Crock Pot Sausage Minestrone Soup

My kids....eat like...Kids. Their dinners usually require being topped with cheese or come with a side of ketchup or ranch dressing and sometimes all of the above if it means they will eat something to relieve my ongoing concern that their only source of nutrition derives from frozen Go-Gurts!

I don't usually make meals that are claimed kid friendly, I make what I want and hope for the best or add cheese, ketchup, or ranch to make it more appealing to their highly trained palates. We are working on adding Guacamole to their list of toppings...

Parmesan seems to be their recent favorite which goes perfectly with this soup. My boys not only ate the soup, they licked the bowls. My husband, who loves minestrone, liked it as well and had seconds which is usually a sign of his seal of approval.

I highly suggest you serve this with garlic bread or my Fast and Simple Focaccia bread

You will also need a 6qt or larger crock pot - if not - half the recipe!

Crock Pot

Sausage Minestrone Inspired Soup

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds Italian ground sausage (mild or spicy - its up to you) - Browned and drained.

1 small red onion, chopped

4 carrots peeled and chopped

2 celery stalks , chopped

2  14.5 oz  cans of diced tomatoes (save the juice!)

2  cans of kidney beans - Drained and rinsed

1 can of white beans - Drained and rinsed

5 cups of beef broth

1 jar (16.5 oz) of marinara sauce (sounds weird right? it totally works - don't worry)

3 tsp oregano

3 cloves of garlic smashed and minced

1 Tbsp Tabasco sauce (I know....Just do it, It adds a good kick, doesn't make it hot)

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup  Dry pasta noodles (elbow, macaroni, penne - whatever you want!)

Parmesan for topping - optional

Half bunch of flat leaf italian parsley, chopped - optional

1. Brown and drain the sausage

2. Add the chopped carrots, celery, onion to the crock pot

3. Add the drained and rinsed beans

4. Add the tomatoes including the juice, and the pasta sauce

5. Add the beef broth, oregano, garlic, Tabasco, salt, pepper

6. Add the meat and stir all contents together

7. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8.

8. Add the dry pasta 1 hour before serving. (It may take less time for pasta to become tender)

Serve and top with parmesan and a sprinkle of flat leaf italian parsley if desired