Weight Watchers Pasta Fagioli

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Olive Garden's famous Pasta e Fagioli soup is good on cold Fall nights or rainy cool days. Pasta e Fagioli is the ultimate cozy Italian-inspired soup. This hearty recipe combines tender pasta, creamy beans, vegetables, tomatoes, and Italian seasonings in a flavorful broth. It is inexpensive, filling, and easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner.

Sometimes called Pasta e Fagioli, which simply means pasta and beans, this classic comfort food is especially delicious on a chilly day. The beans add plenty of heartiness, while the pasta makes the soup satisfying enough to serve as a complete meal.

Need more WW recipes? Try these! Weight Watchers Pizza (Chicken Alfredo), Weight Watchers Fried Rice, or Easy No Boil Manicotti

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Why You Will Like This
Ingredients for Olive Garde Pasta Fagioli
How to make Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Soup
Pro Tips for Pasta Fagioli Soup
Storage
Serving Suggestions
Recipe FAQS
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Weight Watchers Pasta Fagioli

Why You Will Like This

This Pasta Fagioli recipe is simple, flavorful, and made with everyday ingredients. The combination of vegetables, beans, tomatoes, and broth creates a rich soup without requiring hours of cooking.

The pasta cooks right in the soup, soaking up all those delicious Italian flavors as it becomes tender. Cannellini beans add a creamy texture and make the soup more filling, while Italian seasoning, garlic, and Parmesan give it plenty of flavor.

It is also a great make-ahead meal. The soup reheats beautifully, making it perfect for leftovers or meal prep.

Where I live Ditalini pasta can be super hard to find. There are two local grocery stores here and neither of them has that shaped pasta. I have to go to Wal-Mart just to find it and when I go there. I'll pick up a couple of boxes of ditalini and those breadsticks for this soup. There are lots of yummy zero point foods in this soup!

Ingredients for Olive Garde Pasta Fagioli

Ditalini - is a classic choice, but small shells, elbow macaroni, or another small pasta will work.
8 oz of sweet Italian sausage (can sub turkey sausage or chicken sausage)
Onion: Adds sweetness and savory flavor.
Carrots: Give the soup a subtle sweetness and hearty texture.
Celery: Adds classic soup flavor and a little crunch.
Chicken broth - Creates the flavorful soup base. Vegetable broth can be used for a vegetarian version.
Dried oregano - is a common herb used in cooking, particularly in Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine. It has a pungent, slightly bitter taste and a strong aroma
Dried thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste - I never add any extra salt to my soup because there is enough of it in the other canned foods.
1 (15-ounce) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can of Dark Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
Parmesan cheese: Adds salty, nutty flavor and makes the soup even more delicious.

How to make Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Soup

Step 1 Spray a large Dutch oven with cooking spray. Heat to medium-high heat. Add sweet Italian turkey sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, drain excess fat and set aside.

Step 2 Stir in garlic, onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 3 Whisk in chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until vegetables are tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Step 4 Add in uncooked pasta and beans until heated through.

If you want leftovers of this soup or want to reheat it the next day, it will be very thick. Add in a little extra water before reheating

Pro Tips for Pasta Fagioli Soup

Use a small pasta shape so every spoonful has a little bit of pasta, beans, and vegetables. Ditalini is traditional, but there is no need to make a special trip to the store if you already have another small pasta on hand.

Do not overcook the pasta. It will continue absorbing liquid as the soup sits, so cooking it just until tender helps prevent it from becoming mushy.

For an even richer texture, mash a small portion of the beans against the side of the pot before serving. This naturally thickens the broth.

If you prefer a thinner soup, simply add extra broth. Pasta Fagioli can become quite thick as it cools.

Storage

Allow leftover soup to cool before transferring it to airtight containers. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the soup gently on the stovetop. Add a splash of broth or water when reheating if the pasta has absorbed too much liquid.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Pasta Fagioli with crusty Italian bread, garlic bread, or a simple green salad. A sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh parsley on top makes each bowl even better.

You can also serve it alongside a grilled cheese sandwich for an extra cozy dinner.

Recipe FAQS

How do you figure out points for recipes?

Nutrition info is calculated with the zero point food included in the recipe I pay for the WW app monthly to figure out points and use myfitnesspal for nutrition.

Where are the points for the recipes?

The points for the recipe will always be listed in the Notes section of the recipe.