There is nothing more comforting and soul-warming than Pasta Fagioli!
Veggies, sausage and lots of pasta and beans create the most delicious Pasta Fagioli Soup for a favorite hearty meal.
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What is Pasta Fagioli?
Pasta e Fagioli is a traditional Italian dish that translates to “pasta and beans.” It’s made with simple ingredients like pasta, beans, and tomatoes, and sometimes has a little bit of meat or veggies.
Sometimes confused with minestrone, the difference between the two is that minestrone has a variety of vegetables and usually more broth while pasta fagioli is mainly pasta and beans.
In this easy Pasta Fagioli recipe, I use two types of beans for extra protein, while dried herbs make the broth irresistibly flavorful. This version, somewhat similar to Olive Garden’s, has sausage and veggies so it’s as hearty as it is delicious.
How To Make Pasta Fagioli
I love soup recipes any time of year and one tops our list. It’s easy, delicious, and hearty. If making without sausage, reduce the broth slightly.
- Brown sausage and onion. Add in remaining ingredients (recipe below), except for pasta, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- While the soup simmers, cook the pasta in salted water until al dente.
- Stir the pasta into the bean mixture and serve.
Serve pasta Fagioli soup next to some warm garlic bread and a Caesar salad for the perfect meal.
Freezing Pasta Fagioli Soup
- Cool soup completely before packaging it for freezing.
- Add soup to gallon or quart-size zip-top plastic freezer bags.
- Lay bags flat in a single layer in the freezer, when frozen, stack bags to save space.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
Holly’s Tips
- Cook the pasta on the side and add it to the soup before serving.
- If planning for leftovers, the pasta can be stored separately.
- Add red pepper flakes for a little heat
Savory Satisfying Soups
Did your family love this Pasta Fagioli Soup? Leave us a rating and a comment below.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage mild or spicy, or ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 1 rib celery diced
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices, 1 can
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 8 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 15 ounces canned red kidney beans drained and rinsed, 1 can
- 15 ounces canned cannellini beans drained and rinsed, or Great Northern beans
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup ditalini or small pasta such as tubetti or elbow macaroni
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground Italian sausage and cook without moving for about one minute. Crumble it using a wooden spoon and continue cooking until browned, 3-5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Move the cooked sausage to one side of the pot, add the onion and garlic to the other half, and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender.
- Add chopped carrots, celery, and diced tomatoes. Stir and cook until tender, 4-5 minutes.
- Add basil, Italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and drained and rinsed beans. Season with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. If needed, add more water, one cup at a time.
- In a separate pot, add water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Season with salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain well and toss with a bit of olive oil. Set aside.
- Once vegetables are tender, stir in pasta until heated through.
- Garnish with parsley and grated parmesan cheese if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Pasta, Soup
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Pasta soup looks so good! I want to make it !
The herbs are too strong, especially thyme and rosemary. Half teaspoon each would be better.
I made the recipe as written but it had way too much rosemary in it. I would change the rosemary amount to 1/2 teaspoon. I added 1/2 teaspoon of Cajun Seasoning to give it some zip. It was good but less rosemary would have made it better.
I was born in italy and have had many variations of pasta fagioli . For such a small country there are so many different ways to cook these soups and stews depending on what was available. To say it isn’t called pasta and fagioli because you’ve cooked it differently doesn’t not make it whatvit is. Pasta and beans.punto basta.
Happy eating no matter what we call it
I’m signing up because it all looks good.
Glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes Harriet!
This soup was so simple to make and was delicious. The only update that I made was that I also added white kidney beans and doubled the amount of all the beans.
Pasta Fajole means bean soup. And you don’t have to cook the pasta separately. The little Ditalini macaroni can be cooked right in the pot along with everything else
Great Recipes!
In my family it never contains tomatoes, nor is it a soup. It’s just pasta with garlic and oil and a can of beans. with just enough water, so it doesn’t stick together, If nit in the mood for beans sub broccoli or cauliflower,
That sounds delicious Stephen! We will have to give that a try.
This is not pasta fagiole soup
My nonna explained the soup is basically pasta and beans, with your average Italian spice, s+p, garlic, onion, Italian spice optional. No meat or veggies, inthat would be minestrone
Your nonna’s version sounds delicious Denise! You will have to let us know what you think of our version.
Can I make this in my Crockpot?
It should work just fine. I would brown the meat and add all ingredients to the slow cooker except the pasta. Cook on low 7-8 hours. I would suggest cooking the pasta on the side and adding to the slow cooker or bowls just before serving.
I am new to your page!! Can’t wait to try some of your recipes!!!
Very easy recipe to follow, and very delicious! I use pebble pasta or the pasta that is tiny and rolled up (croissant style) that holds up really nicely! Experiment and find your favorite!! So good!
PS. I make mine vegetarian style
Your pasta fagioli recipe sounds delicious but original Italian pasta fagioli does not have any meat in it. It was originally made as an inexpensive meal to feed large families. At least that is what I was told
Love lots of recipes y’all post!
Wonderful recipe. Easy to make and delicious.
I made this and it was delicious but the noodles swell and get mushy after the first day. Do you have any suggestions. The flavor is fantastic.
So glad you enjoyed it Jody! You may want to try a different brand of noodles, and possibly cook them less when you first make the soup. You may also enjoy a different noodle altogether, like an egg noodle.
Super excited trying the tomato soup recipe as I write. we have a garden full of them and I am intending to freeze some of the soup!
We grow a variety of colors, just using red, orange and yellow maybe if I get brave I will use the purple ones for a batch. Might be an amazing Halloween trick and treat!
That sounds fun Mari! Can’t beat garden fresh tomatoes!
Wondering if can us my new Instant Pot? Not sure if would over cook vegs and pasta. Any ideas? By the way, love you blog hun.
Thank you so much! I have only made this recipe as written. If you try it, let us know Debb!
IF you’ve ever listened to the song “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin, you will know that the correct pronunciation for Pasta E Fagioli is Pasta Fazool……..(phonetic)
That’s true. My father-in-law was 100% Italian and it was pronounced Pasta Fazool.
To KB: That’s NOT the correct name for this soup! “Pasta Fazool” OR “Pasta Fazoo” is what American people called it, ONLY because it was easier for them to pronounce. “When The Moon Hits Your Eye Like A Big Pizza Pie That’s Amore” is ONLY a song!