Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli is the ultimate cozy comfort food, rich, hearty, and packed with authentic Italian flavor. With its savory broth, tender pasta, protein-packed beans, and flavorful ground beef, this homemade version brings the beloved restaurant classic right into your kitchen.
Whether you’re new to Italian soups or a seasoned soup-lover, this dish offers the perfect balance of simplicity and satisfying flavor. In fact, if you’re already a fan of easy lasagna soup or hearty Italian-inspired stews, you’ll love how this recipe comes together quickly and easily with pantry staples.
Plus, it’s versatile. You can tweak it to be vegetarian, spicy, or even crockpot-friendly, just like our guide to the best pastina soup recipe, another Italian favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
There are plenty of reasons why this Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli recipe is a must-try:
- Authentic Flavor: It tastes just like the restaurant version, rich, savory, and comforting.
- Simple Ingredients: Made with pantry staples like beans, pasta, and ground beef, no fancy ingredients needed.
- One-Pot Friendly: Most of the cooking happens in a single pot, making cleanup a breeze.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Stores well in the fridge or freezer, and gets even more flavorful the next day.
- Customizable: Make it vegetarian, add extra spice, or use your favorite small pasta.
- Family Favorite: Kid-approved and great for serving large groups.
Whether you’re craving a cozy meal or want to impress guests with a homemade Olive Garden favorite, this soup delivers every time.
Ingredients Needed For Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
Here’s everything required for this classic Italian soup:
- Protein
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage for a spicier version)
- Vegetables
- Onion, carrots, celery, garlic
- Canned Goods
- Tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, great northern beans, chicken broth
- Pasta
- Ditalini pasta (or any small pasta you love). For the most authentic texture and flavor, we recommend using De Cecco ditalini pasta, which holds up well in soup without getting mushy.
- Seasonings
- Basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, parsley, sugar, salt & pepper
- Toppings
- Shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese
For a deeper bean-forward flavor, you might also enjoy checking out this dense bean salad recipe, which highlights how beans can shine in various recipes.
How to Make Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
- Brown the Meat
- Sauté beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
- Cook the Veggies
- In olive oil, sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 6 minutes. Add garlic last.
- Simmer the Broth
- Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, sugar, and spices.
- Return meat to the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Boil the Pasta
- Cook pasta separately to avoid mushy leftovers.
- Finish the Soup
- Add beans and pasta to the pot.
- Stir in parsley and let everything heat through.
- Serve & Top
- Ladle into bowls and top with cheese.
Best Side Dishes
This soup pairs beautifully with:
- Cheesy garlic bread
- Crisp salad with vinaigrette
- Tomato soup with cheddar bay dumplings for a comforting soup combo
Variations and Tips
- Vegetarian Version: Skip the meat, double the beans
- Make It Spicy: Use hot sausage or chili flakes
- Crockpot Friendly: Combine all but pasta and parsley; cook low 4–6 hours
- Freeze It: Store pasta separately to avoid sogginess
Storing & Reheating
- Fridge: Up to 4 days
- Freezer: Up to 3 months
- Reheat: Gently on stove or microwave
FAQs About Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
What pasta works best?
Ditalini is traditional, but macaroni or small shells work well too.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes! Omit the meat and use veggie broth.
Should I cook the pasta in the soup?
Not recommended unless you’re serving all at once, it’ll absorb too much broth over time.
Final Thoughts
This Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli brings all the savory comfort of your favorite restaurant soup right to your home kitchen. Whether you’re meal prepping, serving a cozy family dinner, or trying new Italian comfort food, this dish will surely become a staple.
Want more cozy meals? Try these next:
Print
Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli: A Comfort Food Favorite
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Hearty and comforting, this Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli soup is loaded with ground beef, beans, vegetables, and pasta simmered in a savory Italian-style tomato broth. It’s an easy one-pot meal that brings restaurant flavor home.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
2 (14.5 oz) cans low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup water
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried marjoram
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup dry ditalini pasta
1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, for topping
Instructions
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat and transfer beef to a plate.
Add remaining olive oil to the pot, followed by onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Pour in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, water, sugar, and all dried herbs. Return cooked beef to the pot. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
Meanwhile, cook ditalini pasta in a separate pot according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Add beans and cooked pasta to the soup and stir gently to combine. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Stir in fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Ladle into bowls and serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.
Notes
To prevent pasta from absorbing too much broth, store soup and pasta separately if you plan to refrigerate or freeze leftovers.
You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage or make it vegetarian by omitting meat and using vegetable broth.
This recipe is freezer-friendly. Freeze soup and pasta separately for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 718mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 13g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 49mg
Keywords: copycat olive garden pasta e fagioli, pasta fagioli soup, olive garden copycat, italian soup recipe