Pasta e Fagioli (Olive Garden Copycat) Recipe
This hearty Pasta e Fagioli recipe is an Olive Garden copycat that combines tender ground beef, ditalini pasta, and a medley of beans in a flavorful tomato broth. Perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs and fresh vegetables, this comforting Italian soup is easy to prepare and ideal for satisfying family meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oils
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Vegetables
- 2 medium carrots, diced into small cubes
- 1 large onion, diced into small cubes
- 1 stalk celery, diced into small cubes
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed
Canned Goods and Broth
- 15 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 15 oz canned Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz canned Kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Pasta and Seasoning
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt, adjust to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper, adjust to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 3-5 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon until browned and cooked through.
- Drain and Set Aside Beef: Remove the cooked ground beef from the pot, drain any excess fat, and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, add diced carrots, onion, celery, and pressed garlic. Sauté for about 4 minutes until the vegetables soften and become fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes and Beef: Stir in the canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and the browned ground beef back into the pot, combining all ingredients well.
- Add Beans and Broth, Then Simmer: Add the Great Northern beans, kidney beans, and pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Add Pasta and Seasonings: Stir in ditalini pasta, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Continue cooking for another 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender.
- Serve with Garnish: Serve the soup hot, optionally garnished with fresh basil leaves or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Adjust salt and pepper to your taste preference.
- For a vegetarian version, omit ground beef and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- If fresh basil is not available, dried basil can be used but add at the end of cooking for best aroma.
- Ditalini pasta is traditional but small pasta shapes like elbow macaroni can be substituted.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: Pasta e Fagioli, Olive Garden copycat, Italian soup, bean soup, ground beef soup, ditalini pasta soup, hearty Italian meal