Description

If you’re craving a cozy, hearty meal that feels like dining at your favorite Italian restaurant, this Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli will hit the spot. It’s a soul-warming soup packed with tender pasta, rich tomato broth, ground beef, two types of beans, and aromatic vegetables. Whether you’re hunting for easy dinner ideas, a quick meal prep soup, or healthy comfort food, this dish is your go-to. It’s perfect for family dinners, cozy weekends, or feeding a crowd with ease.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped yellow onion

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

3 cups beef broth

1 can (15 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.

2. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute.

3. Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

4. Stir in kidney beans and cannellini beans. Simmer for 20-25 minutes.

5. While soup simmers, cook ditalini pasta in a separate pot according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

6. Add cooked pasta to the soup before serving. Stir well and adjust seasoning.

7. Garnish with chopped parsley or Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For best texture, cook and store the pasta separately if planning to refrigerate or freeze leftovers.

Make it vegetarian by swapping beef for plant-based crumbles and using vegetable broth.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 375
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 880mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 7g
Protein: 22g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: easy dinner, Italian soup, hearty soup, comfort food, Olive Garden copycat