Best Recipe for Pasta fa*gioli Soup (Pasta Fazool) (2024)

Looking for a cozy dinner idea that is hearty and easy to make? Wait until you try this yummy recipe for pasta fa*gioli soup!

When the temperatures start to dip, there is nothing quite like a cozy bowl of soup.

Am I right?

Whether you make a hearty bowl of chicken soup homemade or a creamy balsamic tomato soup, it just feels like a big hug in a bowl. And if you feed me with some yummy pasta e fa*gioli soup?

We are BFFs for life.

Have you had pasta fazool before? It is hearty, delicious, and will warm you up on a cold, chilly night.

This recipe for pasta fa*gioli is easy to make and cooks in well under an hour. But if you let it sit a bit and let the flavors meld a bit longer? It is MMMMM good.

Here’s how to make this recipe for pasta fa*gioli soup!

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About Pasta E fa*gioli

Pasta fa*gioli, also known as pasta fazool, is an Italian recipe for pasta with beans.

It is a soup that was known as a peasants dish because it is made with budget-friendly ingredients.

I love this recipe because it’s easy to keep most of the ingredients stocked in the pantry. But oftentimes, I’ll run out and snip some fresh herbs from the garden to freshen up the meal.

What Are the Ingredients in Pasta fa*gioli?

Depending on the recipe you find, there is traditionally a soup base with onions, celery, pasta, and beans.

You can make the base with carrots too for extra nutrition but I usually don’t. There are variations that include ground beef, ham, bacon, or proscuitto.

And of course, you’ll find lots of fresh herbs like oregano, parsley, and basil too.

Does Pasta e fa*gioli Contain Meat?

Most recipes do, but you can omit it if you prefer a vegetarian option to the dish.

I don’t use a lot of meat in my recipe for pasta fa*gioli, but there is a little because it adds a flavorful layer to the dish.

So in my recipe, it’s not a central ingredient but adds another layer of flavor and makes the soup taste a little heartier.

This pasta fazool soup recipe is so good. I can’t wait for you to try it.

The Best Recipe for Pasta fa*gioli Soup

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love to make Italian food and have shared several recipes that were passed down from my grandma before she passed. (Like her simple bruschetta tomatoes and baked shrimp scampi recipes – they are to die for!)

I’ve been making this soup recipe for several years now. It’s a combination of what my grandmother used to make with some tips from America’s Test Kitchen.

Have you ever tried their recipes before?

They test different variations of dishes in the kitchen and then share their incredible recipes. I picked up a few tips from them while making this dish and it definitely adds some depth and flavor.

So what’s the big secret?

Anchovies and a rind of parmesan cheese.

They saute some anchovies and drop a rind of parmesan cheese in the soup while it’s cooking and the flavor is unbelievable.

Because I loved these additions so much, I incorporated them into my own recipe for pasta fa*gioli and the taste is crazy good.

In full disclosure, I make my recipe without measuring anything. So feel free to tweak the ingredients as you see fit.

When I spice up my pasta fazool, I eyeball the ingredients too, so these amounts are best guesses at what I typically use when making it.

Ingredients to Make Pasta e fa*gioli

The list of ingredients sounds like a big list to make this recipe for pasta fa*gioli but as you make it, it’s pretty easy to do and will become second nature as you make it.

Here’s what you need to make this pasta fa*gioli recipe.

• onion
• celery
• extra virgin olive oil
• bacon
• garlic
• cannellini beans
• chicken or vegetable stock
• diced tomatoes
• parmesan cheese rind
• parmesan cheese
• red pepper flakes
• oregano
• fresh parsley
• ditalini or small pasta

I prefer to make this dish using parmesan cheese that I shaved or shredded myself because it tastes fresher. But feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

Since I use fresh parmesan cheese a lot, I freeze the rind in some Glad Press ‘n Seal because adding that rind to soups adds a cheesy flavor that you can’t beat!

And while you can use basil in this dish, I prefer using parsley on its own instead.

As an aside, let me just tell you how important it is to use fresh versus dried herbs for this recipe.

I add fresh parsley to my recipe for pasta fazool after I remove it from the heat. The greens from the parsley immediately brighten the dish. And it’s delicious.

If you prefer to use fresh basil, go for it! It is equally as good.

That said, if you don’t have fresh herbs you can easily make pasta fazool with dried too, but it’s not the same.

Whenever I make this recipe, I use my dutch oven. If you don’t have one, you can make pasta fa*gioli soup in a stock pot.

Use what you have and enjoy this dish!

Directions to Make the Best Recipe for Pasta fa*gioli Soup

While there seem to be a lot of ingredients to make pasta e fa*gioli, it’s really easy to do and takes very little time.

If you want to prepare this ahead of time, I would make it all and leave out the pasta until you are ready to eat.

Adding the pasta and then letting it sit will make it mushier as the pasta soaks up the chicken stock and swells.

But I’ve made this pasta fazool recipe early in the day and let it sit on the stove allowing the flavors to meld as I do other stuff, then reheat and add the pasta later.

Oh, I can’t wait for you to make this dish!

Here’s how to make this recipe for pasta fa*gioli.

• In a Dutch oven or stock pot, heat a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
• When the oil heats, add the bacon and cook through for about 5 minutes.
• Next, add the onions and celery. Cook for about 5-7 minutes until they are soft and translucent.
• Add the anchovies, mix well, and cook another minute.
• Then add the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Mix well and cook until the garlic releases its odor (about 30 seconds to one minute).
• Immediately add the diced tomatoes and scrape the sides to get the bacon bits off.
• Next, add the beans and cheese rind, mix well, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Then add the chicken or vegetable stock and bring to a boil.
• Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions.
• Remove from heat and take out the rind. Add fresh parmesan to brighten the soup.
• Drizzle each bowl with extra virgin olive oil and fresh parmesan shavings. Then garnish with fresh parsley.
• Serve and enjoy!

More About Pasta Fazool Recipe

Have you ever made pasta fazool before? How do you make it differently? If you try this recipe I’d love to hear what you think. I would love to know more in the comments below.

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Looking for More Great Soup Recipes?

I love a good cozy soup recipe that is easy to make and feels like a hug in a bowl.

Wait until you try these soup recipes!

• Corn Chowder Easy Recipe
• Recipe for Chicken Soup Homemade
• Creamy Balsamic Tomato Soup Recipe
• Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Easy Spinach Tortellini Soup
• Tortellini Soup with Sausage and Spinach
• Best Recipe for Seafood Stew

More Italian Recipe Ideas

I’m a huge fan of Italian food and make dishes all the time for my family.

It’s part of my heritage and the food is delicious!

Here are some easy recipes to try.

• Baked Shrimp Scampi Recipe
• Grandma’s Recipe for Bruschetta Tomatoes
• How to Make Sunday Sauce with Meatballs Like a Pro
• How to Make Meatballs in the Oven
• Caprese Salad
• Grilled Sausage and Peppers
• Italian Seafood Stew
• Proscuitto and Brie Appetizer Bites
• Caramelized Pear Flatbread Recipe.

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