Name: Easy Pasta Fagioli
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound lean ground beef; 1 large onion, diced; 2 medium carrots, diced; 2 celery ribs, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and pepper to taste; Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes; 1 small piece of parmesan rind (optional, but recommended); 1 (14.5 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed; 1 (14.5 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed; 6 cups beef broth; 1 1/2 cup uncooked ditalini; Shredded parmesan cheese, for serving; Chopped fresh Italian parsley, for serving

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EASY PASTA FAGIOLI – A hearty tomato based soup made with fresh carrots and celery, ground beef, ditalini pasta, and beans.

Here’s what you need

Olive oil
Lean ground beef
Onion
Carrots
Celery
Garlic
Salt and pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
Italian seasoning
Canned crushed tomatoes
Parmesan rind
Canned cannellini beans
Canned kidney beans
Beef broth
Ditalini pasta
Shredded parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh Italian parsley

Let’s get started

Start with a large stock pot and add the olive oil. Set the heat to medium and let the oil heat up a bit. Next, add in the ground beef. Cook the beef until it’s mostly browned. While it’s cooking, use a spatula or wooden spoon to break the beef into smaller, bite-sized pieces.

Once the beef is mostly browned, add in the diced carrots, celery, and onions. Cook the vegetables about 4-5 minutes, until they start to soften up. Add in the crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Cook for about 1 minute.

Next, add in the crushed tomatoes, parmesan rind, both cans of beans, and the beef broth. Stir that all together.

Turn the heat up slightly until the soup begins to simmer, then turn the heat back down to a medium-low setting and simmer until the vegetables are tender (about 10 minutes). Be sure to stir the soup periodically while it’s simmering.

At this point, remove the parmesan rind and add in the pasta. If you don’t have ditalini on hand you can use any small, bite-sized pasta. Stir the soup and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

Give the soup a taste and add more salt and pepper as needed. You can also add more beef broth as needed to thin the soup to desired thickness.

To serve, portion out the soup into bowls and top with fresh shredded parmesan and chopped parsley. Easy Pasta Fagioli is perfectly paired with warm crusty bread.

Tips & Tricks

Carrot, celery, and onions: Have you seen this combination before? It’s a common base in French cooking called a mirepoix. Now you’re going to notice it all the time!

Parmesan rind: This can usually be found with the fancy cheeses. Adding the rind to the soup is optional, but recommended. It adds a richness and helps to thickening it as well.

Looking for more pasta recipes? Try my Four Meat Cavatini or Chicken Spaghetti Bake.