Olive Garden Pasta and Beans
This Olive Garden-inspired dish combines savory beef, creamy beans, and tender pasta in a hearty tomato-scented broth, perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy weekends.
Ingredients
For the Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef For a leaner dish, use 90% lean ground beef.
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Vegetables & Beans
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 ounces each)
- 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (15 ounces)
- 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (15 ounces)
For the Broth & Seasoning
- 4 cups beef broth For lower sodium, use low-sodium beef broth.
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste Taste before adding a lot of salt.
For the Pasta & Serving
- 1 cup small pasta (such as ditalini or elbows) Add toward the end of cooking to avoid overcooking.
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving Can substitute with nutritional yeast for dairy-free.
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering.
- Add 1 pound of ground beef and cook until nicely browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat if the pot seems overly greasy.
- Stir in the diced onion, minced garlic, diced carrot, and diced celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
Cooking
- Pour in both cans of diced tomatoes (with their juices), then add the rinsed and drained cannellini and kidney beans. Stir to combine.
- Pour in 4 cups of beef broth and add 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15–20 minutes to let flavors meld.
- In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add 1 cup of small pasta to the pot and continue simmering until the pasta is tender. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley, if using.
Notes
For a cleaner presentation, rinse pasta with warm water before serving to remove excess starch if it clumps. Adjust seasoning at the very end; canned ingredients and broth often change the final flavor.