Slow Cooker Minestrone with Quinoa
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This slow cooker minestrone soup with quinoa is filled with fresh veggies and quinoa and bonus – practically makes itself in the slow cooker!
Hey Rachel Cooks readers! Hopefully you remember me from Rachel’s 2015 Vision Plan post from last week but if not, I’m Taylor from greens & chocolate. I am so excited to be contributing to Rachel Cooks once a month and I hope you are ready for a ton of fun, wholesome, and healthy slow cooker recipes!
I love the slow cooker because after a long day at my job as a physical therapist, I am ravenous when I get home. Using my slow cooker means I don’t have to think about what I have to make once I get home and also that I don’t have to wait for dinner to cook. Win, win!
The problem with a lot of slow cooker recipes that I come across is that they often utilize cans of condensed milk or are generally heavy dishes. While I’m not opposed to those every once in awhile (hint: next months recipe involves chocolate!) I’m especially trying to lighten things up this month after my fair share of indulging over the holidays.
After a month-long of eating basically anything and everything that was put in front of me, I am more than ready to get back to my usual healthy eating with the occasional indulgence instead of the occasional healthy meal among countless dinners out and way too many Christmas cookies. It doesn’t help that all the baby wants (I’m pregnant!) is burgers, hot sauce, and Chinese food.
So the times when the cravings for junk food hit are exactly when I need something simple and quick for dinner to keep me moving the right direction on the healthy-eating train. Enter: Slow Cooker Minestrone with Quinoa.
When I think of minestrone I think of a ton of veggies and pasta noodles in vegetable broth. While I love my Butternut Squash and Kale Minestrone, I kept the veggies more traditional sticking to green beans, tomatoes, celery, carrots, and peas, and changed the pasta to quinoa.
Along with being nutrient-packed, this minestrone is made in the slow cooker, making it super easy and gives you no excuse at the end of the day not to eat a healthy dinner. Aside from some chopping of the veggies, you just let the slow cooker do the work for you all day long. All you need to do to serve is ladle it into a bowl, sprinkle with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, and soup is on!
Do you have any new year goals to eat healthier or are you just looking to clean up your diet after the holidays, like I am?
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion (about 1 large yellow onion)
- 1 cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks celery)
- 1 cup diced carrots (about 2 carrots)
- 1 1/2 cup diced zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 2 cups frozen green beans
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1 (14 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14 oz ) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 3/4 cup dry quinoa
- fresh parsley, chopped, for topping
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Place everything in slow cooker, except for the parsley and Parmesan cheese.
- Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Serve topped with chopped fresh parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- To make vegan and dairy-free, do not top with cheese.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Gail L. says
I made this recipe today (this morning) and I have to say the results were delicious! It’s like magic, because the seasonings are simple as well as the ingredients, someone waved a wand over it while it was cooking!
Well done!
Gail L. says
I forgot to rate it….5 stars!
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks so much!
Rachel Gurk says
So glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
denise says
perfect for a fall day
Rachel Gurk says
Very!
christel says
how much is a serving o the soup
Rachel Gurk says
1/8th of the recipe
Lauren says
I tried to make this in a standard 6.5 qt slow cooker and the ingredients definitely do not fit. Not even close. I had to scoop out at least half the beans and peas to get this to work. Perhaps include the size of your slow cooker next time.
Philia Kelnhofer says
Love this Taylor! Sounds absolutely fantastic, and perfect for the extreme cold we’re having here in Wisconsin!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I love all of the veggies and healthy protein! Plus there’s nothing quite like coming home to a warm meal that’s ready to eat. Sounds amazing!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love soup. The slow cooker is my friend. Great recipe!!
Sues says
I love adding quinoa to soups and this one looks totally chock full of goodness! I love that you can make it in a slow cooker, too :)
denise says
sounds easy and foolproof!
Megan Kohrs says
Taylor, this recipes is calling my name! Quinoa and all the flavors we love. Definitely making this one soon!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Such a yummy and healthy looking soup! I love this!