This hearty Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli is full of veggies, beans, and pasta. Pasta e Fagioli means "pasta and beans" in Italian but this soup is much more than just its name.
One of Olive Garden's fan favorite soups is their Pasta e Fagioli Soup and this copycat version may just be better than the original. It's easy enough to make at home and it makes enough for 6 servings!
If you're a fan of Olive Garden, check out this Instant Pot Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soup Copycat. For something simpler, this Instant Pot lasagne soup. It's simple to make and quick, too!
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How to Pronouce Pasta e Fagiloli
Fagioli is pronounced differently depending on what part of the world you're in. In Naples, Italy, as an example, Fagioli is pronounced [faˈsuːl], and in America, it has been changed into the word "Fazool".
Just as in many word dialects, the words change over time and are interpreted differently depending on the language.
Not to worry, if you're from America, you can order a bowl of "Pasta Fazool" at Olive Garden without breaking a sweat and worrying if you've said the word correctly.
Ingredients in Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli
- Ground beef, lean - browned and crumbled
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion - diced into small pieces
- Celery ribs - diced into small pieces
- Carrots, peeled and diced into small pieces
- Garlic cloves - minced
- Tomato sauce
- Chicken broth, low sodium
- Diced tomatoes
- Basil
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
- Ditalini pasta
- Fresh parsley - for garnish
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
How to Make Pasta e Fagioli in the Instant Pot
Saute - Set the Instant Pot to Saute and add the olive oil.
Add the veggies - Add the chopped veggies and garlic and cook until fragrant.
Cook the lean ground beef - Add the lean ground beef and cook the beef until brown and crumbled.
Drain if necessary - If necessary (if not using lean beef, drain and return the mince to the inner liner) drain.
Sprinkle the seasonings - Sprinkle the seasonings onto your beef mixture.
Add the pasta - Add the Ditalini pasta and top with the drained and rinsed beans.
Layer the other ingredients - Layer the tomato sauce and the diced tomatoes on top of the beans. Then, pour the chicken broth into the inner liner. Do not stir and close the lid.
Pressure cook - Pressure cook on HIGH/MANUAL COOK for 4 minutes.
Quick Control Release (QR) - Slowly do a quick controlled release (QR) to release the pressure once the 4 minutes is up.
Stir and serve - Remove the lid, stir, and serve. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with Parmesan cheese if desired.
If you want to serve breadsticks with this soup, this recipe for Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks is one of my favorites!
RELATED: Instant Pot Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)
Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli Variations
Whether you're looking for a different type of meat to add to your soup or want to go vegan or vegetarian - there's a variation for you!
Change up the protein - Don't want to use ground beef? You can substitute it for Italian sausage or even turkey if you want to make this soup leaner.
Omit the meat - Vegetarian or Vegan? Double the veggies and skip the meat protein. Also, swap the chicken broth for vegetarian (or vegan) friendly broth. It's very easy to make this Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli a vegetarian meal. Skip out on the Parmesan garnish to make it vegan!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef - lean
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 yellow onion - chopped small
- 2 celery ribs - chopped small
- ½ cup carrots - diced small
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth - low sodium
- 15 oz petite diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ teaspoons basil
- 1 ½ teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 15 oz dark red kidney beans - drained and rinsed
- 15 oz Great Northern Beans - drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Ditalini pasta
- Fresh parsley
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute and add the olive oil.
- Add the chopped veggies and garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the lean ground beef and cook the beef until brown and crumbled.
- If necessary (if not using lean beef, drain and return the mince to the inner liner) drain.
- Sprinkle the seasonings onto your beef mixture.
- Add the Ditalini pasta and top with the drained and rinsed beans.
- Layer the tomato sauce and the diced tomatoes on top of the beans.
- Pour the chicken broth into the inner liner. Do not stir.
- Close the lid.
- Pressure cook on HIGH/MANUAL COOK for 4 minutes.
- Slowly do a quick controlled release (QR) to release the pressure once the 4 minutes is up.
- Remove the lid, stir, and serve.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Jamie says
Such an easy and delicious soup to make for everyone.
It's perfect for my cold weather!
Ann says
I have never heard of this dish before, but looks delicious! Seems like a very simple and quick meal to make!
amy liu dong says
Awesome recipe, this dish pasta looks absolutely delicious. Perfect for the cold temperature on my end! Loved it!