Description
Hearty slow cooker creamy vegetable soup promises comfort in every spoonful, blending garden-fresh ingredients with rich, velvety texture. Nutritious and soul-warming, this recipe offers a delightful escape you’ll savor down to the last comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen green beans
- 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
- 1 lb Yukon gold or red potatoes (finely diced, peeling optional)
- 2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
- 1 rib celery (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 medium onion (finely diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Liquid and Creamy Components:
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup evaporated milk or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Carefully layer all vegetables, broth, and seasonings into the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution of ingredients for balanced flavor development.
- Whisk cornstarch with liquid ingredients to create a smooth base that will help thicken the soup’s consistency during the cooking process.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature and allow vegetables to gently simmer, transforming raw ingredients into a tender, harmonious blend over several hours.
- Incorporate frozen vegetables during the final half-hour of cooking to preserve their vibrant color, texture, and nutritional integrity.
- Periodically check liquid levels and vegetable tenderness, adjusting cooking time if needed to achieve perfect soft-but-not-mushy vegetables.
- Carefully extract bay leaves before ladling the creamy soup into serving bowls, ensuring no hidden herbs remain in the final dish.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh herbs or a sprinkle of black pepper to enhance the soup’s visual appeal and add a final layer of aromatic complexity.
Notes
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth for a completely vegetarian version of this comforting soup.
- Use cornstarch alternative like arrowroot or potato starch if you prefer gluten-free thickening options.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the soup.
- Add extra protein by including diced cooked chicken, beans, or tofu during the last hour of cooking for a heartier meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg