Gluten Free Pasta e Fagioli is hearty, filling, easy, and inexpensive to make. This soul-satisfying soup recipe is pure comfort food!

With summer in the rearview mirror and cooler temps upon us, it feels fitting to share the comforting recipe for Gluten Free Pasta e Fagioli with you today. This rustic soup is warming, filling, healthy, and feeds an army too!
What is Pasta e Fagioli?
Pasta e Fagioli is a traditional Italian soup made with pasta and beans, and is a cinch to make gluten free. It’s inexpensive, made with everyday ingredients, and is the perfect dish to whip up on a Sunday afternoon (glass of wine in hand for an extra dash of cozy!) then enjoy for Sunday dinner.
Leftovers reheat beautifully for easy lunches all week long OR you can transfer the soup into Ziplock freezer bags and freeze flat for another time.

Pasta e Fagioli Ingredients
Like I said, the ingredients for Pasta e Fagioli are humble, simple, and easy to find. I bet you’ve got most if not all of them on hand in the fridge and pantry right now.
- Ground beef. I prefer using 85/15 or 80/20 ground beef in soups and stews as it stays tender without drying out.
- Fresh vegetables: carrots, celery, onions, and garlic not only flavor the Pasta e Fagioli, but make it wholesome and nutritious.
- Crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Be sure to use gluten free tomato products – not all brands ensure ALL their tomato products are GF! I like Red Gold.
- Beef broth. I like Pacific, HyVee, or Progresso brands of gluten free beef broth.
- Kidney and Great Northern Beans. Inexpensive, filling, and packed with nutrients.
- Gluten free pasta. I use gluten free elbows, but any short grain pasta is fine. Or, you can use regular pasta if you don’t need to eat GF.
- Seasonings and herbs: salt, pepper, oregano, basil, dried parsley, and thyme.
- Parmesan cheese. Both grated parmesan cheese and parmesan cheese rind flavor this soup.
I mentioned that this soup freezes very well. Since gluten free pasta doesn’t hold up well to freezing after cooking though, I advise you cook the gluten free pasta fresh then add to the soup after thawing from frozen.
Alrighty, let’s cook!

How to Make Pasta e Fagioli Soup
Start by browning ground beef in a large soup pot, seasoning with homemade seasoned salt and pepper. Drain if there’s a lot of grease then return to the pot and add sliced carrots, celery, shallot or onion, and garlic. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring every so often.

Next add a crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, light red kidney beans, great northern beans, plus dried oregano, dried basil, dried parsley, dried thyme, and a parmesan cheese rind, which will give the soup depth of flavor like you wouldn’t believe!
Bring the soup up to a bubble then turn the heat down to medium and simmer for 50-60 minutes, or until your desired consistency is reached, stirring every so often. I like my Pasta e Fagioli to be almost ragu-like, so I simmer for a full hour.

Just before eating, cook up your favorite gluten free short cut pasta – again, I use elbows – then add to bowls and scoop the hot Pasta e Fagioli on top.
Stir to combine, top with freshly grated parmesan cheese, then dig in! I hope you enjoy this hearty, filling dish!

More Cozy Soups and Chilis To Try
- One-Pot Chicken and Rice
- Kickin Green Chili
- CrockPot White Chicken Chili
- Hamburger Soup
- Smoked Sausage, White Bean and Spinach Soup
- Sweet Corn, Kielbasa and Potato Soup
- Signature Chili

Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup baby carrots or 1 large carrot, thinly sliced
- 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion or large shallot, chopped
- homemade seasoned salt and pepper, see notes
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 15 oz can beef broth, plus more for reheating
- 15 oz can light red kidney beans, undrained
- 15 oz can great northern beans, undrained
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2x2" parmesan rind, optional
- 8 oz gluten free elbows pasta, or another short-grain pasta
- freshly grated parmesan cheese for topping
Directions
- Brown ground beef in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat, seasoning with homemade seasoned salt and pepper. Drain if theres a lot of excess fat then return beef to the pot. Add carrots, celery, onion or shallot, season with more seasoned salt and pepper then saute for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic then continue to saute for 3 more minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients except the pasta to the pot then turn heat to high to bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to medium then simmer for 50-60 minutes, uncovered, or until soup has thickened, stirring occasionally.
- When soup has 15 minutes left to cook, cook pasta in boiling water then drain and divy up between bowls. Remove parmesan cheese rind from soup then scoop over pasta and serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Click here for my Homemade Seasoned Salt recipe.
- Slightly adapted from Todd Wilbur
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.














I just made a copycat recipe of their chicken and gnocchi soup. It was great and now I’ll have to make this!
This soup looks delicious, and I just want to let you know that you’re my hero for making food while sick. When I have a cold, it’s pretty much only microwave mac and cheese for me!
This looks so good! I love making a big pot of soup on Sundays to take for lunch all week. Can’t wait to try this–thanks!
I made a big pot of Chicken Tortilla Soup tonight! The weather just called for it. It’s supposed to be a gorgeous weekend, though!
You are so amazing!!! I have been dreaming for the day where I could find a legitimate recipe for the longest time.
Dream came through :)
Once it cools down more here, I am making this delicious recipe. Hope you feel better soon! I enjoy your wonderful postings every day.
Thank you for this post! Anytime I eat out & there is Pasta Fagioli Soup on the menu I have to try it! I have the sniffles today too~ going to make this tomorrow! You are the best~
Pinned it! I love Olive Garden’s soup.
My husband has a bad cold too. It is so hard to avoid a cold when living with a sick person. Ick
Sounds delicious. I love any combo or meat, tomatoes and pasta. :) And I guess veggies too……
Love olive garden’s salad and breadsticks! This soup definitely has me craving soups and chili. Time to break out the crockpot.
Yummy! Definitely making this soon! :)
lol i ve read both blog posts and i still can’t figure out the “meth teeth” reference
Hahaha, it’s right below the picture of the wines in the wood box with the name “Corison” on it:
https://iowagirleats.com/2012/09/11/napas-must-see-dive-winery-iron-chef-morimoto-and-me/
I am so excited to see this recipe! Just the other day I was wishing for this soup, but sadly there aren’t any Olive Garden’s in my area. Perfect timing, thanks :) Get well soon!