Olive Garden Copycat {Pasta E Fagioli Soup}

You know what I love more than a hearty soup in the winter? A soup I can make in the crockpot and not worry about for 6 hours! If you like Olive Garden’s Pasta E Fagioli Soup, you’ll love this copycat recipe.

Adapted from 365daysofcrockpot

What You’ll Need:
-1/2lb ground beef
-1/4 tsp onion powder
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-28 oz can crushed tomatoes
-2, 8oz cans tomato sauce
-2, 15 oz cans beef broth
-15 oz can red kidney beans (do not drain)
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp pepper
-1 tsp dried oregano
-1 tsp dried basil
-1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 c apple juice
-8oz dry Ditalini pasta
-parmesan cheese for topping

1. Brown ground beef, drain, and put in crockpot.
2. To the beef add the garlic and onion powder, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef brother, kidney beans, salt, oregano, basil, thyme, and pepper.
3. Stir and cover. Cook on low for 6 hours.
4. 10 minutes before eating, cook pasta until al dente. While pasta is cooking, add apple juice to the crockpot.
5. Once pasta is done, add to the crockpot and cover for 15 more minutes.
6. Serve soup in a big ole bowl and top with parmesan cheese.

This soup easily makes 6+ servings and is just as great the next day for leftovers.