Discover a delicious and easy one-pot recipe for the classic Italian dish, pasta e fagioli. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner with minimal clean-up required. It 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 bit of fresh grated Parmesan and 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. We love all the tasty flavors and heartiness in this soup recipe.
You may have tried this soup at Olive Garden. Well, this recipe is so much better. It is easy, dependable, delectable, and freezes well. If you like this Olive Garden classic, try chicken gnocchi soup, chicken alfredo, and Olive Garden salad.
What You’ll Need
- Olive oil: extra virgin
- Italian sausage: I prefer mild or sweet, but you can use hot
- Vegetables: sweet onion, carrots, celery, garlic, canned fire-roasted tomatoes
- Seasonings: dried oregano, marjoram basil, and thyme and onion powder, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves
- Chicken broth: low sodium
- Tomato sauce: canned and low sodium if it is available
- Beans: kidney beans and cannellini beans
- Tomato paste: you can freeze the rest of the can
- Pasta: ditalini or elbow macaroni
How to 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 browns and the onions soften.
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.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- 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, including ditalini, elbow macaroni, or small shells, will work for this recipe.
- Do not overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente, which means slightly firm. The pasta will continue to cook even after the heat turns off.
- If you know you will save some soup for another day, remove that amount before adding the pasta. You can simmer the soup and add some pasta when you reheat it.
- Serve with 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese on top.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can be reheated in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
Serving Suggestions
- Appetizer: fried mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms, baked potato skins, toasted ravioli, or fried zucchini
- Bread: Dutch oven bread, garlic parmesan knots, warm bread sticks, or French baguettes with sweet cream butter.
- Salad: spinach salad with warm honey mustard dressing, wedge salad, arugula salad, or Italian chopped salad
More Soup Recipes
Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb Italian Sausage
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 ribs 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
- 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, including ditalini, elbow macaroni, or small shells, will work for this recipe.
- Do not overcook the pasta. Cook it al dente, which means slightly firm. The pasta will continue to cook even after the heat turns off.
- If you know you will save some soup for another day, remove that amount before adding the pasta. You can simmer the soup and add some pasta when you reheat it.
- Serve with 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese on top.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can be reheated in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
Nutrition
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Kerri
This pasta e fagioli is so delicious. My family loved it and we will make it again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kerri! I am so glad that you liked it!
Cat Post
Very tasty. So happy I made this soup.
Lilac
This pasta e fagioli recipe was hearty and comforting! Perfect for a cozy meal. My boyfriend wants me to make it again already.
Lynndee
Yum! It’s been a while since I prepared pasta e fagioli. Your recipe was delicious and easy to make. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Lynndee!
Hari
Liked the overall texture of the pasta e fagioli. Also, love the fact that it is a one-pot recipe.
Beth Pierce
Me too, Hari!
Lisa
Living in Italy pasta e fagioli is a staple in our household! It is filling and we love it.
Tammy Lee
What a comforting meal. This looks so delicious and perfect for the Autumn days ahead. I wouldn’t mind a bowl right now!
Beth Pierce
I understand, completely!
Stephanie
Adding this recipe to my list! I’m sure the entire family would love to have this for dinner soon! I love easy one pot hearty recipes!
Beth Pierce
Me too, Stephanie!
Zaney
This soup contains all my favorite flavours! We’ve tried it out and the whole family loves it. Thanks for the great recipe, Beth.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome!
Melissa C
This is such filling and tasty comfort food. I love the addition of the Italian sausage as it adds flavor and bulks up the dish too. I served it with your Italian salad and the family loved it. Thank you, Beth!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Melissa!
Laurie
This pasta e Fagioli was so delicious and very hearty. It was better than Olive garden and easy to make. Thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Laurie!
Karen W
Omg the pasta e fagioli turned out delicious. I made it for my parents and a couple of days ago and was delicious!!! Making it again for a dinner party next week. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Karen!
Sammie D
I love this pasta e fagioli. It was everything I wished for and more. It is much better than Olive Gardens.
Yara
I love a one-pot dinner that is full of flavour. The pasta-e-fagioli is such a lovely recipe and like you have mentioned, I also love the fact that it is minimal clean-up afterwards!
Tisha
Comfort food in a bowl! This is so hearty and so good!