Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli

ladle scooping pasta fagioli from a slow cooker.

4.91 from 10 votes

Make a simplified version of slow cooker pasta e fagioli, an Olive Garden favorite, right at home! Ground beef, pasta, and beans cooked for hours in a rich, savory broth smell just as good as it tastes!

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 15

Servings servings

Author Melissa Williams

Equipment

Slow Cooker

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
2 medium carrots peeled and diced
3 medium celery stalks diced
1 medium onion diced
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
32 ounces beef broth
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
15 ounces white cannellini beans drained and rinsed
15 ounces dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 cup ditalini pasta

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks, until no longer pink.
1 pound lean ground beef
To a 6 quart slow cooker, add the cooked ground beef, carrots, celery, onion, tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt & pepper, cannellini beans, and kidney beans.
2 medium carrots, 3 medium celery stalks, 1 medium onion, 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 32 ounces beef broth, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 15 ounces white cannellini beans, 15 ounces dark red kidney beans, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
30 minutes before the cook time is up, stir in the uncooked pasta. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the pasta is tender.
1 cup ditalini pasta
Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.
Serve in bowls topped with parmesan cheese.

Notes

I recommend using a lean ground beef, like sirloin (93/7 or 90/10).
Baby spinach or kale can be stirred in at the same time as the pasta for added veggies.
Italian sausage can be used in place of the ground beef.
Two 14.5 ounce cans of beef broth can be used, or one 32 ounce carton.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.

Nutrition