Pasta e Fagioli
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Posted: 09/08/25
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Pasta e Fagioli is a hearty and comforting Italian soup made with tender pasta, beans, and a rich, flavorful broth. This easy homemade recipe is packed with wholesome ingredients and simple seasonings, making it perfect for a cozy weeknight meal. If you’re looking for a classic Pasta e Fagioli recipe that’s easy to make and full of authentic Italian flavors, this one is a must-try!
Super filling pasta e fagioli soup is heartwarming and perfect for a weeknight meal. It is filled with so many nutrients and packed with protein making it a full meal. If you don’t want to cook anything else, you don’t have to!
Packed with veggies, beans and pasta, this soup is so satisfying and will keep great for lunches throughout the week if you double up the batch. If you do make this soup as a meal prep option, cook and store your pasta separately and add it to your soup just before heating.
This chunky soup is a great meatless Monday option that won’t leave you feeling like you want something else to eat. It is so satisfying!
why you’ll love this recipe
- Some soups need to simmer all day, but this is a quick soup that you will be eating in just over an hour.
- This soup is so hearty, you can serve it as a whole meal. A one dish meal is a win in my books!
- This pasta e fagioli recipe uses canned beans so there is no overnight soaking or questioning the beans’ doneness!
what does e fagioli mean?
Pasta e fagioli simply means pasta and beans in Italian. I love how simple the name is even though this soup is bursting with flavor!
what is the difference between pasta e fagioli and minestrone?
The main difference between these two soups is that pasta e fagioli has less veggies in it. Minestrone has green beans and zucchini added to it and might also be a little more brothy compared to a thicker pasta e fagioli.
is pasta e fagioli a soup or a stew?
Typically, this is a soup but since the main difference between a soup and a stew is the amount of brothy liquid in it, if you prefer a more stew-like dish, just add less broth!
ingrdients for pasta e fagioli soup
- Extra-virgin olive oil – This is what Italians use! But if you want to use vegetable or canola oil, they will work too.
- Onion – Yellow or white onion give the best flavor in this soup.
- Celery – Finely chopped celery gives a nice texture and added fiber.
- Carrots – The final veggie of your “mirepoix” soup base!
- Salt and black pepper – Don’t be shy with these seasonings, they really make a soup’s flavor pop.
- Garlic – Minced garlic really gives a depth of flavor.
- Tomato paste – This will give you a good concentrated tomato flavor and also helps to thicken the soup slightly.
- Diced tomatoes – A can of unseasoned diced tomatoes with the liquid is so good in this dish.
- Cannellini beans – These white beans are most traditionally used in this soup but you can also use Borlotti (cranberry beans) if that’s what you have available.
- Broth – We love a good veggie broth, but use chicken or beef if that’s what you have on hand.
- Ditalini pasta – These small tubes are perfect for any soup.
- Tuscan kale – I love to use Tuscan kale because it is a little less bitter than curly kale, it holds it’s structure and goes really well with beans! Leafy greens like escarole, spinach, Swiss chard and arugula are great options, too.
can i use a different variety of bean?
Traditionally, Paste e fagioli soup uses a white (Cannellini) bean but depending on the area in Italy that someone is from, they may use a different variety like Borlotti beans.
A different version of this dish uses chick peas and is called pasta e ceci. It is definitely worth trying!
can i use a beef or chicken broth?
We love the light flavor of vegetable broth for this hearty soup, but if you have beef broth or chicken broth on hand, either option will work great!
Just keep in mind if you will be serving someone that is vegetarian, you will want to stick to a vegetable broth.
what do i use if i cant find ditalini pasta at the store?
Depending on your store, some pastas might be tricky to find. If you are unable to find Ditalini pasta at your store, don’t fret! There are a lot of small pasta types you can use in it’s place if you need to. These include: orzo, small shells, elbow macaroni and pastina. If you’ve got kids to feed and you can find alphabet pasta, that will make meal time so much fun!
how to make pasta e fagioli
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add onion, celery, carrots, salt and pepper and cook about 10 minutes, until veggies are soft. Stir occasionally.
- Add garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes and their juices, beans and broth. Simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Add the pasta and simmer for 10 minutes, or until noodles are al dente. Stir in kale and cook until kale has wilted.
- Serve immediately.
am i supposed to drain the canned beans?
This is up to you! I like to use the liquid to enhance the flavor of the soup plus there is less waste this way.
If you are trying to consume less salt, draining the beans is a good idea.
Pro Tips
- Fresh herbs like parsley and basil, or a fresh grated parmesan cheese are great garnishes to elevate this soup to impress guests!
- The pasta might soak up a lot of liquid while it is stored, so add more broth or water when you reheat if you prefer more liquid.
what to serve with pasta e fagioli
This hearty soup is a full meal on its own but if you want to bring a little something extra to the table, a classic grilled cheese is always the best accompaniment to any soup! These Grilled Cheese Roll Ups are delicious, so much fun to make, and great for dipping into soup!
We also love to have garlic bread or even a cheesy garlic bread to soak up the last of the broth left in the bowl when the chunky veggies are gone.
how to store leftovers
FRIDGE: Store leftover pasta e fagioli in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
FREEZER: Store leftover pasta e fagioli in a freezer safe container. If you plan to make extra to freeze specifically, freeze without ditalini and add pasta when you plan to serve. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
how to reheat leftovers
Reheat leftover pasta e fagioli in the microwave or as a bigger batch on the stovetop, stirring often so that it doesn’t burn to the bottom of your pot.
This hearty soup is perfect for a busy weeknight. Make it ahead and you will have supper on the table in no time before you’re all headed out the door for the next activity!
More Hearty Soups
- If you are looking for a classic with a twist, try our Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup.
- Fresh corn really boosts the flavor in this Corn Chowder. A great way to use leftover grilled corn this summer!
- Try our Crock Pot Potato Soup for your next busy weeknight and supper will be a breeze.
- Cheesy Southwest Chicken Soup is a great side option for your next Taco Tuesday!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
Warm up with a bowl of homemade Pasta e Fagioli! This hearty Italian soup is packed with pasta, beans, and a rich, flavorful broth. A cozy and comforting meal that's easy to make!
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 celery ribs finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 30 ounces cannellini beans (2 cans), drained and rinsed
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup ditalini pasta or other small pasta
- 2 cups chopped tuscan kale
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
- Add in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, the beans, and broth. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Add the pasta and simmer for 10 more minutes, or until al dente. Stir in the kale and cook until the kale is wilted.
- Serve immediately.
Tips
FRIDGE: Store leftover pasta e fagioli in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
FREEZER: Store leftover pasta e fagioli in a freezer safe container. If you plan to make extra to freeze specifically, freeze without ditalini and add pasta when you plan to serve. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat leftover pasta e fagioli in the microwave or as a bigger batch on the stovetop, stirring often so that it doesn’t burn to the bottom of your pot.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 292kcal (15%), Carbohydrates: 53g (18%), Protein: 13g (26%), Fat: 5g (8%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 1466mg (64%), Potassium: 375mg (11%), Fiber: 10g (42%), Sugar: 6g (7%), Vitamin A: 4610IU (92%), Vitamin C: 17mg (21%), Calcium: 151mg (15%), Iron: 4mg (22%)
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