Best Pasta Fagioli Recipe

Introduction

Pasta Fagioli is a comforting Italian soup combining hearty beans, tender pasta, and flavorful vegetables. This recipe offers a rich, warming bowl perfect for any season. Enjoy a classic dish that’s both nourishing and easy to prepare at home.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 cup quartered carrots
• 2 (15 oz) cans cooked cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 dried bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup dry ditalini pasta

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Step 2: Sauté the onions, garlic, and carrots for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and softened.
3. Step 3: Add beans, tomato sauce, basil, parsley, oregano, black pepper, red pepper flakes, vegetable broth, and water to the pot. Stir to combine.
4. Step 4: Cover the pot and turn the heat to high. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. This should take about 10 minutes.
5. Step 5: Once boiling, remove the lid and reduce heat to medium.
6. Step 6: Add the dry pasta and stir. Cook over medium heat for half the recommended cooking time on the pasta package to undercook it.
7. Step 7: Discard the bay leaf before serving.

Tips & Variations

• Under-cooking the pasta is key; it will continue to soften in the soup, preventing mushiness.
• You can substitute ditalini pasta with small elbow macaroni or other tiny pasta shapes.
• For a meatier flavor, add cooked Italian sausage or pancetta before adding the vegetables.
• Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried; add them at the end of cooking to preserve flavor.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If the soup thickens when chilled, add a splash of broth or water when reheating. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this soup in an Instant Pot?

While possible, the stovetop method is preferred. Pasta can overcook easily in the Instant Pot. If using an Instant Pot, sauté vegetables first, then add beans, seasonings, broth, and tomato sauce. Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes and use a quick release. Consider cooking pasta separately to avoid overcooking.

Can I prepare this in a Crockpot?

Yes, but pasta should be added in the last hour of cooking to prevent it from becoming mushy. Alternatively, cook pasta separately and stir it into the soup before serving. The soup can be cooked on low for 4–6 hours before adding pasta.

Best Pasta Fagioli Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 147 reviews

This Best Pasta Fagioli Recipe is a hearty and comforting Italian-inspired soup made with tender cannellini beans, diced vegetables, flavorful herbs, and ditalini pasta simmered in a savory tomato broth. Perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner, this recipe offers versatile stovetop, Instant Pot, and crockpot methods to suit your cooking preference.

• Author: Lisa
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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Vegetables and Aromatics

• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 cup quartered carrots

Beans and Pasta

• 2 (15 oz) cans cooked cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup dry ditalini pasta

Liquids

• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Seasonings

• 1 dried bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Prepare the Aromatics: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onions, minced garlic, and quartered carrots, sautéing for about 5 minutes until the onions become translucent and the carrots soften.
2. Add Beans, Tomato Sauce, and Seasonings: To the pot, stir in rinsed cannellini beans, tomato sauce, dried bay leaf, dried basil, dried parsley, dried oregano, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix well to combine the flavors.
3. Add Liquids and Boil: Pour in the vegetable broth and water. Cover the pot and increase the heat to high. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. This should take about 10 minutes.
4. Cook the Pasta: Once boiling, remove the lid and reduce heat to medium. Add the dry ditalini pasta to the soup and stir. Cook for half the recommended time on the pasta package instructions, ensuring the pasta is slightly undercooked as it will continue cooking later in the soup.
5. Finish and Serve: Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving. Stir the soup and enjoy hot.

Notes

• Undercook the pasta slightly in the soup to avoid it becoming mushy as it continues to absorb broth.
• When making in an Instant Pot, sauté the vegetables first, add the ingredients carefully without stirring the tomato sauce in, and cook on high pressure for 2 minutes with a quick release.
• For the crockpot, sauté vegetables first on stovetop, add all ingredients except pasta and cook on low for 4–6 hours, then add pasta in the last hour to prevent overcooking.
• You can cook pasta separately to avoid overcooking if preferred.
• Feel free to add more broth or water to adjust soup thickness as needed.

Keywords: Pasta Fagioli, Italian soup, cannellini beans, ditalini pasta, vegetarian soup, easy soup recipe, hearty soup