Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
A hearty and comforting Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli combining tender ground beef, nutritious beans, tender vegetables, and ditalini pasta simmered together with Italian seasoning for a flavorful, easy-to-make Italian classic stew.
- Author: Sienna
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
Liquids and Seasoning
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 cans beef broth (14.5 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Beans and Pasta
- 15 ounces cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounces dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup uncooked ditalini pasta
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat to prevent greasiness in the final dish.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned beef into your slow cooker. Add diced carrots, sliced celery, diced onion, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, cannellini beans, and kidney beans. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook in Slow Cooker: Set your slow cooker on low and cook for 6 hours, or on high for 4 hours, allowing all flavors to meld and the vegetables to become tender.
- Add Pasta: Approximately 30 minutes before serving, stir in the uncooked ditalini pasta. Cover and continue cooking so the pasta cooks through and absorbs the flavors.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Serve hot for a warm, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Drain and rinse canned beans to reduce sodium and enhance freshness.
- Browning ground beef first enhances flavor and improves texture.
- Adjust cooking times based on your slow cooker model.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Keywords: pasta e fagioli, slow cooker soup, Italian soup, beef and bean stew, comfort food, ditalini pasta soup