Ultimate Pasta Fagioli Soup

5 from 3 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Sharing is caring!

This pasta Fagioli soup is a classic Italian recipe. Pasta e Fagioli translates in English to pasta and beans. It’s made with crushed tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, beans, and ditalini pasta.

Serve it with crusty Italian bread and a vegetable salad for a complete meal!

pasta fagioli soup in a bowl with a pot on the side.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Why You’ll Love This Soup

  • It’s hearty, delicious, and super easy to make.
  • Makes the best leftovers.
  • Although it’s vegetarian, you can include sausage or beef.
  • It’s super versatile, feel free to adjust it any way you want. Want to add spinach and mushrooms? Go for it!
  • Cooks in under 45 minutes.
  • Feeds a large crowd.

Ingredient Notes

  • Beans – I only used canned cannellini beans but feel free to include canned red kidney beans. Just make sure to drain and rinse them.
  • Broth – Chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water works for this recipe.
  • Crushed Tomatoes – I like using canned crushed tomatoes but feel free to use marinara sauce instead.
  • Herbs – I used a combination of dried and fresh herbs. It adds so much flavor!
  • Pasta – Although ditalini pasta is what’s traditionally used in pasta Fagioli, you may use any type of short-shaped pasta.
  • Parmesan Cheese Rind – It’s the rind from a round of parmesan cheese. It adds a lot of flavor.
measured and labeled ingredients.

Top Tips For The Ultimate Pasta Fagioli Soup

  • Add both dried and fresh herbs for extra flavor. Although this soup doesn’t contain spices, it includes a lot of ingredients that add amazing flavor!
  • I highly recommend adding a parmesan rind to the soup but if you don’t have it on hand, just make sure to serve it with lots of fresh parmesan cheese.
  • Don’t be alarmed if there’s a lot of broth and you don’t see enough beans and pasta. The longer the soup sits, the more it will thicken! Avoid adding more pasta than suggested.
  • If you plan on having leftovers, cook the pasta separately and add it to the soup when you’re ready to serve otherwise, the pasta will become soggy.
a ladle full of homemade pasta fagioli soup lifting it from the soup pot.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions

If you want to make this soup ahead of time, I highly recommend cooking the noodles separately. Follow steps 1-3 and then add the noodles and beans the day you plan on serving it.

To Store: allow the soup to cool completely then transfer it to a container with a lid and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating. To reheat, place the soup in a saucepan and cook on the stovetop until warm.

pasta fagioli soup in a bowl with a pot on the side.
5 from 3 votes

Ultimate Pasta Fagioli Soup

This pasta Fagioli soup is a classic Italian recipe. Pasta e Fagioli translates in English to pasta and beans. It's made with crushed tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, beans, and ditalini pasta.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 10
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup ditalini pasta
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 30 ounces canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 carrots , grated or blended in a food processor.
  • 1 large onion , finely diced or minced
  • 1 parmesan cheese rind
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely minced
  • ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme , finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil
  • ½ teaspoon sugar, optional
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Add olive oil, carrots, and onions to a large pot over medium-high heat and cook for 4 minutes, while stirring frequently. 
  • Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then add the chicken stock, basil, and parmesan cheese rind and bring to a boil. 
  • Season the broth with salt and pepper and add a pinch of sugar if it's too acidic. 
  • Add the pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Once the 5 minutes are up, add the beans and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. 
  • Make sure to stir the soup every 2-3 minutes so the pasta and beans don't stick to the bottom of the pot. Check for seasoning and enjoy! 

Notes

If you want to make this soup ahead of time, I highly recommend cooking the noodles separately. Follow steps 1-3 and then add the noodles and beans the day you plan on serving it.
To Store: allow the soup to cool completely then transfer it to a container with a lid and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating. To reheat, place the soup in a saucepan and cook on the stovetop until warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 874mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2231IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian American
Servings: 10
Calories: 275
Keyword: how to make pasta fagioli soup, pasta e fagioli, pasta fagioli
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

How To Make Pasta Fagioli Step-By-Step

  1. Add olive oil, carrots, and onions to a large pot over medium-high heat and cook for 4 minutes, while stirring frequently.
  2. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then add the chicken stock, basil, and parmesan cheese rind and bring to a boil.
  3. Season the broth with salt and pepper and add a pinch of sugar if it’s too acidic.
  4. Add the pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Once the 5 minutes are up, add the beans and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
  5. Make sure to stir the soup every 2-3 minutes so the pasta and beans don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Check for seasoning and enjoy!
four photo collage showing how to make pasta fagioli soup.

More Recipes You Might Enjoy

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on FacebookInstagram, or Pinterest!

Get new recipes sent to your inbox!
Don't miss out! Subscribe and get all the new recipes first.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating