Pasta e Fagioli is a delectable Italian soup that combines Italian sausage, vegetables, and beans in a rich tomato base with a perfect blend of Italian herbs and spices. I like to serve this dish with a little bit of fresh grated Parmesan along with Triple Cheese Garlic Bread or Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Beer Bread.
There is nothing better than a big hot pot of simmering soup. My family cooks and enjoys soup throughout the year! Not just during the winter months, and we just love all the tasty flavors and heartiness in this Pasta Fagioli soup recipe. You may have tried this soup at Olive Garden. Well, this recipe is so much better, and you can make it in the confines of your own kitchen, controlling everything that is added. It is easy, dependable, and delectable, and it freezes really well.
How do you make Pasta e Fagioli Soup?
First, heat a little olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until it is about halfway browned. Then add the veggies and continue cooking until the sausage is completely browned and the onions are soft. Now reduce the heat and stir in the garlic, oregano, marjoram, basil, thyme leaves, onion powder, and red pepper flakes cooking for about 1 minute while stirring constantly.
Then, add the chicken broth, tomato sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, beans, and bay leaves. Next, simmer for about 10 minutes while stirring several times. Now remove about 2/3 cup of hot liquid and whisk it together in a separate bowl with the tomato pasta. Add it back to the pot and simmer for about 5 more minutes. Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Finally, add the pasta and simmer until tender.
Helpful Recipe Tips
- Use either mild or hot Italian sausage. The choice is completely up to you and your taste buds.
- For aesthetic purposes, peel your carrots as they are such a beautiful bright orange color when peeled.
- Drain and rinse your beans to remove any excess salt and starch. This helps improve flavor.
- You can substitute great northern beans for kidney beans.
- Any small pasta will work for this recipe, including ditalini, elbow macaroni, or small shells.
- Do not overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente, which means slightly firm. The pasta will continue to cook some even after the heat has been turned off.
- If you know you will be saving some soup for another day, remove that amount before you add the pasta. When you reheat the soup, you can simmer it again and add a little bit of pasta.
- Serve with 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese on top.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
What to serve with it
- warm bread sticks
- hot fresh rolls
- beer bread
- fresh fruit cup
- a simple spinach salad
- French baguette
- garden wedge salad
- fried mozzarella
More soup recipes to try!
Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
This Olive Garden copycat classic is bursting with flavor and hearty goodness from Italian sausage, beans, pasta, Italian herbs and spices. Make this delicious and easy homemade version to enjoy on a cold winter night.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: soup
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb Italian Sausage
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can red kidney beans
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can cannellini beans
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup Ditalini pasta or elbow macaroni
- kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
- Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)
Instructions
- First, heat a little olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until it is about halfway browned. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Continue cooking until the sausage is completely browned, and the onions are soft.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the garlic, oregano, marjoram, basil, thyme leaves, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add chicken broth, tomato sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes, kidney beans, cannellini beans, and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes stirring several times.
- Remove 2/3 cup of hot broth and whisk with tomato paste. Add it back to the soup and simmer for 5 minutes; stirring several times.
- Add the pasta and cook al dente; for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. If desired, serve with 1-2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan Cheese per bowl.
Notes
- Use either mild or hot Italian sausage. The choice is completely up to you and your taste buds.
- For aesthetic purposes, peel your carrots as they are such a beautiful bright orange color when peeled.
- Drain and rinse your beans to remove any excess salt and starch. This helps improve flavor.
- Any small pasta will work for this recipe, including ditalini, elbow macaroni, or small shells.
- Do not overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente, which means slightly firm. The pasta will continue to cook some even after the heat has been turned off.
- If you know you will be saving some soup for another day, remove that amount before you add the pasta. When you reheat the soup, you can simmer it again and add a little bit of pasta.
- Serve with 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese on top.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
Keywords: Italian soup, Olive garden pasta e fagioli, pasta e fagioli, soup with pasta and beans, soup with sausage and beans
On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Laura
My boys love Italian food so this is going on the list of recipes to try as it looks delicious as well as not being too difficult or time-consuming to make. Also packed with so much goodness! Thanks for sharing
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, enjoy!
Jenny
I really enjoy making this soup! The whole family really loved it and they want me to make it again.
Mary
I have never had this kind of soup, but I have heard of it and would love to try it. Perfect for cold weather! And not too hard to make.
Janice
It is soup season and I am so excited to be trying new soups! I have never heard of Pasta e Fagioli but it looks so filled with different things that it would be really fun to try. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Janice! Enjoy the soup!
Kelly
My new favorite soup, thanks to you and your great recipe. Easy to follow and so yummy. I will cook this often over the fall and winter.
Melanie
This is a lovely hearty meal that is so full of flavor. Now that the weather is changing I am going to make it more often because my family loves it. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth!
★★★★★
Tisha
This is the perfect comfort food for cooler weather. I just love this soup and this time of year. Happy fall, Beth.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Tisha! It is my favorite time of the year.
Sydney
Reading this recipe made my mouth water! I am going to attempt to make this recipe this week for dinner. Thanks so much for sharing–I know my partner will love it!
★★★★★
Tammy
What a comforting dish and perfect for a chilly day like it is here. I’d love a big bowl of this…sounds delicious!
Sue-Tanya
This Pasta e Fagioli recipe was delicious and easy to make! The combination of flavors and ingredients was spot on. Thanks for sharing this step-by-step guide on preparing this comforting dish. I really enjoyed it.
★★★★★
Rhian Scammell
This looks and sounds like it would be a perfect Autumn dish when it starts getting colder. Although I’m not a huge bean fan so I wonder how it would taste without them/ with an alternative
Beth Pierce
It would still be delicous. Enjoy!
Marie
This PASTA E FAGIOLI recipe was so yummy. I loved everything about it. It was supersatisfying to.
★★★★★
Yeah Lifestyle
This soup is so delicious! It is full of flavour, nutricious, and so easy to make. I love it!
★★★★★
Laura
This looks like a bowl of comfort!!! I love beans but my kids aren’t huge fans unfortunately.
Catie
This recipe is so much better than Olive Garden’s pasta e fagioli. Thanks for sharing! I will make it again.
★★★★★
Beth
This recipe is comfort food in a bowl! Just what these cold winter days need in around 1/2 hour this can be in my belly – perfect!!
★★★★★
Carrie
This is one of my favorites to order from Olive Garden! So easy and delcious! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
★★★★★
Dannii
This was super comforting. I love how easy it was to adapt with the ingredients I had too.
★★★★★
Justine
This is one of our favorite soups! Full of awesome ingredients and tastes amazing.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Justine!
Sara
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a savory success! Easy, hearty and packed with flavor; my whole family loved it!
★★★★★
Meg
I made this tonight, my boyfriend loved it!
★★★★★
Linda
Can this soup be frozen?
Beth Pierce
yes
Maria
I can just imagined how flavorful this is! This goes perfect with breadsticks. Thank you for sharing this fagioli recipe that is simple and easy to make.
★★★★★
Cynthia
The ultimate comfort dish! I love how budget friendly this is too. A big hit at our house.
★★★★★
Biana
We love pasta soups, and this is one of the favorites! It is so delicious with spicy Italian sausage and all the spices.
★★★★★
Matt
Just the right combo of ingredients and love the flavor of this hearty soup.
★★★★★
Gina Ceraso
My whole family loves it, but my 11 year old requests this almost weekly! Great recipe!
★★★★★
Kara
I know some people don’t like soup during the hot summer months, but I actually like it because it doesn’t heat up the oven. 🙂
Everyone in the family loved this one, so I will be making it over and over again. So yummy!
★★★★★
Lily
This was so hearty and delicious, we loved it, it was the perfect comfy meal at home!!
★★★★★
Shelly
This soup is absolutely delicious and so easy-peasy!
I’m looking forward to leftovers tomorrow! Your recipes are my kind of cooking😋
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Shelly! So glad that you liked it! Have a fabulous week!
Tara
So many incredible flavors packed into this soup, especially the Italian sausage! Such a comforting meal and I love how easily it comes together.
★★★★★
Emily Liao
This was perfect for a chilly day! Loved all the flavors and spices in this. Definitely adding to my weekly rotation 🙂
★★★★★
Kechi
First of all, I love your blog and all your recipes. But this recipe is loaded, and I just want to dig in. Thanks so much for sharing!
★★★★★
Dannii
I always make a big batch of this when I need a pick me up. Total comfort food.
★★★★★
Chef Mimi
I haven’t made this for years, and I’d kinda forgotten about it! Why, I can’t imagine… But thanks for reminding me! It looks fabulous!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Mimi! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Haley
This looks so good! I want to warm up to a bowl of it today for lunch! I love your photos!
★★★★★
Traci
I’m always up for this pasta e fagioli! So easy, quick, and loved by everyone…thanks for another winner! 🙂
★★★★★
Erika
This is one of my all-time favorites. It’s so comforting.
★★★★★
Taylor
Love that I can make this delicious soup anytime I want to at home! And the leftovers are perfect for lunch the next day!
★★★★★
Jas
Once a despised meal (as a child), it is now one of my favorites ever! Love all the herbs you added to intensify the flavors. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! Yes we love it too! So delicious!