Beef Minestrone Soup Recipe
This hearty beef minestrone soup is full of fresh vegetables and tender beef and can be prepared in the slow cooker.
Serving8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 can, do not drain
- 2 cups carrots, chopped
- 2 cups potatoes, chopped
- 1½ cups celery, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups beef stock
- 2 cups water
- 3 cups tomato juice
- 15 ounces red kidney beans, 1 can (drained and rinsed)
- 15 ounces cannellini beans, 1 can, (drained and rinsed)
- 1½ cups zucchini, diced
- 1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked
- 15 ounces green beans, 1 can, (drained)
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, brown ground beef until completely cooked.
- Place your ground beef, diced tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper into your slow cooker.
- Add in beef stock, water, and tomato juice.
- Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- After cooking time is up, add in red kidney beans, cannellini beans, zucchini, pasta, and green beans. Cook on high heat for an additional 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.
Notes
Lean Ground Beef. Ground Beef is definitely preferred in this recipe I go for as lean of ground beef as the store offers. Many stores carry ground beef that is 80 percent lean 20 percent fat. I always try to find a beef that is 10 percent fat, or lower.
To make this recipe in the Instant Pot, there are a few modifications. The recipe is just a little too big for my 6-quart Instant Pot. Here are the changes you would make:
- Instead of adding all 4 cups of beef broth, only add 2 before it cooks! When it is done pressuring and cooking, go ahead and all the other 2 cups of beef broth in.
- Completely omit the 3 cups of water. I feel it gives it more flavor and makes it more of a chunky soup!
- Use pre-cooked lean ground beef.
- You are going to add EVERYTHING into your pressure cooker at once. Put it in your pressure cooker and push the manual button or pressure cook button for 6 minutes. When it is done, let it release on its own for about 15 minutes and then turn the knob to venting. Add 2 more cups of beef broth and serve with salt and pepper if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 394 kcal · Carbohydrates: 64 g · Protein: 29 g · Fat: 4 g · Saturated Fat: 2 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 35 mg · Sodium: 1218 mg · Potassium: 1660 mg · Fiber: 14 g · Sugar: 12 g · Vitamin A: 6315 IU · Vitamin C: 37 mg · Calcium: 159 mg · Iron: 8 mg