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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

soup
February 20, 2017

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Pasta e Fagioli Soup – A classic Italian soup that is made with a tomato broth, ground beef, pasta, and packed-full of veggies and beans. All of these ingredients transform this into an irresistible dish that is so comforting and warms the heart. And stomach! Even better than the Olive Garden version.

Bowl of Pasta e Fagioli SoupThis winter has felt unusually warm here in Atlanta. If we get cold weather, it’s in short bursts, maybe a week max. Now, I think it’s starting to slowly dwindle away. Our cold-weather bursts only last about a day and then it’s back to 70-degree highs. So crazy.

Regardless of the weird weather, I’ve been enjoying various comforting homemade soups like this turkey noodle soup and this hearty chili.

Before the cold weather gets completely away from us, I need to share another one of my favorite soup recipes: pasta e fagioli.

Spoonful of Pasta e Fagioli Soup Closeup of Pasta e Faggioli soup Bowl of Pasta e Fagioli Soup with a spoon in it

Some of you may be familiar with this soup because you’ve had it at Olive Garden. If so, then you’re in luck – this soup tastes EXACTLY like that version, except with the freshness that comes with it being homemade. Plus, now, you can enjoy it any time you want!

If you’ve never had pasta e fagioli, I like to describe it as an Italian chili, only much healthier. It’s made with a tomato broth and has tons of veggies and beans, and some pasta and ground beef. Oh and a great mix of Italian herbs.

This soup is my new favorite! It has all the comfort and heartiness of a chili but the nutrition of a noodle soup. Unlike a chili, I can eat it without any toppings, and unlike a noodle soup, I don’t need any bread to dip into this soup. That means less calories, people!

This soup is so unbelievably irresistible. Taking these pictures was so hard because I couldn’t stop eating the soup! When I had the chance to sit down and have a bowl in peace, I couldn’t eat it fast enough. I literally licked the bowl clean. And then served myself again!

I’m not kidding. I had like 3 bowls in one day. #noshame

Eating Pasta e Fagioli Soup Bowl of Pasta e Fagioli Soup on a plate

When it comes to making this soup, it’s just as easy to make as a chili. But you don’t need to cook for as long. I was shocked at how easily the flavors came together without cooking for hours and hours. It only took about 45 mins from start to finish. So easy!

Here are a few tips to make sure your soup comes out perfectly:

  1. When dicing the veggies, make sure they’re all the same size. This will make sure they cook evenly.
  2. The pasta doesn’t freeze well because it turns mushy when you reheat it. So if you’re going to freeze a portion of this soup, don’t add the pasta to that portion. Instead, add the pasta when you reheat it.
  3. Speaking of pasta, you can easily substitute the ditalini for mini shells, like they use at Olive Garden. I like the look of the ditalini so that’s what I used here.
  4. If you want more Italian flavor in this soup, you can substitute the 1 pound of lean ground beef with 1 pound of Italian sausage. I don’t like the fennel that’s in Italian sausage so I didn’t even consider using it. But there are a few recipes for this classic soup that swear by it so give it a try if it sounds like you’re thing!

That’s all there is to it! You’re really gonna love this soup. Hurry up and make it before it gets too hot to move.

Here are all the kitchen tools and serveware that I used in this post. For each item that is sold, I receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting the brands that support CPA!

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styled shot of Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Print Recipe

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

A classic Italian soup that is made with a tomato broth, ground beef, pasta, and packed-full of veggies and beans. All of these ingredients transform this into an irresistible dish that is so comforting and warms the heart. And stomach! Even better than the Olive Garden version.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground meat lean
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1/2 cup ditalini pasta
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 3 carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 15-ounce can Great Northern beans drained and rinsed

Instructions

  • In a large pot set to medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the lean ground meat. Cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Drain the fat and set meat aside.
  • Place pot back on the burner and turn heat to medium. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add garlic to cook a little until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add remaining vegetables (onion, carrot, celery) and cook until it begins to get tender, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Add in chicken broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, spices, cooked meat, and 1 cup of water. Stir together to combine. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer and cover. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender (not crunchy).
  • Stir in pasta and beans. Cook until heated through and pasta is cooked. Give it a taste. Add salt and pepper, as necessary. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or grated Parmesan.

Notes

If you plan to freeze some of this, only add pasta to the portions that you will eat immediately. It will get too mushy when frozen and then thawed.
Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious 

Pasta e Fagioli Soup photo collage

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26 Comments

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Comments

  1. Lisa Manzardo says

    April 15, 2024 at 7:54 am

    This recipe is excellent! I made it exactly as written except I added fresh green beans and cooked it all day in my slow cooker.

    Reply
  2. Chuck says

    December 24, 2021 at 8:54 am

    Hello reviewers.
    Why do people talk about how great, good, yummy it looks when they are supposed to be reviewing after making and eating the food they make.
    I’m just wondering? Please don’t get upset just curious.
    Have a blessed day.

    Reply
  3. Kelli says

    November 19, 2017 at 11:14 pm

    Just made a pot of this today for dinner tonight. It came out great! Quick and easy, hearty, and will definitely make again!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      November 20, 2017 at 9:29 am

      Yay! So glad you loved it! It’s one of my all-time favorite soups. Thanks for stopping by to tell me how it went!

      Reply
  4. Angie says

    February 24, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    This looks so wholesome and delicious! Perfect for the cold snowy evening we’re having here…

    Reply
  5. Jessica Bradshaw says

    February 22, 2017 at 11:48 am

    This looks great!! I just need it to get colder so I can make more soups. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Cait Weingartner says

    February 22, 2017 at 4:04 am

    Yum! This soup looks incredibly delicious. There is nothing better than a pot of
    homemade soup for dinner. Thanks for sharing, I’m looking forward to making
    a big pot of this soup!

    Reply
  7. Divya says

    February 21, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    OHHHHH, yum. This looks so comforting and cozy and warm. I want to make this with ground turkey!!

    Reply
  8. Bobbi | Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen says

    February 21, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    This is one of my fave soups!! I need to make a pot now 🙂

    Reply
  9. Hannah says

    February 21, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    Yumm! This looks perfect for a cold day!

    Reply
  10. Jackie @theseasidebaker says

    February 20, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    I would have probably had 3 bowls too! It looks fantastic!

    Reply
  11. Camille says

    February 20, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    I love a good soup in the winter!! This looks really hearty and delicious, I can’t wait to try it!!

    Reply
  12. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says

    February 20, 2017 at 6:20 pm

    This soup looks really hearty and filling. I worked at Olive Garden for over two years in college, and you’ve done a great job at a copycat recipe. It looks identical.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      February 20, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      Wow what a compliment! Thanks Kimberly!

      Reply
  13. gunjan says

    February 20, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    This is absolutely mouthwatering. I cannot wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  14. Jamie says

    February 20, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    Just had this soup at Olive Garden last week–I am excited to try the homemade version! Pinned for later 🙂

    Reply
  15. Mary says

    February 20, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    This soup definitely brings back memories of my childhood! It’s been so cold here I think I need to make this soup for dinner tonight. Thanks for the memories!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      February 20, 2017 at 7:53 pm

      Yay! It’s perfect for weeknights since it’s so quick. I hope it helps warm you up!

      Reply
  16. candy says

    February 20, 2017 at 11:55 am

    Our good friend made this soup saturday. It was the first time we had ever had it and my husband fell in love. This is going in the recipe box.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      February 20, 2017 at 7:52 pm

      Aw yay! I hope you like this version too!

      Reply
  17. Katie says

    February 20, 2017 at 11:34 am

    Yum! You can tell it’s lunchtime when I’m about to reach through the computer to grab a bowl of soup.

    Reply
  18. Bonnie Marrow says

    February 20, 2017 at 10:49 am

    This looks so yummy I pinned it! We don soup every Saturday for a few more weeks!

    Reply
  19. Michelle - Lillian Abbey says

    February 20, 2017 at 10:38 am

    Yum! This is one of my favorite things to get at Olivie Garden!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Turkey Noodle Soup - CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado says:
    September 4, 2019 at 9:02 am

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    April 27, 2017 at 6:01 am

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  3. Cilantro Lime Chicken Bites - Julie's Eats & Treats says:
    March 13, 2017 at 2:40 am

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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

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