Description
Experience the ultimate comfort of this copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli. This hearty, restaurant-style soup features savory ground beef, tender ditalini pasta, and creamy beans in a rich, herb-infused tomato broth. Perfectly balanced with savory and sweet notes, this easy one-pot meal is designed for busy weeknights and family gatherings. It is a satisfying, cost-effective masterpiece that tastes even better as leftovers the next day, bringing a warm hug in a bowl right to your kitchen table.
Ingredients
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz can tomato sauce
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
15 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz can northern beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups beef broth
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp sugar
8 oz ditalini pasta
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot and sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beans, beef broth, sugar, and dried herbs.
Bring the mixture to a slow boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate pot, cook the ditalini pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Add the cooked pasta to the soup pot and stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve warm.
Notes
To keep the pasta from absorbing too much broth and becoming mushy, cook the pasta separately and add it to individual bowls before ladling the soup over it. This allows for better storage if you plan on having leftovers. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 45mg