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Fake Ginger

Nov 10, 2011

Pasta Fagioli

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Pasta Fagioli – Olive Garden copycat recipe. This hearty soup is filled with spicy Italian sausage, veggies, pasta, and beans and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. It is serious comfort food that the whole family will love!

Pasta Fagioli - Olive Garden copycat recipe. This hearty soup is filled with spicy Italian sausage, veggies, pasta, and beans and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. It is serious comfort food that the whole family will love!

 

My husband has been gone for a couple weeks now and while I’m the first to admit that it pretty much sucks, there are some good points to being alone.

  • My grocery bill is less than half of what it is with him home! I knew he ate a lot but holy cow.
  • I can get up at 4 am and no one yells at me!
  • To go with the above, I can sleep on the couch so that I can get up at 4 am without my children hearing and no one yells at me!
  • I can read all 3 books of The Hunger Games (again) without anyone asking me why I’m reading books meant for teenagers (again).
  • Real Housewives marathons. Enough said.
  • Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches are officially considered dinner.
  • I can make instant coffee and not feel guilty because I know he won’t ask for espresso unless he sees me prepping the machine.
  • There are no PTs to wash every night!
  • I can cook whatever I want, whenever I want! (!!)

And that last one is the reason I made this soup.

Pasta Fagioli - Olive Garden copycat recipe. This hearty soup is filled with spicy Italian sausage, veggies, pasta, and beans and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. It is serious comfort food that the whole family will love!

How To Make Pasta Fagioli!

Pasta Fagioli is a really simple, hearty soup made with sausage, pasta, veggies, and beans. 

It starts with sautéeing diced onion, carrot, and celery in a large stock pot until the veggies have softened. Then hot Italian sausage (feel free to use sweet Italian sausage if you aren’t a huge fan of spice) gets added to the pot and cooked through. Everything gets seasoned with Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes. Crushed tomatoes and chicken stock are stirred in and then it all simmers together for 30 minutes. 

Once it has all simmered together, add the small pasta (I use ditalini) and white beans and cook just until the pasta is done, about 6 – 8 minutes, depending on which small pasta you use. 

When you’re ready to serve it, sprinkle with some fresh grated Parmesan and green onions, if desired.

Pasta Fagioli - Olive Garden copycat recipe. This hearty soup is filled with spicy Italian sausage, veggies, pasta, and beans and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. It is serious comfort food that the whole family will love!

How Long Is Pasta Fagioli Good For?

Pasta Fagioli will stay good for 3 – 5 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to store it in an airtight container.

The pasta will continue to absorb the liquid as it sits so you may need to add more chicken broth to the soup when you reheat it. You can reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Can Pasta Fagioli Be Frozen?

Yes! It freezes very well! Just make sure to use airtight, freezer-safe containers. 

My favorite way to reheat it from frozen is to add it (frozen) to the slow cooker with a couple extra splashes of broth and let it warm for a couple hours. You can also let it thaw in the fridge and reheat on the stove or microwave if you prefer. 

What To Serve with Pasta Fagioli?

I like to serve Pasta Fagioli with a green salad and Italian bread to dip into the broth. It is also perfectly fine on it’s own, especially on a cold day. 

Pasta Fagioli - Olive Garden copycat recipe. This hearty soup is filled with spicy Italian sausage, veggies, pasta, and beans and topped with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese. It is serious comfort food that the whole family will love!

More Soup Recipes

  • Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup 
  • Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
  • Broccoli Cheddar Soup 
  • Autumn Squash Soup
  • Texas Tortilla Soup
  • Sausage, Lentil, and Kale Soup

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Continue to Content
Yield: 8 servings

Pasta Fagioli

Pasta Fagioli
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, peeled & chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed if necessary
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 -2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste
  • 1 15- ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 3 - 4 cups chicken stock, or vegetable stock
  • 1 can cannellini beans
  • 1 cup ditalini, or other small pasta
  • Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until it just begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrots; cook, stirring frequently, for another 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the sausage to the pot, crumbling as it cooks. Cook until the sausage is no longer pink. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper. Stir in tomatoes and stock.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
  4. Stir in the beans and ditalini. (Add an extra cup of stock or water at this point if it's boiled down too much.) Simmer for 6- 8 minutes or until pasta is tender.
  5. Serve piping hot with Parmesan cheese. (I really liked the sharpness of the green onions with this as well.)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 478Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 1319mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 5gSugar: 10gProtein: 27g

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© Amanda Livesay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Filed Under: soup Tagged With: beans, pasta, pork, sausage, soup

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kita says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 6:03 am

    Peanut butter and fluff are always a staple – man around or not! lol, there’s always cereal if they need it ;) 4 am though, you may be crazy.

    I love pasta fagioli, one of my all time favorite soups. Glad you were able to sneak this in.

    Reply
  2. Pam @ From Apples To Zucchini says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 6:30 am

    I have been wanting to make this FOREVER! It looks amazing!

    Reply
  3. Cassie says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 6:31 am

    This soup looks absolutely amazing. I love that this one is pretty straight-forward and I bet it tastes phenomenal. I’m gonna try it!

    Reply
  4. LeAnna says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:20 am

    The soup sound wonderful! I hope to make it soon.

    I know how it goes when your husband is gone. My poor kids end up eating the weirdest things when he’s out of town. He’s gone to Dallas today, and I’m thinking we may have Lunchables for dinner just so I don’t have to cook. :)

    Reply
  5. Living the Sweet Life says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 8:02 am

    PB & Fluff – – that’s the stuff champions are made of!! I’ve been meaning to try this soup – – it sounds so good!!

    Reply
  6. Erin says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I really love pasta fagioli but the only time I have made it myself I wasn’t that impressed. Definitely going to give it another try with this one.

    Reply
  7. Nutmeg Nanny says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 8:23 am

    This soup looks delicious! Perfect for fall and winter…yum!

    I love that you read The Hunger Games. I was just thinking about reading those books but feared I would get the whole “teenager books…again?” comments. I read Twilight and got tons of crap for that. Totally ordering these books now!

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Nov 10, 2011 at 11:25 am

      The Hunger Games are SO good! And their quick, easy reads. You need to read them!

      Reply
      • mk says

        Feb 14, 2015 at 9:16 am

        IMHO Novels like The Hunger Games may seem like teen reads to people who haven’t read them but they are so much more than that. A lot of YA novels may be superficial but far more of them are highly sophisticated and some of the best reads out there – they really make you think!

        BTW: I just found this receipt posted on Facebook and I’m making it tonight. Sounds perfect, with an arctic chill headed our way. I think a heaping bowl of this and a good novel by the fire will make for a perfect evening!

        Reply
  8. Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 8:56 am

    Oh hubs would love this – seriously. And did we or did we not cover the whole fluffernutter bit hmmm?? lol Isn’t it so funny how there are pros and cons to being home alone with the kids?

    Reply
  9. Michele says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 11:16 am

    This looks great! Great for the cold front we are supposed to get in Florida this weekend. ;)

    Reply
  10. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 11:46 am

    Oh I so get you on this one. There are postitives and negatives when our men are away. Pasta Fagioli reminds me of my husband actually. I remember he ate it on our honeymoon at a little Italian festival we went on. Weird thing to remember, I know.

    Reply
  11. Christin says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    I love soups with meat and pasta, especially ditalini. So hearty! Might chow down on this next week while i watch Real Housewives!

    Reply
  12. Nisrine says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    This sounds comforting and delicious. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. Christina @ This Woman Cooks! says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    I usually don’t consider soup as a meal either, glad to hear this was filling enough! I really want to make it now!

    Reply
  14. Julie @ Table for Two says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    This looks awesome for a cold winter day. Real housewives = love.
    How long is your husband gone for? I love that you get up early. I’m the same way :) well, not on weekends..just during the week lol

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Nov 10, 2011 at 3:41 pm

      He’s just gone for a month or so. Not too bad this time. :)

      Reply
  15. Ashley says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    thinking this will be the perfect replacement for chili when the guys are over for football on sunday! how many servings do you think it makes?

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Nov 10, 2011 at 7:54 pm

      It makes quite a big pot – maybe 6 – 8 servings. Let me know how it goes over with the guys! :)

      Reply
  16. Lauren @ hey, who cut the cheese? says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    Yum! Looks really great.

    Reply
  17. Memoria says

    Nov 10, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    I love Pasta E fagioli (pasta AND beans). Your dish looks absolutely perfect! YUM! I’ve bookmarked this recipe. Enjoy your time alone!

    Reply
  18. Chefanie Frasco says

    Nov 14, 2011 at 10:47 am

    This is one of my favorite soups! I have to make this. I will let you know how it turns out! YUMMMMM!

    Reply
  19. Jenna says

    Nov 19, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    Yuuumm!! Do you chop up all the sausage very fine before you cook it?

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Nov 19, 2011 at 4:59 pm

      I actually bought bulk sausage so I just treated it like ground beef, kind of breaking it up as I went. If you buy the sausage in casings, just remove them from the casings and crumble it into the pan. And then just break it up like any other ground meat.

      Thanks for reading and commenting! :)

      Reply
  20. Cristina says

    Nov 30, 2011 at 7:57 am

    In celebration of finally getting a cool front, I live in Florida, I made this soup Monday night. O.M.G! It was SO good!! Even my boyfriend and son loved it. I will definitely be making this again, thanks for sharing :)

    Reply
  21. Tessie says

    Dec 11, 2011 at 9:24 am

    It seems this ones recipe is missing :(

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Dec 11, 2011 at 10:00 am

      Sorry, the recipe plugin I was using crashed my site. Recipe is up now though! :)

      Reply
      • Tessie says

        Dec 11, 2011 at 10:26 am

        Thank you! Its so tasty!

        Reply
  22. sandra says

    Feb 21, 2012 at 8:10 am

    Hi! this soup looks amazing. I’m having a few friends over tonight for dinner and was thinking of making this soup. How many does this recipe serve? I’m just wondering if I should double the recipe.
    thanks:)
    Sandra

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Feb 22, 2012 at 6:25 am

      Sorry I missed your comment yesterday! If you made the soup last night, I’m sure you know it makes a ton! :P But yeah, I always have a ton of leftovers – I would say it serves 6 – 8. :)

      Reply
  23. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says

    Feb 29, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    I blog my version of your recipe today. So good. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  24. Emili Hostetler says

    Apr 09, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    How many servings does this make?

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Apr 09, 2012 at 1:27 pm

      I would say 6-8 servings. Thanks for reading and commenting! :)

      Reply
  25. Amy says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    Just made this tonight! Very good! I added a can of tomato sauce too.

    Reply
  26. Aprile says

    Jul 26, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    this sounds delicious but you need a new man

    Reply
  27. Dawn Justice says

    Nov 05, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    This looks really tasty I am definitely going to make this soon. I like warm soups this time of year, it warms you up from the inside. :)

    Reply
  28. Kate says

    Nov 07, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    I’ve had this recipe on file for almost a year now and just made it tonight. All I have to say is that I wish I didn’t wait so long! It was a HUGE hit and will definitely be making again soon. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • amanda says

      Nov 07, 2012 at 9:06 pm

      Great to hear! Thanks for coming back to tell me! :)

      Reply
  29. Michele H. says

    May 01, 2015 at 7:04 am

    I’ve made this soup before and it is wonderful! I cook the pasta ditalini or mini shells in a separate pot first-very al dente- then add them at the last minute to the soup. I like my pasta to stay firm. And of course with Parmesan-Reggiano grated on top and nice warm rolls to sop up the soup!

    Reply
  30. Carol Scarcello says

    Jan 04, 2016 at 6:31 pm

    I remember commenting on a pin for pasta fagioli, but I don’t remember whose it was. I grew up on pasta fagioli, but as a pasta dish, not a soup. Loved it growing up and still love it today!

    Reply
  31. Barb says

    Nov 11, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    Good soup.I made it with tortellini but I like these noodles better .sometimes I add fresh spinach.

    Reply
  32. Jules says

    May 22, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    Wow! Delicious! So the only thing I did differently was add more noodles and more vegetables. I did bow tie noodles because it is what I had on hand and turned out wonderful! It is def a keeper recipe. Taste just like Olive Garden. Its 85 degrees here in Virginia but I still made it for me and hubby and there are no leftovers! Also, the Parmesan cheese really makes the soup! Try it, you won’t regret it (:

    Reply
  33. Julie says

    Oct 23, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    I make this all the time! My entire family loves it. I use mild Italian sausage and just a sprinkling of red pepper (cuz we’re spice wimps), and a 32 oz can of crushed tomatoes (can’t find a 15 oz can and I hate to waste the rest) It’s easy and always perfect. A loaf of crusty Italian and dinner is done. Thank you!

    Reply
  34. Carol Fitch says

    Nov 17, 2018 at 4:04 pm

    Oh my goodness. This is such a wonderful tasty recipe. Picky husband, but made it anyway. Well it was a hit.
    I cut back on the red pepper flakes. Not spicy eaters. Just added 1/2 tspn … yummy.

    Reply
  35. Kristine says

    May 19, 2020 at 8:09 pm

    Do you drain the beans?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Pasta e Fagioli | livelovepasta says:
    Feb 16, 2012 at 6:01 am

    […] Source: adapted from Fake Ginger […]

    Reply
  2. Pasta Fagioli Recipe | Barbara Bakes says:
    Feb 29, 2012 at 6:31 am

    […] I’m a little addicted to the Pasta Fagioli soup at Toscano Italian Bistro. I went on a quest to find a great recipe so I could make it at home. I found a wonderful recipe that is similar at Fake Ginger. […]

    Reply
  3. 10 Warm Soups for Chilly Nights - Baking Beauty says:
    Jan 05, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    […] flavorful Pasta Faioli Soup is a meal by […]

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  4. Pasta Fagioli - Olive Garden copycat recipe! - Zuzi Cooks says:
    May 10, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    […] fakeginger.com – Get the recipe […]

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