Pasta e Fagioli Soup {Olive Garden Copycat Recipe}

Ingredients · for 6 (scales to your household)

• 2 Tbsp Olive oil $0.36
• 1 lb Lean ground beef $7.94
• 1 1/2 cups Yellow onion $1.13
• 1 cup Diced carrots ((about 2 medium)) $0.33
• 1 cup Diced celery ((about 3 stalks)) $0.78
• 3 cloves Garlic, (minced (1 Tbsp)) $0.09
• 3 Cans Tomato sauce $6.10
• 2 Low-sodium chicken broth not counted
• 1/2 cup Water $0.00
• 1 Can Diced tomatoes $2.02
• 2 tsp Granulated sugar $0.01
• 1 1/2 tsp Dried basil $0.11
• 1 tsp Dried oregano $0.07
• 3/4 tsp Dried thyme $0.05
• 1/2 tsp Dried marjoram $0.04
• 1/2 tsp Salt $0.03
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper $0.03
• 1 cup Dry ditalini pasta $1.10
• 1 Can Dark red kidney beans $2.18
• 1 Can Great northern beans $2.25
• 1/4 cup Romano or Parmesan cheese $0.68
• 3 Tbsp Parsley $0.29

Per-ingredient cost is the amount this recipe uses at the lowest Canadian price we have on file; the per-serving total above adds the range up to the dearest price and for buying whole packages. A line marked not counted is one we couldn't measure from the amount as written — it is missing from the total, not free.

Method

1. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat, crumble in ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally until cooked through.
2. Drain fat from beef then transfer beef to a plate, set aside. Heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil in same pot.
3. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium-high heat until tender about 6 minutes, add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
4. Add chicken broth, tomato sauce, water, canned tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram and cooked beef then season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low, cover with lid and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until veggies are soft, about 15 - 20 minutes.
6. Meanwhile prepare ditalani pasta according to directions on package, cooking to al dente.
7. Add cooked and drained pasta to soup* along with kidney beans and great northern beans. Thin with a little more broth or water if desired.
8. Allow to cook 1 minute longer. Stir in parsley, serve warm with grated Romano or Parmesan cheese.