Description
Indulge in the comforting flavors of our Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Recipe, designed to bring the essence of Italian dining right into your home. This hearty soup is a delightful blend of lean ground beef, fresh vegetables, and nutritious beans, simmered to perfection with aromatic herbs. Ideal for cozy family dinners or meal prep, this dish is both satisfying and versatile. Enjoy a warm bowl alongside crusty bread or a crisp salad for a complete meal. Perfect for any night of the week, this soup guarantees a delightful experience for everyone at the table.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 3 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce
- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup dry ditalini pasta
- 1 can (15 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained
- 1 can (15 oz) great northern beans, drained
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup water (plus additional as needed)
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain excess fat.
- In the same pot, add another tablespoon of olive oil and sauté chopped onion, carrots, and celery until tender (about 6 minutes). Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Pour in chicken broth, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, sugar, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Return cooked beef to the pot and bring to a boil; reduce heat to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Cook ditalini pasta according to package instructions; drain.
- Stir cooked pasta and rinsed beans into the soup mixture and cook for an additional minute.
- Serve warm garnished with fresh parsley and shredded Romano or Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Customize by adding other vegetables like zucchini or spinach. For vegetarian options, substitute ground beef with lentils or additional beans. This soup freezes well; store in airtight containers for meals later on.