To be completely honest, I wasn’t planning on sharing this recipe. I was simply craving a big ole pot of soup on a cold night. But once I started cooking, I remembered how this Pasta Fagioli Soup recipe smells and tastes like an actual hug from my Nana. Warm, comforting, and oh-so cozy. AKA THE BEST.

I actually grew up with this as a vegetarian soup, but Adam asked if I could add some meat to it since his Dad was coming over for dinner. Normally I’m a purist with my beloved family recipes, but I had a feeling crumbled spicy turkey sausage would be awesome in this. And I was RIGHT! It makes it taste a little bit more like Italian chili, which I’m not mad about! That being said, if you’re trying to go meatless, just leave it out. Just be sure to add some red pepper flakes for a little kick 😉

You’ll also notice that we cook the pasta noodles separately. This is really key for leftovers, so the pasta never gets soggy. I usually toss the noodles with a little bit of olive oil after they cook so they don’t stick together too much. Plus, then you get to decide how much pasta you want in your bowl with each serving.

Pasta Fagioli Soup Recipe

Yield: 6-8

Pasta Fagioli Soup Recipe

Ingredients

2 cans cannellini beans (DO NOT DRAIN!)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
1 cup fresh celery, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 whole bay leaves
3 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
1 (15 oz) cans of tomato sauce
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3 spicy turkey sausage links (optional)
1/2 lb ditalini pasta
parmesan cheese

Instructions

Heat oil in a pot. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery.
Cook for about 5 minutes, then add minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 3-5, or until vegetables are fork tender.
Add 2 cans of beans and liquid (do NOT drain), broth, tomato sauce, and bay leaves.
Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer partially covered for 45 minutes-1 hour.
If you are adding sausage, heat a little bit of olive oil on a nonstick pan. Take the turkey sausage meat out of the casing and add to the pan.
Crumble the meat as it cooks. Once it's done, add it to the soup pot.
Cook pasta noodles according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
Add chopped parsley to the soup, and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
To serve, spoon a little bit of pasta into a bowl, then ladle the soup on top.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and buon appetito!