adapt the beans if needed. Cannellini beans can be swapped for other white beans like great northern, and kidney beans for pinto beans, maintaining the soup's robust character. If ditalini pasta is unavailable, small shells or elbow macaroni can be used as a suitable alternative. This comforting Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone is perfect for family dinners or a cozy night in. Serve it piping hot with a generous slice of crusty bread for dipping and a glass of your favorite wine for a truly complete and satisfying meal.