Cozy Chunky Minestrone Soup |

I'm not a big soup person.
Never have been. I don't actively dislike soup, but it's rarely my first choice on a menu. If I'm opting for soup, I typically choose something rich, hearty and creamy. Brothy soups just don't coat my stomach and satisfy my hunger...unless they're accompanied by some crusty bread and cheese :).
Most of the year, there are so many other foods that appeal to my 'buds—pasta, salads, loafs, burgers etc— that I don't give soup a passing thought. However; in these chilly Winter depths, there are days where only soup appeals.
That's why I create soup recipes like my Crockpot Chili Chicken Chowder and THIS Cozy Chunky Minestrone Soup!
Packed with savory sausage, chewy noodles, buttery carrots and bitey-green beans, this soup is a textural party! Each bite is a little different than the one before, but equally bursting with flavor. I use some of my soup "secret" ingredients to add layers of complexity: tomato paste, nutritional yeast, honey and molasses beg the question "what's in there?!".
I gobbled this soup up during a particularly frigid bout of Tennessean weather, and I froze another batch. NOTE: when you enjoy this thawed from frozen, the noodles will break apart a bit, but I personally love how it all melts together!
To make this soup even more exception, I love topping it with pesto and goat cheese. You can use my pesto recipe, or grab something store-bought (I like Trader Joes). Worry not, though, the soup stands beautifully on its own without either!
If you give this soup a try, please tag me on Instagram with pictures of your creation! @lauraleabalanced #llbalanced.
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