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This cozy, restaurant-quality one-pot Italian-style Pasta Fagioli Soup is loaded with ground beef, Italian sausage, tender veggies, ditalini pasta, and two kinds of beans in a tomato-herb broth. Make it on the stove-top, in a Slow Cooker, or in an Instant Pot.
What is Traditional Pasta e Fagioli?
Traditional pasta e fagioli ("pasta and beans") is a rustic Italian soup-stew. It's built around small pasta (often ditalini) and beans (typically cannellini or borlotti) simmered with a simple soffritto of onion, carrot, and celery, plus tomatoes or tomato paste, herbs like rosemary or sage, and good olive oil. It's usually meatless (sometimes with a little pancetta) and is thicker, stew-like, often thickened by mashing or blending a scoop of the beans.
Make Cozy Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli at Home!
My version is restaurant-inspired yet totally weeknight-friendly! In my usual style, it's also heavier on protein - I use both ground beef and Italian sausage (together with two kinds of beans: cannelini and dark red kidney beans). I stir in spinach at the very end, just until it wilts, so it remains fresh and vibrant. The end result is a delicious, filling, nutritious (and beautifully presented) meal that is perfect for lunch and hearty enough for dinner.
If you love protein-packed, easy weeknight meals, you'll love this pasta fagioli! Serve it with a warm slice of my homemade bread-machine bread, my garlic butter dinner rolls, or rustic seeded rye bread. And, if you crave more Italian-style soups, be sure to try my Minestrone Soup and my Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup next.
The Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground beef. I like using ground beef to balance the bold flavors of Italian sausage. Ground turkey or chicken can be used for a lighter version.
- Italian sausage. Adds richness and a touch of spice. Use mild or hot depending on your preference. You can also substitute it with all ground beef.
- Cannellini and kidney beans. Classic combination. Great northern or navy beans can be a good substitution. Just rinse and drain them before adding.
- Ditalini pasta. The traditional pasta shape for Pasta Fagioli Soup. You can also use any short-cut pasta like elbows, small shells, or break larger pasta into smaller pieces if that's what you have on hand.
- Baby spinach. Adds color and freshness. Kale or Swiss chard are great substitutions.
- Veggies. Onion, carrots, and celery stalks are the classic Italian base (called soffrito) for the soup, adding depth of flavor. If you don't have all of them, just use what's on hand.
- Garlic. Fresh garlic is a key ingredient, minced or pressed.
- Tomato paste. Helps develop a deeper, slightly sweet, and more complex flavor. As a substitution, you can add an extra tablespoon of crushed tomatoes.
- Crushed tomatoes. I use canned crushed tomatoes for a consistent texture and rich flavor. You can substitute with diced or pureed tomatoes, depending on your preferred texture.
- Chicken Broth. Use low-sodium broth so you can control the salt level. As a substitution, you can use beef broth or vegetable broth.
- Olive oil. Used for sautéing the vegetables and browning the meat. You can use any neutral oil, but olive oil adds the best flavor.
- Italian seasoning + dried basil. Bring that signature herby flavor. You can swap Italian seasoning for a mix of oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
- Red pepper flakes. Add a gentle heat. Adjust to taste or omit if you prefer it mild.
- Salt and pepper. Always taste and adjust at the end since both the broth and sausage can already contain a lot of salt, so it's best to taste first before adding more.
Serving Ideas
I like to ladle this soup into warm bowls, finish with grated Parmesan and a drizzle of good olive oil, then keep the sides simple: a crusty slice of fresh bread and a crisp homemade salad. Here are my favorites to pair with Pasta Fagioli:
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Mozzarella and Basil Pesto
- Sweet Potato Kale Salad
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Simple Garlic Bread
- Garlic and Herb Bread Machine Bread
- Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls
- Savory Bacon and Cheddar Cheese Scones
Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)
This cozy, restaurant-quality one-pot Italian-style Pasta e Fagioli Soup is loaded with ground beef, Italian sausage, tender veggies, ditalini pasta, and two kinds of beans in a tomato-herb broth. I provide 3 cooking methods (on the stovetop, in a Slow Cooker, and using an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker). This protein-packed soup is ideal for comfort-food weeknight dinners, winter meal prep, and it tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb Italian sausage crumbled
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 2 large celery stalks diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 15 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 15 oz cannellini beans canned, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz dark red kidney beans canned, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ cups ditalini pasta uncooked
- 2 cups baby spinach tightly packed
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, plus more for serving
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add ground beef and Italian sausage. Using a wooden spoon, break the meat into bite-sized pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes or until browned.
- Transfer the cooked meat to a plate using a slotted spoon. Drain the excess fat, keeping about 2 tablespoon of drippings in the pot for flavor.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, onion, carrot, and celery to the same pot. Saute for about 4-5 minutes or until vegetables start to soften. Add garlic and cook for about 30-60 seconds or until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook for an additional minute.
- Return the cooked meat back to the pot. Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, water, Italian seasoning, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add cannellini beans, kidney beans, and ditalini pasta. Cook uncovered until the pasta is al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Once the pasta is al dente, stir in the baby spinach and chopped parsley. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the spinach wilts. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Serve hot with crusty bread for dipping.
- Note: I provide helpful step-by-step photos + tips below this recipe card.⬇️⬇️
Notes
- How to thin it out: Pasta Fagioli Soup thickens as it sits. Add a splash of broth or water if it gets too thick.
- Spinach or other greens should be added at the very end to keep color and nutrients.
- Do not overcook pasta: Add ditalini when you're ~10 minutes from serving so it stays al dente.
- Balance the flavors at the end with a touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice or a splash of red-wine vinegar, plus Parmesan.
- Drain some excess fat: After browning the meat, transfer it to a plate using a slotted spoon, then drain the excess fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pot. This keeps the soup flavorful without being greasy, delivering rich flavor while controlling fat content.
- Adjust spice level: To make it spicy, add more crushed red pepper flakes, chili powder, or cayenne pepper. Reduce or omit red pepper flakes if serving to children.
- Rinse canned beans to reduce excess salt and improve overall flavor.
- Simmer gently. A low simmer helps flavors meld without breaking down pasta or overcooking the beans.
How to Make Pasta e Fagioli in a Slow Cooker:
- Brown the beef and sausage in a skillet first, then stir in the tomato paste for 60-90 seconds to cook.
- Transfer to the slow cooker with onion, carrot, celery, garlic, crushed tomatoes, broth, water, Italian seasoning, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Cook on LOW 6-7 hours or HIGH 3-4 hours until the veggies are tender and the flavors meld.
- Stir in the beans and ditalini, cover, and cook on HIGH 20-30 minutes until the pasta is al dente (stir once so it doesn't clump).
- Fold in spinach and parsley just until wilted, then adjust seasoning and finish with Parmesan.
- For the best texture in leftovers, I sometimes cook the pasta separately and add it to each bowl.
How to Make Pasta e Fagioli in an Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker:
- Using Sauté, brown the beef and sausage well, then add the onion, carrot, and celery to soften. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds, cook the tomato paste, and deglaze with a splash of broth, scraping up any browned bits (prevents the Burn warning).
- Add the remaining broth, water, crushed tomatoes, seasonings, and beans; stir.
- Scatter the ditalini on top and do not stir (this also helps avoid Burn).
- Seal and cook under High Pressure for 4 minutes, then quick-release.
- Stir in spinach and parsley to wilt, thin with extra hot broth or water if needed, and season to taste.
- If you prefer firmer pasta for meal prep, cook it separately and add to bowls before ladling the soup.
Storage, Reheating, Freezing, Make-Ahead
- Storage: Refrigerate soup (separate from pasta if possible) in airtight containers 3-4 days. If pasta is already in, expect it to continue absorbing broth.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stove over medium-low. Add a splash of broth or water to loosen. Microwave in short bursts, stirring between.
- Freezing: Best practice-freeze without pasta up to 3 months. Cool completely, ladle into freezer bags or containers, leaving headspace. Add freshly cooked ditalini when reheating. If already mixed, it's still fine to freeze; pasta will be softer on thaw.
- Make-Ahead: Cook the soup base (through the 20-minute simmer). Cool, refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheat, then add beans and fresh pasta to cook al dente, finish with spinach and parsley.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information
Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)
Amount per Serving
Calories
448
% Daily Value*
Fat
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
5
g
31
%
Trans Fat
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
8
g
Cholesterol
43
mg
14
%
Sodium
1012
mg
44
%
Potassium
804
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
53
g
18
%
Fiber
10
g
42
%
Sugar
6
g
7
%
Protein
24
g
48
%
Vitamin A
3562
IU
71
%
Vitamin C
13
mg
16
%
Calcium
116
mg
12
%
Iron
6
mg
33
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
How to Make Pasta e Fagioli Soup (Step-by-Step Photos & Tips)
- Brown the meat: Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high; brown ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking into small pieces. Transfer meat; leave some drippings. (Tip: Don't overcrowd - color equals flavor. If needed, brown in two batches.)
- Cook the soffritto: Add more oil, then sauté the onion, carrot, and celery until softened. Stir in the garlic briefly, then cook the tomato paste. (Tip: Let the paste darken to brick red to remove raw acidity.)
- Build the soup base: Return meat to the Dutch oven; add crushed tomatoes, broth, and a little water.
- Add seasonings: Italian seasoning, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer the soup base: Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until flavors meld. (Tip: Scrape up browned bits as you stir for added flavor. A Parmesan rind can simmer here - make sure to remove it before serving.)
- Add beans & pasta: Stir in cannellini beans, kidney beans, and ditalini; cook uncovered, stirring, until pasta is al dente. (Tip: If the soup gets too thick, add hot water or broth a little at a time.)
- Fold in spinach and parsley: cook just until wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning. (Tip: Salt lightly at the end - Parmesan adds saltiness)
- Serve: Top with Parmesan and more parsley; add crusty bread for dipping. (Meal-prep tip: For best leftovers, cook pasta separately and add to each bowl so it stays firm. Freeze the soup base without pasta for up to 3 months.)
Quick Recap: Why You'll Love This Italian Soup
- One-pot meal with everyday ingredients.
- Stove-top or slow-cooker friendly.
- Better than Olive Garden's (and faster than takeout).
- Protein-packed and super satisfying.
- Perfect fall and winter weeknight dinner.
- Great for meal prep and freezing. Eat half the soup, freeze the other half for busy weeknights.
- Cannellini and dark red kidney beans give creamy + meaty textures (I rinse them for a cleaner broth).
- Seasonal & flexible: It's a classic fall/winter comfort food. It works for weeknight dinner, next-day lunches, game-day, or feeding a crowd.
- I'm looking forward to your comments below about what you think of this soup!
Very interesting recipe! I only put sausages and no meat, was enough for us and all liked it. Thank you! Regards from Germany
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Hélène! Thank you for your wonderful review! 🙂
I used cavatelli and doubled the beans. I also used kale instead of spinach. I will be making this again for sure! My husband was impressed. Thank you for the recipe.
Yum! Sounds like you had a wonderful dinner with your husband, Elena! 🙂 Thank you so much for your review! 🙂
This is an excellent soup! I look to make it with orzo and I also use kale instead of spinach because spinach just melts in soups, I like the sturdier texture of kale better.
Thank you, Patricia, for your 5-star review! 🙂 Orzo is a great substitute for ditalini, and yes, kale is delicious in this soup! 🙂