If you’re craving a hearty, comforting soup that’s easy to make, this Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli is the perfect dish for you. Inspired by the famous restaurant’s version, this soup is packed with lean ground beef, hearty beans, vegetables, pasta, and a flavorful tomato-basil broth. It’s a nutritious and filling meal that’s perfect for chilly days or whenever you need something warm and comforting. The slow cooker makes this recipe incredibly convenient, allowing you to set it and forget it while the flavors meld together over time.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1 can (14 to 15 oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) of diced tomatoes, including the juice.
- 1 can (14 to 15 oz) white beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 jar (24 to 26 oz) tomato-basil marinara or pasta sauce
- 1½ tsp oregano
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1¼ cups dry pasta (fusilli, shells, or ditalini)
- ¾ teaspoon of hot pepper sauce (like Tabasco).
- Grated Parmesan (optional, for serving)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional, for serving)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions:
- Prepare the slow cooker: Add the chopped onion, browned ground beef, carrots, celery, kidney beans, white beans, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato-basil marinara sauce, oregano, beef broth, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Cook the soup: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together.
- Cook the pasta separately: About 20 minutes before serving, cook the pasta according to the package directions in a separate pot.
- Add the finishing touches: Stir the hot pepper sauce into the soup. If desired, mix in the cooked pasta or serve the pasta on the side so it doesn’t absorb too much broth while sitting in the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or hot sauce if needed.
- Serve and garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
Conclusion:
This Easy and Flavorful Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli is the ultimate comfort food that’s both nutritious and satisfying. With its combination of lean beef, tender vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a hearty meal that doesn’t require much effort. The slow cooker does all the work, allowing you to enjoy a warm and delicious meal at the end of the day. Perfect for weeknights or cozy weekends, this soup is sure to become a family favorite.
Easy and Flavorful Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli: A Hearty Comfort Meal
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef browned and drained
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1 can 14 to 15 oz kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can 14 to 15 ounces of diced tomatoes, including the juice.
- 1 can 14 to 15 oz white beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 jar 24 to 26 oz tomato-basil marinara or pasta sauce
- 1½ tsp oregano
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1¼ cups dry pasta fusilli, shells, or ditalini
- ¾ teaspoon of hot pepper sauce like Tabasco.
- Grated Parmesan optional, for serving
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley optional, for serving
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Add the chopped onion, browned ground beef, carrots, celery, kidney beans, white beans, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato-basil marinara sauce, oregano, beef broth, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
- Cook the soup: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded together.
- Cook the pasta separately: About 20 minutes before serving, cook the pasta according to the package directions in a separate pot.
- Add the finishing touches: Stir the hot pepper sauce into the soup. If desired, mix in the cooked pasta or serve the pasta on the side so it doesn’t absorb too much broth while sitting in the soup. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or hot sauce if needed.
- Serve and garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley, if desired.