Slow-Cooked Minestrone Soup

When this colorful minestrone has about 30 minutes left to cook, I add the macaroni. Then there's time to make some garlic bread and a simple salad.

Slow-Cooked Minestrone Soup

Average Rating: 4.75

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Cook: 7 hours
YIELD: 10 servings.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup cubed deli ham
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1 small carrot, chopped
  • 1 celery rib, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

Instructions

  • 1. In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first nine ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cook for 6-8 hours or until vegetables are almost tender.
  • 2. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir in the macaroni. Cover and cook until macaroni is tender. Stir in the tomatoes and spinach; heat through.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 112 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 885mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 8g protein.