Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup

(25)

This vegetable soup fills you up, keeps you satisfied and is an easy way to eat more vegetables.

Active Time:
35 mins
Additional Time:
4 hrs
Total Time:
4 hrs 35 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
  • This flavorful soup is packed with veggies and simple to make in a slow cooker—ideal for busy weeks!
  • Eating more vegetables can help you meet fiber goals, support beneficial gut bacteria and strengthen the immune system.
  • As an alternative, you can substitute Roma tomatoes with San Marzano tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.

If you're looking for an easy, tasty way to add more vegetables to your life, this Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup is it. Chock-full of a variety of antioxidant-rich vegetables, this soup has got "eat the rainbow" covered. Creamy white beans bring plant-powered protein to this soup, while Parmesan cheese rind adds a rich, earthy umaminess. A splash of red wine vinegar at the end balances the flavors out. We love adding a dollop of pesto to each bowl for an extra oomph of flavor and some heart-healthy fat. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to make this soup on the stovetop.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

  • Garnishes add flavor and dimension to vegetable soup. We add pesto as a finishing touch. Other garnishes to try are chopped fresh herbs, flavored oils, a dollop of yogurt, chopped roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes, or grated hard cheese like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano.
  • This recipe uses Roma tomatoes because they are meaty with fewer seeds. Another plum tomato variety you can use is San Marzano. Cherry tomatoes would also work.
  • The slow cooker is one of our favorite kitchen appliances, especially during busy weeks when preparing dinner can be challenging. Most recipes call for a 6-quart cooker, but the size you should buy ultimately depends on your needs. When choosing the size, remember that the cooker performs best when it's at least half full of ingredients.
  • Exclude the Parmesan rind if animal rennet is a concern.

Nutrition Notes

  • Most of us could use a few more servings of vegetables each week, and this soup is a delicious way to do just that. When we eat fruit and veggies, we get a plethora of anti-inflammatory antioxidants, essential nutrients and health benefits. Eating more vegetables can help you reach your fiber goals, too, which has the added benefit of feeding your beneficial gut bacteria, helping them thrive and bolster your immune system.
  • White beans are a great plant-based protein source. Eating more legumes like white beans has been linked with a healthier heart and gut, in part, thanks to their fiber content. White beans also provide potassium for healthy blood pressure and antioxidants for reduced inflammation.
  • Whether you choose chicken or vegetable broth, we recommend using a low-sodium option. Too much sodium over time has been implicated in high blood pressure—plus it can make your tissues swell, giving you an overall swollen or "puffy" feeling.
  • Pesto is typically made with olive oil, garlic and nuts—usually pine nuts or walnuts. It's also got Parmesan cheese and basil. All-in-all, pesto is a heart-healthy sauce or condiment that adds herby, briny flavor to this soup if you wish to use it. The healthy fat in pesto also helps slow down digestion, which, along with the fiber in the veggies and beans, helps stabilize blood sugar.
all ingredients on a countertop

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 medium carrots, chopped

  • 2 stalks celery, chopped

  • 12 ounces fresh green beans, cut into ½-inch pieces

  • 4 cups chopped kale

  • 2 medium zucchini, chopped

  • 4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 (15 ounce) cans no-salt-added cannellini or other white beans, rinsed

  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or low-sodium vegetable broth

  • 1 Parmesan rind (optional)

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar

  • 8 teaspoons prepared pesto

Directions

  1. Combine 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped celery stalks, 12 ounces green beans, 4 cups kale, 2 chopped zucchini, 4 chopped tomatoes, 2 minced garlic cloves, 15 ounces white beans, 4 cups broth, 1 Parmesan rind (if using), 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6 hours.

    overhead view of all ingredients in a slow cooker

    Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

  2. Remove Parmesan rind, if using. Stir in 2 teaspoons vinegar and top each serving of soup with 1 teaspoon pesto.

    Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup in a bowl

    Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Equipment

6-quart or larger slow cooker

Recipe Updates

Based on earlier reviews and comments on this recipe, we've retested and made the following adjustments (and updated the nutritional analysis accordingly):


Added an optional Parmesan rind (to boost flavor).

To make ahead

Prepare the soup through Step 1 and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or portion and freeze it for up to 6 months. Finish Step 2 just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What other types of vegetables can I use in the soup?

    We use onions, carrots, celery, green beans, kale, zucchini, tomatoes and garlic in our version, but there's room to get creative! Some other veggies that work well in vegetable soup are leeks, fennel, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, peas, corn, spinach and Swiss chard—the list goes on! If you feel experimental, a good rule of thumb is to pick a few veggies from the allium family (think onions, leeks and garlic) to start building the flavor. Move next to vegetables that add bulk, like carrots, peas and squash, and finally, 1 or 2 tender leafy greens that add texture, like spinach or kale.

  • Can I make this vegetable soup on the stovetop?

    We cook this vegetable soup in the slow cooker, which works well for busy days. You can assemble your dinner in the morning and have it ready 4 to 6 hours later. You can also cook it on the stovetop and have it ready in less time. Check out the stovetop version of this healthy soup recipe.

  • What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor?

    We add a Parmesan rind to give this soup a rich, umami taste. This is a great hack for building flavor, but if you don't have one, you can add a dash of soy sauce, tamari, nutritional yeast or extra spices to boost the flavor.

  • Can I freeze vegetable soup?

    This soup freezes well. However, cream-based soups and those containing chunks of potato generally do not. Make sure the soup has cooled to room temperature before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. It can be stored in the freezer for about 6 months, but it's always best to use it sooner. Remember to label the container with the name of the soup and the date it was frozen. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating it in the microwave or over medium heat on the stovetop.

  • What should I serve with Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup?

    We recommend serving this soup with a basket of warm rolls to soak up the delicious broth at the bottom of the bowl. Store-bought or homemade crackers also pair perfectly with soup. Be sure to try our recipes for Homemade Multi-Seed Crackers and Parmesan Crisps.

EatingWell.com, November 2017

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

174 Calories
4g Fat
26g Carbs
10g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 1/2 cups
Calories 174
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 26g 10%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 10g 21%
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Vitamin A 4134IU 83%
Vitamin C 30mg 34%
Folate 52mcg 13%
Sodium 714mg 31%
Calcium 102mg 8%
Iron 3mg 16%
Magnesium 87mg 21%
Potassium 763mg 16%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
Hilary Meyer,
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is a recipe developer, tester, and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.
Jan Valdez,

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.

and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.