Pasta e Fagioli, translated from Italian as “pasta and beans,” is a soup known for its hearty and comforting nature. It has been popularized in the United States thanks to the soup, salad, and breadsticks combo at Olive Garden—and now, we’re going to show you how to make it at home!
What is pasta e fagioli?
I really like all the soups Olive Garden serves, but I’d have to say the Pasta e Fagioli is my favorite. Pasta e Fagioli literally translates to pasta and beans. The soup originates from an Italian peasant dish that mixed together two of the cheapest ingredients available—pasta and beans—in either a broth or tomato-based sauce.
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The Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli soup is actually somewhat authentic. It’s definitely a more modern take on the classic recipe (it includes meat, something that wouldn’t exist in many peasant recipes), but compared to many of their other dishes on the menu, it’s a pretty close replica to what you’d find at an authentic Italian restaurant.
When I make Pasta e Fagioli at home, I make it into more of a pasta dish than a soup. I really like it to be thick and very stick-to-your-ribs. You can easily adjust the thickness by reducing or increasing the amount of pasta.
What is the difference between pasta fagioli and pasta fazool?
What’s in a name? The Olive Garden pasta fagioli can also be called pasta fazool or even just “pasta and beans.” It’s just a difference in pronunciation for the same dish!
What is pasta fagioli soup made of?
To make this soup, you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Seasonings: Red pepper flakes, bay leaf, dried thyme, dried oregano, dried basil, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper
- Garlic and onion
- Mild Italian sausage. In a pinch, you can also use ground pork or ground beef and Italian seasoning.
- Tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes
- Great Northern beans. Cannellini beans will work as well!
- Chicken broth
- Orzo or other small pasta
What kind of noodles are in pasta e fagioli?
Typically, you’ll find Pasta e Fagioli made with small pasta like ditalini pasta or mini elbow macaroni, but I don’t tend to keep those on hand. I do keep orzo on hand (I love me some orzo), so that’s what I like to use. If you want to be authentic, go ahead, but I promise you aren’t going to ruin anything if you use whatever small pasta you have kicking around.
Is this fagioli soup recipe good for prepping ahead?
It sure is! This recipe is one of those dishes that is really good straight off the stove, but becomes life-changingly delicious once it has melded in the fridge overnight. You could whip up a batch of this on the weekend, and then eat on the leftovers for lunch for the week. Yum!
Enjoy!
Pasta e Fagioli
Love the Pasta e Fagioli soup at Olive Garden? Now you can make a delicious copycat version at home with this easy recipe! Perfect for a cozy night in.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 1 16-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 2 15-ounce cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1-2 cups orzo (depending on how thick you'd like your soup)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add in the red pepper flakes and garlic, and saute until garlic is fragrant and slightly tender—about two minutes. Add in the onion, and cook until translucent—about three minutes. Add in the Italian sausage and cook until browned.
- Add in all the remaining ingredients, except the orzo, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, then add in the orzo. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the soup is thick and bubbly and the orzo is cooked.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 470Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 1615mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 11gSugar: 6gProtein: 25g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
