Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli Soup: Easy Italian Comfort
This cozy slow cooker Pasta e Fagioli is classic Italian comfort food made effortless. A richly seasoned tomato-beef base, tender vegetables, creamy beans, and ditalini pasta come together for a hearty weeknight dinner with minimal hands-on time.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Large Skillet
- Wooden spoon
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 carrots, diced
- 4 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cans (14.5 oz) beef broth
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper or to taste
Add Later
- 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving a little to keep the meat moist.
- Transfer & Add Vegetables: Add the browned beef to the slow cooker. Stir in carrots, celery, onion, crushed tomatoes, and beef broth. Add Italian seasoning, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
- Slow Cook the Base: Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the vegetables are very tender and flavors have melded.
- Add Beans & Pasta: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the cannellini beans, kidney beans, and uncooked ditalini. Cover and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente (about 25–30 minutes).
- Season & Serve: Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. If the soup is too thick, stir in additional broth or water, 1/4 cup at a time. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.
Notes
Tips: Resist adding beans and pasta early — they’ll overcook. For softer pasta, add it 40 minutes before serving. If you need more broth after adding pasta, top up with beef broth or water.