Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

Name: Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 small onion, diced; 2 carrots, diced; 2 stalks celery, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cans diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces each; 1 can red kidney beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed; 1 can white cannellini beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed; 4 cups beef broth; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 8 ounces ditalini pasta

A hearty, cozy bowl of soup that tastes just like the restaurant favorite.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Italian· July 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

35 minutes

Total

50 minutes

Serves

There is something so comforting about a big bowl of this soup on a chilly evening. It is packed with ground beef, tender beans, and little bits of pasta in a rich tomato broth that warms you right up.

My secret to getting the best flavor is to make sure you let the onions and celery soften completely before adding your liquids. It makes the base of the soup so much sweeter and more savory.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces each
1 can red kidney beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed
1 can white cannellini beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed
4 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces ditalini pasta

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until it is fully cooked. Drain off the excess grease.
2
Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
3
Pour in the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, cannellini beans, beef broth, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
4
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
5
Stir in the uncooked ditalini pasta and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
6
Remove from the heat and serve immediately while hot.

💡 Tips

This soup keeps great in the fridge for up to three days, but keep in mind that the pasta will soak up the broth as it sits. Just add a splash of extra beef broth when you reheat it to bring the texture back to life.

#soup #dinner #comfort food #copycat

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