Slow Cooker Pasta and Bean Soup

This Pasta and Bean Soup recipe is hearty, delicious, and convenient. Spend 10 minutes building your flavors on the stove, then let the slow cooker do the rest of the work.

Course Soup

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 4 10

Total Time 4 20

Servings servings (2 cups each)

Calories 349kcal

Author Meggan Hill

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 slices bacon chopped
1 medium onion chopped
1 rib celery chopped
1 carrot peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
8 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried pinto beans soaked overnight (see note 1)
½ cup dried split peas rinsed and sorted (see note 2)
1 bay leaf
1 cup cavatappi pasta or other small pasta such as rotini or rigatoni
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add bacon, onion, celery, carrot, and garlic. Cook until vegetables have softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in broth, beans, peas, and bay leaf. Cover and bring to a boil; pour into slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 3 to 4 hours or LOW 7 to 8 hours.
Add pasta to slower cooker. Cover and cook about 10 minutes longer, until pasta is tender. Remove bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Notes

Pinto beans: To soak the beans overnight, place in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak at least 8 hours. Drain well and discard soaking liquid. To quick-soak the beans, place in a 2-quart saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain well and discard soaking liquid.
Split peas: Or substitute split red lentils (masoor dal).
Yield: This recipe makes about 10 cups of soup (or slightly more than that), enough for 5 generous servings, 2 cups each.
Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: The cooked, cooled soup can be packed in freezer-safe containers (I like glass Mason jars for this). Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Nutrition