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    Home » Easy Recipes

    Easy Pasta Fagioli Soup

    Published: Aug 27, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    I love this easy Pasta e Fagioli soup!  It is full of tons of veggies and beans (think fiber) and has enough meat in it to make it the kind of soup you can have as a meal. This is a pretty close copycat recipe to the Pasta e Fagioli at the Olive Garden.

    Pasta Fagioli soup in a red pot.

    If you love hearty soups, you will also enjoy this Taco Soup as well as this Italian Wedding soup.

    Be aware, that this recipe makes a nice big batch. I have found an easy and very effective way to freeze individual portions of this soup.  I'll share those with you below. 

    Table of contents

    • Why I love this soup
    • Ingredients
    • Pro Tip
    • Instructions
    • How to Store and Freeze Leftovers
    • FAQ
    • Other Delicious Soups

    Why I love this soup

    Lots of hamburger meat and vegetables are the basis for this filling soup. This is a classic Italian soup, and all kinds of substitutions are allowed! It's flavorful and filled with delicious and healthy ingredients. This is a recipe I love to make on a lazy Sunday or a rainy day.

    Ingredients

    labeled ingredients for pasta fagioli soup includes ground beef, canned beans, celery, carrots, onions, pasta and seasonings..

    2 tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil)
    1 ½ lbs lean ground beef (ground turkey also works)
    3 large carrots - diced
    5 celery stalks - diced
    ½ large sweet onion (diced) or one small onion
    1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes (the large can)
    1 30 oz beef broth (or chicken broth)
    2 leaves Bay (optional but I love the flavor)
    1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    2 teaspoon basil
    ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    1 teaspoon dried garlic
    1 15 oz can cannelloni beans (drain then rinse)(aka chick peas)
    1 15voz can red kidney beans (rained then rinse)
    1 cup ditalini pasta - uncooked (macaroni noodles also works!)
    1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce (optional) - I often add to beef based recipes
    Optional veggies to add - green beans, bell peppers, russet potatoes or red potatoes, fresh or canned diced tomatoes, frozen corn, zucchini
    Adding salt and ground black pepper is optional. I find when using canned beans no extra salt is needed.

    Pro Tip

    Try to chop/cut all your vegetables to a similar size. It's easier to eat, and that's how the professionals do it!

    chopped carrots, celery and onions on a white plate.  Small dishes containing seasonings beside the plate.

    Instructions

    Step 1
    Add oil to a large dutch oven or pot and brown ground beef.
    Step 2
    In the same pot, add all ingredients except beans and pasta.
    Bring to an easy boil then turn down to simmer (usually medium heat) and cook for approx. ½ hour stir occasionally.

    pot of soup with veggetables being added.


    Step 3
    Add beans and pasta. Cook until pasta is al dente. Approx. 10 minutes but check the pasta container directions, since cooking times may vary.
    Remove bay leaves before serving or freezing.

    Beans and pasta added to soup in a red pot.


    Step 4
    If desired, serve in a bowl and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and ground pepper. If handy, add some fresh parsley as a garnish for color.
    Serve with fresh crusty rolls or a salad to round out the meal.

    pasta fagioli soup in a pot.

    How to Store and Freeze Leftovers

    As mentioned earlier, this recipe makes a large amount.  I LOVE freezing soup in individual portions and have tried many different ways.  Freezing soup in plastic bags that lay flat is a great way to freeze individual portions.  

    I prefer filling these 12 oz jars; it makes a perfect individual portion. Just let them thaw in the fridge overnight, and you have a delicious homemade lunch!

    Pasta Fagioli stored in mason jars.

    I've made and stored this many times. I have found that the pasta and the beans absorb the broth, so sometimes you need to add a bit more so your soup has the right amount of liquid.  If you don't have broth, it's flavorful enough that you probably won't notice if you add a bit of water.

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    a white bowl of pasta fagioli soup

    FAQ

    What is the difference between pasta fagioli soup and minestrone soup?

    Pasta fagioli soup is a thicker soup. It also has pasta, which is not found in traditional minestrone recipes. The same applies to hamburger meat - Minestrone soup is more a vegetable-based soup.

    Other Delicious Soups

    • Italian Wedding Soup
      Italian Wedding Soup - Homemade!
    • bowl of hamburger soup in a white bowl beside a blue and white striped napkin.
      Hamburger Soup
    • butternut squash soup
      Butternut Squash Soup with Leeks
    • close up view of mexican soup showing ground beef, red peppers and kidney beans
      Easy and Delicious Taco Soup Recipe (hearty).
    pasta fagioli soup

    Easy Pasta Fagioli Soup.

    A delicious and hearty soup that eats like a meal!  Flavorful, similar to Olive Garden's Pasta-e-Fagioli.   This is a scratch recipe, and the hardest most time-consuming part is chopping some of the vegetables!  This recipe was also known as Hamburger soup by my kids!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 or more!
    Calories: 251cal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
    • 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef
    • 3 large carrots - diced
    • 5 celery stalks - diced
    • ½ large sweet onion diced
    • 1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes the large can
    • 1 30 oz beef broth or chicken broth
    • 2 leaves Bay optional but I love the flavor
    • 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 2 teaspoon basil
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon dried garlic
    • 1 15 oz can cannelloni beans drain then rinse
    • 1 15 oz can red kidney beans rained then rinse
    • 1 cup ditalini pasta - uncooked
    • optional veggies to add - green beans, bell peppers, russet potatoes or red potatoes, fresh or canned diced tomatoes, frozen corn, zucchini
    • Adding salt and ground pepper is optional. I find when using canned beans no extra salt is needed.

    Instructions

    • Add oil to heavy pot or dutch oven and brown ground beef.
    • Add all ingredients except beans and pasta.
    • Bring to an easy boil then turn down to simmer (usually medium heat)  and cook for approx. ½ hour stir occasionally.
    • Add beans and pasta. Cook until pasta is al dante. Approx. 10 minutes.
    • Remove bay leaves before serving or freezing.
    • Serve in a bowl and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and ground pepper if desired.  If handy, add some fresh parsley as a garnish for color.
    • Serve with fresh crusty rolls.

    Notes

    If you don't have crushed tomatoes handy, I have used tomato sauce.  Elbow macaroni also works if you don't have ditalina pasta.
    (Adding salt and ground pepper is optional. I find when using canned beans no extra salt is needed.)
    Other delicious and hearty soups on my website.
    Homemade Italian Wedding Soup
    Chicken Tortilla Soup
    Taco Soup

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 251cal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 619mg | Potassium: 770mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2787IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 4mg

    Please pin to your Pinterest account!

    pasta fagioli soup in a red pot.

    **Originally published Jan. 30, 2018 and updated regularly.

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    1. Cathy Brown

      October 21, 2019 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      I made this soup tonight and it is delicious and filling. Can’t wait to pack it for lunches this week. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        November 03, 2019 at 9:06 am

        Hi Cathy! Thanks for trying this soup and for commenting. I love making this soup because it is filling and I have lots of leftovers that I can freeze for other meals!

        Reply
    2. Gail

      November 11, 2018 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      I used half tomato juice and half beef broth and it turned out sooo good. Next time I will try V-8 juice instead of tomato juice.

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        November 14, 2018 at 7:36 pm

        I like the idea of trying V-8 juice. That would add some different seasonings/flavors. Please let me know how that works!

        Reply
    3. Christine | Vermilion Roots

      March 20, 2016 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      I like having a hearty bowl of soup as a meal. Sometimes I make a big batch to freeze so we'll have convenient dinners on busy days.

      Reply
    4. sprinklesandsprouts

      March 20, 2016 at 10:23 am

      5 stars
      I love a good heart soup like this. We are just coming into Autumn so this will be perfect very soon 🙂

      Reply
    5. peter @feedyoursoultoo

      March 20, 2016 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      Such a hearty soup. Totally warming from the inside out.

      Reply
    6. Claudia | Gourmet Project

      March 20, 2016 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      cozy sunday night? pasta e fagioli of course! love your recipe.

      Reply
    7. ginger and scotch

      March 20, 2016 at 9:49 am

      Love soups - especially the kind that's easy to make in big batches and freeze for later!

      Reply
    8. Patti

      November 11, 2015 at 8:51 am

      5 stars
      Looks so delicious. My husband is half Italian but I have never had this from anyone is his family. I'll have to try it because I know he will like it. Pinning.

      Reply

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    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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