Pasta Fagioli
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Teeming with vegetables, beans, and pasta, hearty pasta fagioli soup is the perfect cozy meal for a chilly night.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)
Pasta Fagioli, literally meaning “pasta and beans” (and pronounced “pasta fa-jo-lee” or “pasta fa-zhool,” depending on the region) is a quintessential Italian comfort food, perfect for those chilly nights that call for something cozy and hearty. This particular version, adapted from Joe Cicala, executive chef at Cicala in Philadelphia, and featured in The Washington Post, is truly the best I’ve tried.
The soup begins with a flavorful mix of pancetta and vegetables, simmered in wine and broth, and finishes with pasta and beans. But what really makes the soup special is the way the broth is enriched: a portion of the soup is puréed and stirred back in, lending a satisfying texture and a depth of flavor that makes the soup a meal in itself. Serve it with focaccia and a big Italian salad, and you’ve got a meal that will warm you up and make you happy.
Table of Contents
“AMAZING!! This was an absolute gem of a soup to make, with very rich and complex flavors. Loved the thickening trick as well! I am Italian and have had many versions of pasta fagioli, but this one is my favorite.”
What You’ll Need to Make Pasta Fagioli
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing vegetables, adding a subtle, fruity undertone to the soup’s base.
- Pancetta: Italian cured pork belly, similar to American bacon but not smoked, adds a rich, savory flavor. Available pre-diced near the deli section or at the deli counter for convenience.
- Onion, Carrots, Celery, Garlic: This classic vegetable mix creates a flavorful foundation for the soup, offering sweetness, aroma, and depth.
- White Wine: Adds a hint of acidity and complexity to the soup. Choose an inexpensive bottle that’s still good enough to drink.
- Chicken Broth: The liquid base of the soup, contributing both richness and depth.
- Cannellini Beans or Chickpeas (or a Combination): These legumes bring heartiness, texture, and protein to the dish.
- Dried Lentils: Add nutritional value, earthy flavor, and heartiness to the soup. French green lentils (lentilles du Puy) are preferred for their ability to hold their shape, but any brown or green lentils will work.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes: Provide acidity and brightness, balancing the soup’s rich flavors.
- Bay Leaves and Fresh Rosemary: These herbs infuse the soup with aromatic and herbal notes.
- Pasta: Small pasta like elbow macaroni, ditalini, or orzo makes the soup more substantial.
- Parmigiano-Reggiano: This cheese lends a nutty, salty flavor to the soup.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by heating the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large pot, then add the pancetta.
Cook until the fat begins to render, about 5 minutes.
Add the onions, carrots, and celery.
Cook until the onions become translucent, then add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Pour in the wine and cook until almost evaporated.
Next, add the broth, salt, pepper, beans lentils, tomatoes, bay leaves and rosemary, and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of lentils you used. Use a ladle to transfer about one cup of the beans and a little broth to a blender. Remove the center knob so steam can escape. Hold a paper towel or kitchen towel over the opening to prevent splatters. Purée until smooth and set aside.
Meanwhile, add the dried pasta to the simmering broth.
Cook until the pasta is tender, then add the reserved purée back to the pot. The broth will be slightly thickened from both the pasta starch and the purée.
If the soup seems too thick, thin it with a bit of water. Stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with more cheese, if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it’s best to do so before adding the pasta, as pasta can become mushy when frozen and then thawed. Freeze the soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Before serving, defrost the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until simmering, add the pasta, and cook until the pasta is tender. (The beans may have soaked up some of the broth while frozen, so add more broth to thin out the soup, if necessary.)
Yes, you can make this soup vegetarian by substituting the chicken broth with vegetable broth and omitting the pancetta. To maintain the savory depth of flavor in the vegetarian version, consider adding a Parmigiano Reggiano rind while the soup simmers. The rind imparts a rich, umami flavor that enhances the broth beautifully.
This soup will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. However, keep in mind that the pasta and beans will continue to absorb the broth over time, so they may become softer and the soup thicker. If you don’t plan on serving the soup immediately, I recommend cooking the pasta separately and adding it to individual servings.
Video Tutorial
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Pasta Fagioli
Teeming with vegetables, beans, and pasta, hearty pasta fagioli soup is the perfect cozy meal for a chilly night.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces pancetta, diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 2 medium ribs celery, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup white wine
- 6 cups chicken broth
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans or chickpeas (or a combination), drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup dried lentils, rinsed (preferably French green lentils, but any green or brown lentils are fine)
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, with their juices
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
- ¾ cup pasta, such as elbow macaroni or ditalini
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Add the onions, carrots and celery and increase the heat to medium; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn't burn.
- Add the wine and cook until it has nearly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, salt, pepper, beans, lentils, tomatoes, bay leaves, and rosemary. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the type of lentils you used.
- Use a ladle to transfer about 1 cup of the beans and veggies and a little liquid to a blender. Remove the center knob so steam can escape. Hold a paper towel or kitchen towel over the opening to prevent splatters. Purée until smooth and set aside.
- Add the pasta to the pot and stir to incorporate. Turn the heat up to a gentle boil and cook until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, 8 to 12 minutes depending on the type of pasta you used (follow timing on the package). The soup will thicken a bit by the time the pasta is cooked. Fish out and discard the bay leaves.
- Stir the reserved puréed mixture into the soup. (If you're having a hard time getting the mixture out of the blender, remove as much as you can with a rubber spatula, then add some of the hot soup broth to the blender and swirl around to loosen it up; it should come right out.) Cook briefly, until the soup is heated through.
- Remove the soup from heat and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano. If the soup seems too thick, gradually add 1 to 2 cups of water or chicken broth and thin to the desired consistency (the longer the soup sits on the stove, the thicker it will get). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with more cheese, if desired. Note that as the finished soup sits on the stove, the pasta and beans will continue to soak up the broth. If it gets too thick, you can thin it with a bit of broth or water.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: This soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. However, keep in mind that the pasta and beans will continue to absorb the broth over time, so they may become softer and the soup thicker. If you don't plan on serving the soup immediately, I recommend cooking the pasta separately and adding it to individual servings. The soup can also be frozen, without the pasta, for up to 3 months. Before serving, defrost the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until simmering, add the pasta, and cook until the pasta is tender. (The beans may have soaked up some of the broth while refrigerated or frozen, so add more broth to thin out the soup, if desired.)
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Serving size: About 2 cups
- Calories: 691
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 81g
- Sugar: 7g
- Fiber: 17g
- Protein: 36g
- Sodium: 1214mg
- Cholesterol: 26mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I am never without this soup in my freezer. I use those silicone cubes to freeze individual portions and then pop those in a freezer bag. I cook the pasta separately and add it to the warmed soup but I have also frozen it with the pasta and find it’s mostly fine…My husband actually prefers it bc the pasta absorbs so much broth. I’ve found this recipe lends itself to improvisation. I’ll toss in kale or spinach. I skip the chickpeas and add another can of white beans. I’ll add some lemon juice for brightness. Or I won’t. Leave out bay leaves f I don’t have them. This soup never disappoints. I probably have it every other day in the winter.
This soup is super delicious and flavourful! I follow the recipe to the letter and it’s perfect. Great for a wintery day!! Thanks Jenn, I use a lot of your recipes!
I made your recipe and it was delicious. I’m Jewish, not Kosher, but I don’t use pork products. There are brands of kosher sausages, sweet Italian , hot , etc. as well as non kosher chicken sausages. These contain similar spices to the pork products. I dice or slice them, brown the pieces and use them in dishes such as this. You might want to try them and maybe recommend them if a kosher person asks about a substitute.
SOO GOOOOOD!!
Hi Jenn, getting ready to make the Pasta e Fagioli and just wanted to know when I could add a Parmigiano Reggiano rind to the soup. Thanks in advance.
Hi Arlene, I’d add it along with the broth. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn, made pasta fagioli for the second time last night. Love this recipe. First time eating pasta fagioli, initially made this recipe because my father in law always ordered this when we went to an Italian restaurant, it was his favorite dish. I now can see why, didn’t even wait a week before making this again. So very good.
Thank you again for your wonderful recipes. Tell everyone about your website.
Another winner!! Delicious soup. Made according to instructions but in the future I’ll add the beans a little later in the cooking so they don’t break up as much. Lots of chopping so it took me a bit longer prep time than 15 minutes. (I have good knife skills but nothing on par with a trained chef!) Used immersion blender to thicken the soup – worked great and easier to clean than the blender. Will make many times going forward.
Side note: Jenn, could you consider adding yields to chopped ingredients? Not everyone’s idea of a medium onion is the same. For example it would be very helpful to read “one medium onion, chopped; about X cups. Just a thought.
Glad you enjoyed the soup! And some, but not all of my recipes, include the yields – I will try to be better about that as I develop new ones!
Thanks!
absolutely delish! I’ve made pasta e fagoli many times but not this recipe, needless to say I will only be using yours going forward, however it is a bit expensive to double this to feed eight, thanks for sharing, I love all your recipes I have tried.
I keep kosher and frequently have to adapt your recipes but for this one i am stumped – what can I use to replace the pancetta or should I just totally omit it?
Hi Terri, You can omit the pork – just add a touch more olive oil. Enjoy!
Also don’t eat pork -Can I add turkey bacon as alternative ?
Sure, Asra, that would be fine. Enjoy!
This has become one of my favorite recipes. I sometimes make it with both beans and sometimes only with cannellini beans. I also participate in charity event where we make soup and donate it for sale with the proceeds going to the local food bank. This year this was my donated soup. I had multiple people comment about how good this soup was.
This soup has a very rich, complex flavor. I use ditalini and cook it separately and add it just when serving. I don’t alter the recipe. It is absolute perfection.
Killer recipe!. Used a parm rind in broth while cooking instead of grated and added kale to the soup while cooking the pasta separately so we could add to preference.
This is one of our favorite soups for fall and winter. I have even served to guests and they too loved this soup. For health reasons , I need to add leafy greens to my diet, Specifically spinach, kale , escarole. Do you think I could add this successfully to this soup and when would you add it? I was thinking I should par boil the greens prior to adding. Thank you. There are other Italian soup recipes that include greens but we just love this one the best.
So glad you like it! Yes, I think you can add any of these greens to the soup. If you’d like to skip a step, I wouldn’t bother to par boil them; you can add them about halfway through the pasta cooking time. Hope you enjoy it with this addition. 🙂
I came upon this recipe in a mad-dash search for a soup idea for dinner… Oh. My. Goodness. It is SO flippin good. Thank you! Can’t wait to make again 😊
This far from real Italian pasta fagioli , the rosemary no , chicken broth no , white wine no ! It was more like a twist on minestrone !
Not sure what recipe was handed down in YOUR family, but this is as authentic as it gets! And delicious, I might add!
Jenn,
Does this recipe make 2 quarts? I based this estimate on 4 servings and 2 cups per serving.
Thanks
Yes, it should make approximately 2 quarts.
This soup is absolutely delicious!! Better than some fancy Italian restaurants here in the NY area! So easy to make and reheat. It freezes well too!
Hey Jenn,
Thanks for sharing- I LOVED this recipe. I made a few tweaks to it and it came out great.
Erik
Amazing!!! Used pancetta & Italian sausage. Loved it!!!
I recommend your food blog to everyone as every recipe of yours that I have made is perfect and I love that I do not have to run to multiple stores to find specialized ingredients. I just made your Pasta Fagioli soup, again, and wondered why I took so long between that last time and this time. Other than making homemade stock, I follow your recipes exactly as they are always perfect. Thank you for your wonderful recipes
I’ve never had lentils in pasta fagioli…..but if Joe Cicala makes it, then I know it’s delicious…..he is one of the best chefs around. His Abruzzese cuisine is the best Italian food I have ever eaten….I will give it a try!
Stacey
I absolutely LOVED this soup. Delicious and oh so satisfying! Thank you so much for another great recipe!
Such a lovely easy dish xxx
This turned out great! I had to use bacon instead of pancetta and dried rosemary instead of fresh (the store was out of both). I added a spoonful of Minors Chicken base to the broth. And instead of taking a cup of the soup and using the blender, I just used the immersion blender for a second. I made this for workday lunches so I cooked the pasta separately and add a little when heating up lunch each day. This recipe is a keeper and can’t wait to make with pancetta and fresh rosemary! Thank you for another great recipe!
I am going to try and make it the same… using bacon and dried Rosemary … it sounds wonderful!!!
First, let me say that I belong to several recipe sites this is one of my top two ever. Jenn’s recipes are easy to follow, yet complex in depth of flavors utilizing a variety of interesting spices and ingredients.
This soup is one of our favorites – and we love soup. It’s extremely flavorful and filling. My only change is to cook the pasta separately and add to the bowls just before serving. That way the pasta doesn’t soak up the delicious broth from the leftovers (if there are any). We serve it with her Big Italian Salad and crusty rustic bread for a light, hearty dinner. Occasionally, we even float a poached egg on top and sprinkle generously with Parmesan. Yum!
Hi, Jen! This looks wonderful, and I’m looking forward to making it. Unfortunately, I can’t consume wine due to medication. I know it mostly boils off, but some alcohol may still remain. Do you think the recipe will work if I don’t include the wine step? My guess is yes, but I wondered what you thought.
Yep it will definitely work without the wine. 🙂
I loved this and I will make it often!!! I’m not big on cheese (except goat) but my husband is a cheese monster! I didn’t tell him that the recipe called for it and I was so pleased to watch him devour this soup! Thank you so much!
I have been using this pasta fazool recipe for a few years now. It is really good! I make only one small change in that add a small fennel bulb, diced small like the rest of the veggies ( I love the flavour of anise) and some fresh basil leaves.
It’s so good to have in the fridge in there cold winter months here in Ontario. Thank you Jenn.
On the favorite meals list at our house!
Love this soup, but I wanna make it for a friend who doesn’t eat pork what can I substitute?
Hi Linda, so glad you like it! It’s fine to omit the pork; just add a bit more olive oil. Hope your friend enjoys!
Made this again last night for maybe the 20th time. Even if I’m missing one or two things – it was lentils last night – the overall flavor is always delicious. In our regular rotation. Thank you!
Hi Jenn, what wine do you recommend to serve with this soup? Getting ready to make it again. Absolutely delicious!
Hi Rebecca, I think this would be nice with a pinot noir. See this post for more info. Hope you enjoy the soup!
I used Tempranillo. Simply amazing recipe!!!
You need an App
Hi Amy, Unfortunately, I don’t have an app, but my website is mobile-friendly which makes it very easy to use regardless of what device you’re viewing it on.
One of my favorites. Questions…I want to serve this two nights in a row to two different sets of people. Should I double the recipe or prep everything and make it again the following day? Trader Joes sells a mirepoix. Can I go terribly wrong using this? If I do, would have to guess the equivalent amounts, but could little extra veggies hurt it. My inclination is to make it two times. Your thoughts… Thanks
Hi Carol, I think you can get away with making one large batch. Just divide the soup in half prior to adding the pasta. Refrigerate half the batch and as you are reheating it, you can cook the pasta. Keep in mind that the soup will have thickened as the beans will soak up liquid; you may need to thin it with some broth while reheating. Regarding the mirepoix, I don’t think you can go wrong with it but, yes, you will have to guesstimate the equivalent amounts. Hope that helps, and that everyone enjoys!
I did a Google search and Trader Joe’s Mirepoix is equivalent to 1/2 onion, 3 carrots and 3 stalks of celery.
We got 2 feet of snow over the last two days .. needed something weather appropriate.
Omitted lentils due to wife’s food allergy and used an immersion blender other than that I followed the recipe.
We both thought it turned out well. Paired with crusty bread I made in the Dutch oven before I made the soup. Easy recipe with good flavor, will make again.
Just made this today—a very cold winter day. It is delicious! Had to substitute beans because of what was in the pantry and I didn’t have lentils. Still, flavor was rich, it is a warming soup, and there are left-overs for lunch tomorrow.
Absolutely delicious, Will it change taste if I omitted the bay leaf?
Hi Camile, It’s fine to leave it out. Enjoy!
Absolutely delish. Even my very fussy husband loved it. I typically try a recipe to see how I can improve it, but this needs no improvement whatsoever! Make exactly as written!
I made this exactly as written and it was perfection. So yummy!!!
Hi Jenn,
I’m an avid follower of yours and love your recipes. I would like to try Minestrone soup and didn’t want to look anywhere else. I have your books and they don’t have it either. Do you think this soup can be converted to Minestrone with a few tweaks? Such as omitting pancetta and lentils, and substitute red kidney beans and Italian seasoning for the white beans and rosemary, respectively. And maybe add more vegetables? I’d really appreciate your advise. Thank you for all that you do and turning our dinner time into an occasion!
Hi Oleda, so glad you like the recipes! Yes, I think the tweaks you’re suggesting would work to convert it to a minestrone. This soup is pretty adaptable. I’d love to hear how it turns out if you try it!
Hi Jenn,
I went ahead and made the tweaks but kept lentils and added a little bit of tomato paste. It’s absolutely our favorite Minestrone now! Kids who don’t like soups devoured it. Great framework for variations and easily adaptable, like you said. Couldn’t thank you enough! 💕
So glad it came out nicely — thanks for taking the time to report back! 🙂
Wonderful warming soup. I made it almost exactly as written. I don’t have a blender so I used my mini food processor to puree the bean mixture. I used the homemade chicken stock which has a lot of flavor. BTW I got 7 good sized servings.
I followed the recipe exactly except used an immersion blender for the cup of veggies and broth. This soup was amazing! Good for a cold night in Florida. Well, 59 degrees is cold for us!
I made this… delicious. Does the pancetta go into the soup or is it just for the grease to sauté the veges?
Yes, the pancetta goes into the soup, so you should keep it in the pot when you add the onions, carrots, and celery.
Once again you’ve knocked this one out. My wife requests your French Lentil soup quite often. After seeing her reaction to this dish I am sure this will be in the rotation because it’s the bomb!! Made exactly as printed with no substitutions. I see no reason to modify it.
Jenn, this is an addendum to my previous review. I completely forgot to include this. One reviewer was concerned about using canned cannellini beans and having them fall apart in the cooking process. I used Goya organic cannellini beans which remained whole and were perfect. Also, instead of using blender to purée the cup of beans for thickening the broth, I tried out my new immersion blender. I just scooped the cup of beans with broth into a bowl and the immersion blender worked perfectly. Again, recipe was fabulous.
Had this soup for lunch on Sunday …for family and guests…on our patio. I served your kale salad and my (southern) country ham biscuits with the soup. For dessert, I served your pumpkin pie with my vanilla bean whipped cream.
I am still getting texts from family and guests about this meal. They loved it. Thank you so much for so many divine recipes that I am so proud to serve!
I made this soup yesterday and won’t make it again. The flavor was very much lacking. I added more herbs and a small amount of marinara sauce which helped but overall I wouldn’t make this recipe again.
I don’t know what you made but it wasn’t this recipe. This soup is packed with flavor.
There’s no way you made this correctly if that’s the case. Sorry that was your experience!
I followed this recipe exactly as written and it was outstanding! I’m a trained chef so I usually tweak almost every recipe I try, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The only change I made, because I wasn’t sure when I’d be serving it, was to cook the pasta separately and added it later. I have yet to be disappointed by any of this website’s recipes. Thank you.
AMAZING!! As expected, another wonderful recipe from Jenn Segal. This was an absolute gem of a soup to make, with very rich and complex flavors. Loved the thickening trick as well! I am Italian and have had many versions of Pasta Fagioli, but this one is my favorite. Thank you for never disappointing on your recipes!!
Hi Jen, very excited to make this recipe! I plan to make this vegetarian but I foresee my husband wanting the meat component. I understand that cooking the pancetta in the beginning makes the flavors meld, but do you think it would work if the cooked pancetta was added at the end and then refrigerated overnight? Do you think the flavors would absorb enough? Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Hi Asha, I think that would be fine, especially because it will sit overnight. Hope you enjoy!
Great! Also, if I want to cook the pasta separately, should I decrease the amount of broth?
Hi Asha, I would just keep it the same.
This is superb! Made a fantastic dinner with bread and cheese. I have tried so many of your recipes Jen (from this site and your books) and none have disappointed me. Now this is the first site I come to when I need a recipe. Your recipes all contain ingredients that are easily obtained and accessible. Thank you for all of your hard work and amazing recipes.
A perfect soup for this cold and rainy Sunday night! This was absolutely delicious and we both had seconds! Plenty leftover for lunch tomorrow. Will definitely add this to our regular rotation for the coming months. Thank you Jenn!