Full of pasta, beans, vegetables, and ground beef, this easy pasta fagioli soup recipe makes a warm and comforting meal. This hearty soup is easy to make and perfect for a chilly day! The veggies, spices, and broth come together to ensure there is flavor in every bite.
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Sometimes all you need is a warm bowl of delicious soup. And that is where this recipe comes in! Pasta fagioli soup is bursting with savory and rich flavors in every bite.
The combination of beans, pasta, and ground beef is what makes this soup the ultimate comfort food. The tomatoes, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning bring it to the next level and give you that earthy, authentic Italian flavor!
This recipe is easy to follow and can be made as a side dish or the main course. And of course, no soup is complete without a slice of Italian bread or dinner roll for dipping! This is a dish that everyone will be asking for again and again.
Why You'll Love This Easy Pasta Fagioli Soup Recipe
- Full of Good Stuff & Budget-Friendly: Pasta e Fagioli is both nutritious and economical. This meal offers a good balance of nutritious ingredients and can be made on a budge — an ideal choice for those looking to eat well without spending a lot.
- Versatility & Flavorful Simplicity: This dish is made with simple, pantry-friendly ingredients like beans, pasta, vegetables, and a savory broth, yet it’s packed with flavor. Garlic, herbs, and maybe a touch of Parmesan or olive oil can transform it into something incredibly tasty. Plus, it can be customized with various types of beans, pasta shapes, or even added greens or meats to suit different tastes or what you have on hand.
- Comforting & Hearty: Pasta e Fagioli is the ultimate comfort food, combining tender pasta and creamy beans in a rich, savory broth. It's filling and satisfying, perfect for chilly days or when you're craving a warm, nourishing meal. The combination of textures — al dente pasta with soft beans — creates a cozy, heartwarming dish.
🍲 Soup season is full of steaming bowls of flavor around our house — comforting bean soups are always a hit!
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef — or ground sausage.
- Ditalini Pasta — feel free to use another small noodle like macaroni
- Cannellini Beans — or another type of bean
- Chicken Broth
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrot
- Garlic Salt
- Italian Seasoning
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
How To Make Pasta Fagioli Soup
Step 1: Cook your ground beef in a large pot over heat until it is no longer pink in the middle.
Step 2: Drain the excess grease from the pot and add the celery, onion, carrot, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning. Continue cooking until the veggies are tender, stirring frequently.
Step 3: Add the cannellini beans, pasta, chicken broth, and crushed tomatoes. Stir the soup to combine the ingredients. Bring the soup to a low boil.
Step 4: Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover with a lid. Continue cooking until the pasta is fully cooked. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
For this soup, it does not matter! Feel free to use whatever you have on hand or like the most. Since you are going to drain the fat anyway, you can use ground beef with any fat percentage. You can also substitute with ground sausage to switch things up.
Pasta fagioli soup contains ingredients with varying textures, so your soup is not supposed to be smooth. It will naturally be thicker due to the hearty ingredients, as the pasta and beans will naturally soak up the liquid. You still want the soup thin enough to feel like soup rather than just a pasta dish.
If you feel the soup is becoming too thick, you can add ½ cup of broth at a time and combine until it is your desired consistency. On the other hand if there is too much broth making it thin, you can try adding more beans to balance it out. It is important to note that the soup will thicken as it simmers, so wait until that point to evaluate the consistency.
Definitely! It is super easy to make this soup vegetarian. You can omit the ground beef, and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. The soup will still be thick and filling with the pasta and beans, but feel free to add more if you want to make up for the beef.
Expert Tips
- Don't Overcook the Beans or Pasta: Beans and pasta are the two main components, and timing is crucial. If you're using dried beans, cook them just until tender, as overcooked beans can turn mushy and disrupt the texture of the soup. If using canned beans, just heat them through. As for the pasta, cook it al dente separately, then add it to the soup towards the end to prevent it from getting too soft and absorbing too much liquid.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs and Olive Oil: To bring brightness and freshness to your soup, finish it off with a generous drizzle of good-quality extra virgin olive oil and freshly chopped herbs like parsley or basil just before serving. This adds both flavor and a silky texture to the broth, giving the soup a richer, more complex taste. A small squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of red pepper flakes can also provide a nice finishing touch, balancing the savory depth of the soup with a bit of acidity or heat.
- Use Homemade or Quality Broth: The broth is the backbone of Pasta e Fagioli, so using a rich, flavorful broth can make a significant difference. If you have time, making your own broth (whether chicken, vegetable, or beef) enhances the depth of flavor. Alternatively, choose a high-quality store-bought broth or stock. For an even richer taste, consider adding a Parmesan rind to the pot as the soup simmers, infusing the broth with umami.
Serving & Storing Suggestions
Pasta fagioli soup can be served as a side or main dish! The soup pairs wonderfully with garlic knots for dipping. You can also top the soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese, chopped basil, or parsley for a finished look and taste. Since this soup is warm and comforting, we like to add a fresh salad on the side.
If you have leftover soup, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container.
To reheat, simply place a bowl of soup in the microwave, covered with a paper towel or plate to prevent splattering. Start with 30 seconds and then stir. Continue reheating the soup for 30 seconds at a time until it has reached the temperature of your liking!
My Family's Favorite Bean Soups
- Slow Cooker Bean & Sausage Soup combines another winning flavor combo — beans and sausage.
- Whenever we have leftover ham, it's time for Split Pea & Ham Soup!
- White Bean & Pasta Soup is another excellent combination of beans and pasta.
- I keep the ingredients for Instant Pot Lentil Soup in the pantry for a quick soup meal!
More Favorites From Longbourn Farm
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Pasta Fagioli Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 cup Ditalini Pasta
- 1 (15 oz) can Cannellini Beans
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 2 cups Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 cup White Onion (Diced)
- 1 cup Celery (Diced)
- 1 cup Carrot (Diced)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt
- ½ tablespoon Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Cook your ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat for about 7 minutes, or until it is no longer pink in the middle. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up the meat as it cooks.
- Drain the excess grease from the pot and add in the celery, onion carrot, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the cannellini beans, pasta, chicken broth, and crushed tomatoes. Stir the soup to combine the ingredients and bring the soup to a low boil.
- Once the soup is boiling, cover it with a lid and reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the soup to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is fully cooked.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can make your own Italian seasoning by combining equal parts garlic salt, oregano, basil, onion powder, and thyme.
- Feel free to use whatever ground beef you have on hand. Since you are going to drain the fat anyway you can use ground beef with any fat percentage. You can also substitute ground beef for ground sausage.
- We like to top our fagioli soup with freshly chopped basil, parsley, or freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Swap out the cannellini beans for kidney beans or another firm bean.
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