One Pot Pasta E Fagioli Soup

This copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup recipe is a comforting Italian soup in a tomato-based broth filled with beans, vegetables, and tiny tubular pasta. This vegan, healthy version of an Olive Garden classic is so delicious you will think you are eating out. And it takes less than 30 minutes and one pot to make.

I loved eating Olive Garden Pasta E. Fagioli Soup when I transitioned to a plant-based diet. Olive Garden was one of the only restaurants I frequented because I liked their salad (without cheese), Pasta Fagioli Soup, and their famous breadsticks, which are vegan. But I soon realized making a homemade Pasta Fagioli soup recipe is healthier than eating at a restaurant.

Jump to:

• Olive Garden Soup Nutritional Information
• Minestrone Soup vs. Pasta Fagioli Soup
• Pasta E Fagioli Noodles 
• Adjust Time for Different Noodles
• Pasta E Fagoili Soup Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make Pasta Fagioli Soup
• What to Serve with Pasta Soup
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Vegan Soups You Will Love this Fall and Winter
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

One of my former students, Sarah, worked at Olive Garden and shared the ingredients in my favorite dishes. As a result, I decided to make my favorite Olive Garden recipes at home. 

So, I set out to make a healthy version of this pasta vegetable soup to serve my family. But, of course, my version adds a few extra ingredients because that's just how I roll. 

Olive Garden Soup Nutritional Information

Out of curiosity, I checked the fat and calories in my selections at Olive Garden; call it an eye-opening event! 

• Pasta Fagioli Soup: 150 calories; 5 grams of fat; 2 grams saturated fat
• Olive Garden Salad: 150 calories; 10 grams of fat; 1.5 grams saturated fat
• Breadstick (1): 140 calories; 2.5 grams of fat; .5 grams saturated fat

Of course, the salad was a shocker! Again, live and learn. 

Minestrone Soup vs. Pasta Fagioli Soup

Although I love minestrone, Pasta E Fagioli soup's preparation and ingredients differ. Minestrone, for instance, has many more vegetables but fewer beans. 

Pasta Fagioli Soup is easy to make in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients, typically in a pantry. 

Even though this Fagioli soup recipe has fewer vegetables than a typical minestrone, you can always add additional vegetables. After all, that makes a recipe unique. 

You know I always add my own little flair to every recipe for those who follow my blog, so don't be shy in exploring your own inner creativity. 

Pasta E Fagioli Noodles 

Initially, I struggled to find Ditalini pasta noodles at my local store. Ditalini pasta and small tubular noodles are often used in soup recipes. 

If, for some reason, you can't find these little noodles, substitute them with small macaroni, orzo, or acini de Pepe noodles.

Adjust Time for Different Noodles

But, keep in mind to follow the cooking instructions on whatever noodle you choose for the last step in the cooking process, not to overcook the noodles in the soup. 

Because Ditalini pasta takes 8-10 minutes to cook, I add it right at the end of cooking. This, however, changes if different noodles are chosen, requiring more or less time to cook. 

Pasta E Fagoili Soup Ingredients

One of the best aspects of this soup recipe is the simple ingredients needed to make a fabulous soup pot.

• Garlic: I prefer fresh garlic whenever available.
• Yellow Onion: Yellow onion is sweet and, when sauteed with garlic, gets a rich and delicious flavor.
• Celery: Celery adds a fresh crunch to the soup ingredients.
• Carrots: Carrots are sweet, crunchy, and vibrant in color.
• Canned Diced Tomatoes: You can use canned or fresh diced tomatoes.
• Tomato Paste: Tomato paste adds rich, deep flavor.
• Dark Red Kidney Beans:Dark red kidney beans are hearty and robust and add flavor and texture to the soup.
• White Beans (Cannellini): Cannellini beans are also hearty yet mild in flavor.
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds a little sweetness without adding refined sugar.
• Dry Ditalini Pasta: Dry Ditalini Pasta (or similar small noodle or gluten-free pasta)
• Brown Lentils: Although lentils are not a typical ingredient in Olive Garden's Pasta Fagioli Soup, I added cooked Trader Joe's brown lentils for additional protein and texture. This is an optional ingredient.
• Italian Seasoning: Italian Seasoning is a combination of dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried thyme, and dried marjoram, but several variations also feature additions like dried sage, fennel seeds, or even spices like garlic powder or crushed red pepper flakes.
• Vegan Worcestershire Sauce: I like Annie's or Wizard brand Vegan Worcestershire Sauce.
• Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional Yeast is vegan cheesy. It is a soup thickener, adds immense flavor, and is rich in vitamin B.
• Bay Leaves: Adding a bay leaf while the soup cooks adds flavor. It is removed before serving the soup.
• Red Pepper Flakes (optional) A pinch of red pepper flakes enhances the other flavor in the soup.
• Vegan Parmesan Cheese: Vegan Parmesan is an optional ingredient; however, it adds an additional cheesy component as a garnish.
• Parsley (garnish): I added a parsley garnish, which is optional.

Pasta E Fagoili Soup Ingredient Substitutions

• One clove of garlic equals about ⅛th of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
• White onion substitutes yellow onion in recipes.
• Fennel is often substituted for celery in recipes; however, it does have a slight licorice flavor, which sweetens when cooked.
• Parsnips of any kind, substitute carrots in recipes.
• Crushed or fresh tomatoes can substitute for diced tomatoes. For a smokey flavor, use fire-roasted tomatoes.
• Choose any beans you prefer. You can even use chickpeas if desired.
• Date syrup is often used to replace maple syrup as a natural substitution. Or, try agave.
• Instead of lentil, add more beans.
• Soy sauce, coconut aminos, or balsamic vinegar are substitutes for vegan Worcestershire sauce.
• Miso paste is used as a substitute for nutritional yeast.
• A pinch of cayenne pepper is a suitable substitute for red pepper flakes. If you don't like spice, skip this ingredient.
• I also like basil as a garnish instead of parsley.

How to Make Pasta Fagioli Soup

As with many of my easy one-pot meals, Pasta Fagioli Soup cooks quickly in one-pot for a great weeknight meal. 

Even though Pasta Fagioli usually has meat, I exchanged the meat for 2 cups of cooked lentils. If you don't like lentils, however, substitute chopped mushrooms. 

• In a large pot, saute the garlic and onions until translucent.
• Add celery and cook for a couple of minutes.
• Now, add diced carrots and cook for a few minutes.
• Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, beans (rinsed and drained), Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, nutritional yeast, maple syrup, and red pepper flakes (if using) and bay leaves.
• Bring to a boil, stirring to combine ingredients.
• Once boiling, add dry pasta and lentils. Stir and cover.
• Reduce heat to simmer.
• Simmer for 8-10 minutes (the time required to cook the noodles); if you use a different noodle, follow the cooking time on the noodles' box or bag.
• Remove from heat; stir and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese and chopped parsley
• Serve with a salad, crusty bread, or your favorite side dishes.
• Note: if using dry lentils, add 1 cup to the pot without the pasta, bring the soup to a boil, cover, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes. Then, boil again, remove the cover, and add the pasta. Cook for 8-10 minutes uncovered until the pasta is cooked through.

What to Serve with Pasta Soup

As soon as the pasta is cooked, the soup is ready to serve. Like Olive Garden's soup recipe, I serve my soup with fresh chopped parsley and Vegan Parmesan Cheese.

Since I planned my Fagioli soup as my main dish, I served a simple salad with my Creamy Italian Dressing. 

This is a great soup to serve with a side of crusty bread or Vegan Oil-Free Cornbread. My family loves to dip bread in their soup and run it around the bowl to get every last drop. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• If using dry lentils, add 1 cup to the pot without the pasta, bring the soup to a boil, cover, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes. Then, boil again, remove the cover, and add the pasta. Cook for 8-10 minutes uncovered until the pasta is cooked through.
• Any type of small pasta works well in this soup.
• Add another can of beans of choice for those who do not like lentils.
• For those who struggle with nightshade vegetables, swap the diced tomatoes for roasted red peppers in a jar packed in water.
• I would suggest that you serve the soup with an Italian chopped salad.

It's soup season, and this copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup recipe is a hearty, comforting soup you will love!

Vegan Soups You Will Love this Fall and Winter

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