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Gluten-Free Pasta e Fagioli (Vegan, Allergy-Free)

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Pasta e Fagioli, the traditional Italian pasta and bean soup now as a gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free recipe! This easy and inexpensive soup is humble with ingredients but full of flavor! Quick to make for a light weeknight meal or simple lunch option that the kids will love too!

pasta e fagioli in white soup bowl with image text overlay

This soup! My absolute favorite soup as a kid, pre-celiac diagnosis. In our household, we called it “The Bean Soup” and it solely came from The Kitchen’s of Progresso and their lovingly canned heat-and-eat blue labeled “Macaroni & Bean Soup“. This canned version of Pasta e Fagioli could give any Italian grandmother a run for her money.  My mom would heat up a can on the stove and fill up a soup thermos to pack for our school lunches. One of the best (besides whole wheat pbj) lunches to find packed in our bags! So deliciously “soul-satisfying” with it’s gluten-free, dairy, egg, soy, and processed soup sodium levels…it was perfect.

overhead half view of white bowl filled with gluten-free pasta e fagioli soup

What is Pasta e Fagioli?

A traditional Italian soup recipe, Pasta e Fagioli literally means “pasta and beans”! You may see it named “Pasta Fasul or Fazool” as well. It is a cozy, warming, inexpensive soup of small pasta (ditalini or small elbow noodles), white beans (cannellini beans or Great Northern white beans), garlic, onion, some celery and sometimes carrots, in a tomato broth. It was considered “peasent” food for its cheap ingredients and simplicity, but yields a delicious, well-rounded, nutritious meal! Some later variations include Italian Sausage and/or finished with some parmesan cheese.

How to pronounce “Pasta e Fagioli”

It’s pronounced “pah-sta eh fazh-e-ohl-eh”, with the first i in “fagioli” rolling into the o. Looks like a bad word, and that’s probably why Americans made the version “Pasta Fazool”.

What’s the difference between Minestrone and Pasta e Fagioli?

Minestrone = tons of vegetables, Pasta e Fagioli = pasta and bean dominant. Both Italian soups are made with a tomato broth, but think of our “Fagioli” as the poorer version of a robust, veggie-packed Minestrone. The flavors are a bit different too. Pasta Fazool, is much more herby and can include rosemary, basil, parsley, and/or oregano, plus more garlic and onion.

hands holding a white bowl of pasta e fagioli

How to make Gluten-Free Pasta e Fagioli

Luckily, with authentic pasta e fagioli, the only ingredient that needs a swap is the pasta. Unlike the crazy ingredient profile in Progresso’s (delicious) version. When I spotted THIS gluten-free ditalini pasta (that actually comes from Italy, the Italian brand Le Veneziane), I KNEW this soup had to happen. It literally is the perfect pasta and looks like the “macaroni” that Progresso claims to use. Progresso’s version only included celery and onion as the vegetables, so that’s what I did as well (I left out the carrot…I think it would ruin the soup).

Ingredients for Pasta e Fagioli:

  • Olive Oil
  • Celery
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Vegetable Broth
  • Cannellini Beans
  • Gluten-Free Ditalini
  • Parsley, Basil, Black Pepper
  • Nutritional Yeast

All you need to do to make this simple pot of soup is saute the celery, onion, and garlic, add the sauce, broth, beans, and seasonings. Bring it to a boil, add the pasta, and let things cook for about 8 minutes until the pasta softens. If you plan on making this soup ahead of time, I suggest cooking the pasta separately and adding it to individual bowls when serving (a’la, no mush).

What to serve with Pasta e Fagioli:

a spoon scooping up pasta e fagioli soup

A healthy Italian soup recipe

Healthy, hearty, with a big dose of comfort! I may go so far as to say all Italian food seems to fall in the “comfort food” category. Italian food IS comfort food; is there a cuisine with more comfort food associated recipes? Some meals can be indulgent, others can be lighter, like this soup! Italian food isn’t always associated with being allergy-friendly, gluten-free, or vegan, but lucky for you, I’ve got your back!

This soup is:

Gluten-Free Pasta e Fagioli

centered overhead shot of gluten-free pasta e fagioli in white bowl

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Gluten-Free Pasta e Fagioli (Vegan, Allergy-Free)

centered overhead shot of gluten-free pasta e fagioli in white bowl

★★★★★

5 from 12 reviews

Pasta e Fagioli, the traditional Italian pasta and bean soup now as a gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free recipe! This easy and inexpensive soup is humble with ingredients but full of flavor! Quick to make for a light weeknight meal or simple lunch option that the kids will love too!

  • Author: Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Soup, Main
  • Method: Boil
  • Cuisine: Italian
Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and add the celery, onion, and garlic. Saute to about 5 minutes to soften.
  2. Add the tomato sauce, broth, beans, seasonings, and bring the soup to a boil.
  3. Add the 1 cup of uncooked pasta, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook the soup for about 8 more minutes until the pasta has softened.
  4. Remove the rosemary sprig if you used it. Serve the soup in bowls with fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

*You can use any small gluten-free pasta you’d like. Adjust cooking time as needed.

Storing:

**If you’d like to make this soup ahead of time, allow it to cool compeltely and freeze or cook the soup, minus the pasta to store in the fridge for 4-5 days and cook the pasta seperatly, when you’re ready to consume.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1

Keywords: Italian soup, easy soup, one-pot soup, healthy soup, pasta fazool, pasta fasul, pasta and bean soup, macaroni and bean soup, beans, pasta, tomato soup, easy, quick, healthy, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, allergy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, peanut-free, coconut-free, sesame-free, sugar-free, kid-friendly

collage image of pasta e fagioli soup with overlay text

Coming from a girl who “hates” soup, I can tell you, all my anti-soup friends, that this one…is a winner. You’ll probably what to double, even triple, this recipe! It’s a small batch 1-pot soup and makes 4 large servings, 6 small, but this soup would be great for a lazy Sunday or to make-ahead and have ready for the week! I told you it was ideal for those school lunches!

More easy soup recipes:

So tell me:

+ Who else was/is a canned soup fan?

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Comments

  3. Leslie says

    Rebecca, I’m a big soup lover and I also loved that Progresso soup, but your gluten free version looks every bit as good! How lucky am I to have a local gluten free bakery that carries Veneziane pasta! One of the few gluten free soup pastas out there!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  6. caren says

    I’m a HUGE fan of pasta e fagioli! I haven’t had it for years. Forgot all about it, in fact! Thanks for the reminder.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  7. Rimmy says

    My mother-in-law is diabetic and she desperately needs gluten-free meals. Thank you for sharing the recipe, I’ll cook this for her tonight.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  12. roxy says

    Oh yum! The timing on this post is perfect — as Fall hits we love comfort foods like soup but are always reaching for the healthiest version. I could see this being an amazing camping dish!! I Pinned the recipe so I can try it out soon.

    Reply

  13. Indya | The Small Adventurer says

    This recipes sounds right up my alley! I LOVE both pasta *and* soup, and I often have a lot of soups with beans in them as they’re so good for you! Might have to whip this up next time there’s a cold night that needs warming up 😋

    Reply

  22. Amber says

    Yum. This looks and sounds really tasty! It has been a long time since I have had some pasta e fagioli and now I am craving it 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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rebecca

Meet Rebecca

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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