Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Recipe

Name: Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil; 1 pound lean ground beef (I used 85/15); 1 large sweet onion (diced); 2 large carrots (peeled and diced); 3 ribs celery (diced); 3-4 cloves garlic (minced); 32 ounces chicken broth; 24 ounces jar tomato pasta sauce (I used Bertolli’s Tomato & Basil); 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes; 15.5 ounces dark red kidney beans (rinsed and drained); 15.5 ounce great northern beans (rinsed and drained); 1 tablespoon italian seasoning; Salt and pepper (to taste (I used ½ teaspoon each)); 1 ½ cups dried ditalini pasta noodles; Fresh basil (for garnish); Grated parmesan cheese; Red pepper flakes

This Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup recipe is a great way to make this restaurant favorite at home! This savory soup is full of beans, pasta, and vegetables, making it a hearty and filling meal.

Bowl of pasta e fagioli with beans and vegetables, garnished with herbs.

Soups like this pasta e fagioli are my go-to recipes in the winter because not only are they delicious and comforting, but they also require little effort to make. This soup is a one-pot meal, meaning less clean-up and more time to relax after a long day.

Are you looking to add some new soups to your meal plan? If so, you don’t want to miss this Southwestern Chicken Soup, Double Noodle Soup, or Albondigas Mexican Meatball Soup recipe. You can’t go wrong with any of these recipes.

Table of Contents

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

All of these ingredients are budget-friendly, meaning you can feed a crowd without breaking the bank.
This recipe tastes even better the next day, so it’s great for meal prep!
On top of that, all of these ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, so no need for multiple stops!

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for a pasta dish, labeled and arranged on a white surface.

Ingredient Notes:

Avocado Oil
Ground Beef: I used 85/15 to make this recipe.
Onion: I used a sweet onion; however, a yellow onion would also work.
Carrots: I used large carrots; you can also cut baby carrots.
Celery
Garlic Cloves
Chicken Broth
Pasta Sauce: Plain tomato sauce would also work for this recipe.
Diced Tomatoes
Dark Red Kidney Beans
Great Northern Beans
Italian Seasoning
Ditalini Pasta

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions and Additions

Ditalini pasta is the traditional pasta used in this Italian-style soup. You can use any small pasta shape that you have on hand if desired.
Swap out the lean ground beef and use ground Italian sausage instead for even more flavor.
White kidney beans or cannoli beans can be used instead of the great northern beans.

How to Make Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli (step-by-step directions)

Cooked ground meat in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Step 1: Brown the ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven with olive oil until done.

Chopped carrots, onions, and celery in a pot.

Step 2: In the same pot, saute the veggies until tender.

A pot with chopped carrots, celery, onions, and garlic being stirred.

Step 3: Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

Pot with pasta e fagioli: beans, meat, tomatoes, and spices, before cooking.

Step 4: Add all the ingredients except the pasta to the pot. Simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes.

Pot of pasta e fagioli with pasta on top, stirring with a wooden spoon.

Step 5: Add the pasta and cook for another 10 minutes.

A pot of hearty pasta e fagioli with a wooden spoon.

Step 6: Adjust the soup for seasonings and thickness to suit your tastes.

Bowl of pasta e fagioli with breadsticks and herbs on a table.

Recipe Tips

Fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese make great garnishes for this easy recipe.
Want to keep to the beef flavor in this simple soup recipe? Use beef broth or beef stock instead of chicken broth for your base.
One of my favorite things about soup is that it tastes even better the next day. So, feel free to make this recipe a day ahead of time so that it’s ready when you need it.

Storing Tips

Refrigerator: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing: You can also freeze the leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Soup can be reheated on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave for 1-2 or until warm all the way through.

Serving Suggestions

This Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagoili soup is great when served as a starter for your favorite pasta dishes like this Baked Ziti Pasta With Alfredo Sauce, this Instant Pot Italian Chicken Penne Pasta, or this Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Pasta. If you ask me, you can’t have pasta or Italian recipes like this one without a garlic bread side dish. This Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread is my favorite bread to serve with pasta.

Pot of pasta soup with a wooden spoon, herbs, and spices nearby.

Recipe FAQs

Does Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli contain meat?

Yes, this soup typically contains ground beef.

What’s the difference between pasta fagioli and minestrone?

Pasta Fagioli and minestrone are Italian soups with beans, vegetables, and pasta. However, the main difference is that minestrone typically contains a wider variety of vegetables and may have a tomato-based broth. In contrast, pasta fagioli has fewer vegetables and savory broth.

Can you freeze pasta fagioli?

Yes, this soup freezes well. Allow it to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. It can also be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What does fagioli mean?

Fagioli is the Italian word for beans, specifically kidney beans. They are also a key ingredient in pasta fagioli soup.

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