How to make the PERFECT Pasta Fagioli Italian Bean Soup

cannellini beans

🥗Healthier: great northern beans

💰Cheaper: pinto beans

Pinto beans are often more affordable and still provide a creamy texture.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: Grana Padano

Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat.

Add 2 lbs of lean ground beef and brown it, breaking it up with a chopper.

Add 1 chopped sweet onion and cook until softened.

Stir in 2 teaspoons of minced garlic and cook until fragrant.

Add 1.5 teaspoons of Italian seasoning, reserving the other half for later.

Add 1.5 teaspoons of basil and parsley, reserving the other half for later.

Add 0.5 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and stir to combine.

Add 3 stocks of sliced celery and 3 sliced carrots; mix well.

Cover and cook for about 5-10 minutes until vegetables are soft.

Add 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of rinsed red kidney beans, and 1 can of cannellini beans; mix gently to avoid smashing the beans.

Add 1 jar of roasted garlic pasta sauce and mix gently.

Pour in 4 cups of beef stock and stir.

Add 8 oz of galini pasta (half a 16 oz box) and mix in.

Add 1 tablespoon of sugar to cut acidity from the tomato sauce.

Cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, add the remaining basil, parsley, and Italian seasoning.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, using garlic salt if desired.

Taste test and adjust seasoning as needed, adding black pepper for extra flavor.

Serve hot, garnished with Parmesan cheese.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens