This website may include affiliate links and advertisements, which help us share delicious recipes with you. Please take a moment to read my disclosure policy.
Indulge in the comforting flavors of Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli, a robust Italian soup brimming with pasta, vegetables, beans, and lean ground beef. This dish is not only hearty but also incredibly satisfying!
If you’re a fan of Italian soups, you might also enjoy creamy Zuppa Toscana, delightful chicken gnocchi soup, or the classic Italian wedding soup.
Reader Feedback
“This recipe is fantastic! It’s simple yet delivers a tasty and filling meal that my husband loved. It’s definitely going to be a staple in our home!” – Keriema
Today I’m excited to share one of my all-time favorite soups: Pasta e Fagioli. This dish epitomizes comfort food! It’s thick and meaty with an abundance of vegetables and beans. The best part? You can prepare it effortlessly in your slow cooker! With minimal prep time required, this soup simmers for 8 hours—allowing all those wonderful flavors to meld together while you relax at home.
As your soup cooks throughout the day, consider preparing some sides like a fresh salad or warm breadsticks for dipping. You can even make these accompaniments ahead of time! Once your Pasta e Fagioli is ready, simply set the table and enjoy this delightful meal with your family.
Ingredients for Pasta e Fagioli
This rich and hearty soup features an array of ingredients that come together beautifully for maximum flavor! Check out the recipe card at the end for precise measurements:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Adds depth and moisture.
- Ground Beef: Opt for lean ground beef for healthier results.
- Carrots: Freshly peeled and sliced; avoid canned carrots as they tend to become mushy.
- Celery Stalks: Chop them according to your preference.
- Onion: Diced finely if serving kids.
- Crushed Tomatoes: Canned tomatoes work best; choose flavored varieties if desired.
- Beef Broth: Provides a savory base flavor.
- Bay Leaves: Infuse traditional taste into the broth.
- Oregano & Dried Basil: Enhance aroma with their fragrant notes.
- Dried Thyme: Offers subtle flavor enhancement without overpowering other ingredients.
- Salt & Pepper: Adjust according to taste (I recommend 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper).
- Cannellini Beans & Red Kidney Beans: Rinse thoroughly before adding them into the mix!
- Ditalini Pasta: Add uncooked pasta towards the end of cooking.
How to Prepare Pasta e Fagioli
Making this delicious soup requires just a bit of prep work—perfect paired with soft buttery rolls!
-
Brown Ground Beef:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add ground beef until browned through.
-
Combine Ingredients: – Transfer cooked beef into your slow cooker along with all other ingredients except beans and pasta.
-
Cook: – Set on low heat for 7–8 hours or high heat for 3–4 hours; stir in beans and pasta during the last 30 minutes before serving.
-
Season:
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed; remember to remove bay leaves before serving!
-
Serve Hot: – Enjoy immediately while it’s steaming hot!
Is Pasta e Fagioli Considered Main Dish or Side Dish?
A common question indeed! Given its heartiness—with meat AND veggies—it can easily stand alone as a main course when paired alongside Caprese salad or breadsticks—or serve it as an appetizer leading up to another entrée!
What Sets Minestrone Soup Apart from Pasta e Fagioli?
While both soups are beloved staples in Italian cuisine—and often confused—they have distinct differences:
-
Consistency:
- Minestrone lacks meat (like ground beef) resulting in thinner broth compared to thicker Pasta e Fagioli.
-
Vegetables:
- Each has its own variety but expect more diverse options within each bowlful when enjoying Pasta e Fagioli!
Storing Leftovers
Pasta e Fagioli makes excellent leftovers—often tasting even better after sitting overnight!
Refrigeration
Store any remaining soup in an airtight container within your fridge where it will stay fresh up until about three days later.
Reheating
To reheat simply pour into medium-sized pot over medium-high heat on stovetop until warmed through (about 5–10 minutes).
Feel free save this recipe now so you can revisit it later!
About Alyssa Rivers
Alyssa Rivers is not only an accomplished author behind ’The Tried-and-Tested Cookbook’ but also serves as professional food photographer specializing in creating mouthwatering recipes featured across platforms like Good Morning America & Buzzfeed among others.
Explore More Ideas
Try out our Turkey Chili recipe next—it takes just about 55 minutes from start-to-finish!