Pasta e Fagioli (Pasta and Beans)

Pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans) share the spotlight with aromatics and fresh tomatoes in this traditional Italian soup. Serve with a crisp salad and a hot loaf of garlic bread and you have a meal! Garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 35 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Servings: 4

This restaurant-worthy pasta fagioli recipe is surprisingly easy (and cheap) to make at home.

What Is Pasta Fagioli?

Pasta fagioli (or pasta e fagioli), which means “pasta and beans,” is a traditional Italian soup. It consists of small noodles (such as ditalini or macaroni) and cannellini beans in a seasoned tomato broth.

How to Make Pasta Fagioli

You’ll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let’s go over the basics:

Pasta Fagioli Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make pasta e fagioli at home:

· Oil: This pasta fagioli recipe starts with cooking an onion in olive oil.
· Vegetables: You’ll need an onion, celery, and a can of cannellini beans.
· Seasonings and herbs: The flavorful soup is seasoned with fresh garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt.
· Broth: Use store-bought or homemade chicken broth.
· Tomatoes: You’ll need fresh chopped tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce.
· Pasta: Make this traditional pasta fagioli with ditalini noodles (or any noodle you like).

· Though the recipe calls for one can of chicken broth, Nicole uses more because she prefers her pasta fagioli a little more soupy.
· Many pasta fagioli recipes call for Italian sausage. You can add the meat if you like, but this top-rated recipe is pretty hearty as-is.
· To serve, Nicole likes to ladle the soup into bowls and top with freshly grated Parmesan, cracked black pepper, and fresh parsley.

What to Serve With Pasta Fagioli

Since this is a hearty pasta soup, there’s really no need to pair pasta fagioli with any side dishes. However, a complementary side salad or a slice of crusty garlic bread will take this impressive dish over the top.

How to Store Pasta Fagioli

Store your (completely cooled) leftover pasta e fagioli in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. We don’t recommend freezing this soup, as the pasta will likely become unpleasantly mushy during the thawing process.

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• salt to taste
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ½ cup ditalini or other small pasta
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, with liquid

Directions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, pepper flakes, and salt; cook and stir until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce, and tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Add pasta and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
5. Stir in undrained beans and cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Serve hot and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)