Description
A hearty Italian-style soup inspired by Olive Garden, featuring ground beef, beans, pasta, and vegetables simmered in a rich tomato broth. Perfect for chilly nights or weekly meal prep.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Salt and black pepper to taste
3/4 cup ditalini pasta
Optional: grated Parmesan and chopped parsley for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the diced onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add kidney beans, cannellini beans, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Meanwhile, cook the ditalini pasta in a separate pot according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Just before serving, stir the cooked pasta into the soup to maintain its texture.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Cook pasta separately to prevent it from becoming mushy in leftovers.
Can be frozen, but do so without the pasta for best texture.
For a vegetarian version, omit meat and use vegetable broth.
Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Stir in spinach or kale at the end for extra greens.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
