Pasta Fagioli Soup

I love a crockpot recipe. In the fall and winter I love hearty, comfort-food soup. This recipe fits both those descriptions perfectly! I got this one from my cousin-in-law's amazing reciple blog, who got it from A Year of Slow-Cooking which is another great site. This recipe makes a ton, but it is wonderful! This is a great one to share; I took some to a couple who just had a baby and still had enough for at least 3 or more meals for my family. Definitely worth your crockpot (or your dutch oven)!

- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 jar pasta sauce (or some homemade marinara)
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp tobasco sauce (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup dry pasta

Use a 6-quart crockpot, or cut recipe in half.

Brown the meat on the stovetop, and drain well. Let it cool a bit.

Chop up the onion, carrots, and celery. Add it to the empty crockpot. Drain and rinse the beans, add them. Add the tomatoes and the pasta sauce. Add the beef broth, the salt, pepper, oregano, and Tobasco sauce. Stir in the beef.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours. Cook pasta to al dente.  To serve, put soup in bowl and then add a scoop of pasta in the middle.  (picture like restaurants serve a bowl of gumbo)  [The original recipe says to add pasta in for last hour.  I felt like the pasta swells way too much.  And, since this creates TONS of soup, the pasta in the leftovers is definitely really mushy.  So, I say just cook as much pasta as you think you will need each time.  That will keep the pasta more fresh and not mushy.  Freeze without pasta.] 

Serve with parmesan cheese if you have it.

This was really yummy!! Will and I both really enjoyed it. If you want it a bit more soupy, maybe add a bit more broth. Will likes it more soupy. I enjoy it hearty. Both of us enjoyed the flavor and the varying different ingredients. I will definitely be making this again!