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Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

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Are you looking for a quick recipe that can be made in about 30 minutes and is perfect for a cold wintery evening? If you answered yes, try this copycat Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli soup recipe. No more waiting in line to get into your favorite restaurant for this delicious soup. It can be made in 30 minutes at home!

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

Homemade Pasta Fagioli Soup Recipe

Perfect for those nights when you want a home-cooked meal, but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.

Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli is also a perfect meal to make ahead and freeze so you can have it ready and done on those days when you don’t have time to make a full meal.

Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients, it is simple to make, and did I mention it only takes about 30 minutes ?!

What to eat with Pasta e Fagioli soup?

The best things to eat with this pasta Fagioli recipe would include but are not limited to, French bread or bread of any type to absorb the extra soup in the bowl, ( or crackers) and /or a bowl of salad. Make it a simple night with salad, soup, and bread.

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

How to make Pasta Fagioli Soup

  1. Brown the ground beef over medium heat in a large pot.
  2. Once the ground beef is almost cooked all the way through, add the onions, carrots, and celery until they are soft. This should take about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain any excess fat.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
  4. Pour in the tomato sauce, beef broth, water, and canned tomatoes, and add the sugar, basil, and oregano to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and lower heat to medium-low.
  5. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Stir, in dry pasta and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente, about 10 more minutes.
  6. Mix in the dark red kidney beans and cannellini beans (both drained and rinsed), salt, and pepper to your preference, and add more water if a thinner soup is desired. Note: the soup will thicken as it cools.
  7. Top pasta e Fagioli soup with parmesan cheese and chopped parsley and enjoy!

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

How to store Olive garden Pasta Fagioli?

Place the leftover Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli soup in an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 4 days or into the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I freeze Pasta Fagioli Soup?

Yes, place the leftover soup in an airtight container making sure not to fill the container all the way to the top since the pasta Fagioli recipe will expand in the freezer.

You can freeze it for up to 3 months. It is recommended that the pasta be cooked al dente before freezing so it doesn’t end up mushy once it thaws out.

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

How to reheat Pasta e Fagioli:

Frozen soup can either be thawed out before reheating, or it can be placed into a pot while still frozen and cooked until hot. You will need to add some water to the pot as well.

The soup will thicken when it cools down, so the extra water will thin it out. Add as much water as you prefer based on your preference for soup thickness.

I would start with ¼ to ½ cup of water and adjust accordingly. Again, this is completely based on your preference.

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

4.59 from 212 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Soups
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 454 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef – lean
  • 1 yellow onion – finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots – diced
  • 2 celery stalks – diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 3 8 ounce cans of tomato sauce
  • 2 14.5 ounce cans of beef broth
  • ½ cup of water
  • 1 14.5 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 8 ounces of dry ditalini pasta
  • 1 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • Grated or shredded Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley for serving
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Brown the ground beef over medium heat in a large pot.
  • Once the ground beef is just about cooked all the way, add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook until soft. This should take about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
  • Pour in the tomato sauce, beef broth, water, and canned tomatoes, and add the sugar, basil, and oregano to the meat and vegetable mixture in the pot, stir and bring to a boil, cover, and lower heat to medium-low.
  • Let it simmer for 10 minutes and then, stir in dry pasta. Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes longer. Time may differ depending on the type of pasta used.
  • Mix in the beans (dark red kidney beans and cannellini beans - both drained and rinsed), salt, and pepper to your taste and add more water if a thinner soup is desired, and stir. Cook until everything is heated through.
  • Top pasta Fagioli soup with grated or shredded parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 454kcalCarbohydrates: 59.11gProtein: 30gFat: 10gSodium: 1500mgSugar: 11.4g
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4.59 from 212 votes (209 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Joanne

Wednesday 1st of January 2025

Very delicious. My husband gave it a 10!! The one thing I would definitely do differently….. Is cook the pasta before adding to the pot. I knew I was taking a chance that the pasta would absorb too much of the liquid which no doubt is the reason it suggested that if you want it thinner to add water . … It would’ve been perfect if I listened to my better judgment. Will definitely make again…. With cooking pasta first.

Emily

Friday 20th of December 2024

This was absolutely delicious. We will be making it again!

Chloe

Wednesday 13th of November 2024

Loved it ! My husband is not a soup guy but he liked this soup. Thanks for sharing. I did leave out the can of small tomatoes and I subbed the noodle with small shells. As well as using ground elk instead of beef.

Priscille

Sunday 6th of August 2023

This is an amazing recipe. I added a small jar of roasted red peppers from last years garden. Have done it a few times now and hubby just loves it.