Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli: Easy 7-Ingredient Win

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If your week has been one long sprint between work, kids, errands, and “what’s for dinner?” (again), Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli is about to be your new favorite lifesaver. It’s hearty, comforting, and tastes like you tried way harder than you actually did—my favorite kind of cooking.

This is the kind of meal that makes the whole house smell like a warm hug. You do a quick skillet step (worth it, I promise), then your slow cooker takes over while you go live your life.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

It’s set-it-and-forget-it comfort food. Your slow cooker does the heavy lifting.
It feeds a crowd (or future-you for lunch all week).
Picky-eater friendly. It’s basically a soup-stew hybrid with familiar flavors.
Budget-friendly but feels restaurant-y. Beans + pasta + sausage = magical trio.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into this cozy bowl of goodness:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage (casing removed)
1 medium sweet onion, diced
4 cups chicken stock
1 (16-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon dried thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¾ cup ditalini pasta
½ cup shaved Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, but cute)

How to Make Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

Step 1: Brown the sausage and onion

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and diced onion. Cook for about 5–7 minutes, stirring often, until the sausage is browned and crumbled.

Drain off excess fat (because nobody wants greasy soup—unless it’s a pizza situation).

Step 2: Add everything to the slow cooker

Scoop the sausage-onion mixture into a 6-quart slow cooker.

Stir in:

chicken stock
tomato sauce
diced tomatoes
both beans
carrots
celery
garlic
basil, oregano, thyme
salt and pepper

Give it a good stir like you mean it.

Step 3: Let it cook

Cover and cook:

LOW for 7–8 hours, or
HIGH for 5–6 hours

Your job now is to pretend you’re not thinking about dinner because dinner is literally cooking itself.

Step 4: Add the pasta near the end

About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the ditalini pasta.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.

Step 5: Serve it up

Ladle into bowls and top with shaved Parmesan. Sprinkle parsley if you’re feeling fancy or if someone in your house believes green stuff makes it “healthy.”

Mounia’s Cozy Tips (So It Turns Out Perfect)

Don’t add pasta too early. It’ll turn into “pasta sadness” (aka mush). The last 30 minutes is the sweet spot.
Want it thicker? Let it sit uncovered for 10 minutes after cooking. It thickens as it cools—like it’s settling into its comfort zone.
Want it soupier? Add an extra splash of chicken stock at the end.
Short on time? Use high heat, but still brown the sausage first. That quick step adds big flavor for very little effort.
Parmesan hack: If you’ve got a Parmesan rind, toss it in during cooking (and fish it out before serving). It’s like a flavor cheat code.

A Little Real-Life Moment

This recipe became my go-to during one of those weeks where my to-do list had its own to-do list. I needed something warm, filling, and forgiving—because I was not in the mood for a dinner that required “attention.”

When I lifted the slow cooker lid and smelled that herby tomato broth, I swear my shoulders dropped two inches. That’s the power of a cozy meal waiting for you.

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli simmering in a pot with sausage, ditalini pasta, beans, carrots, celery, and Parmesan. — A big pot of Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli—loaded with sausage, beans, veggies, and pasta for an easy, cozy dinner.

FAQs About Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

Can I use ground beef instead of Italian sausage?

Yes! You’ll lose some of that classic Italian-seasoned flavor, but you can add a pinch of extra basil and oregano (and maybe a little red pepper flake) to make up for it.

What if I can’t find ditalini pasta?

No worries—small pasta works best. Try small shells, elbow macaroni, or even mini farfalle. Just keep the cook time similar and watch for tenderness.

How do I store leftovers?

Let it cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. The pasta will soak up broth as it sits, so add a splash of chicken stock when reheating.

Can I freeze this?

You can, but here’s the trick: freeze the soup before adding the pasta for best texture. When you’re ready to eat, thaw, reheat, and cook the pasta fresh in the hot soup.

Can I make it more like Olive Garden’s version?

This Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli already hits those cozy, familiar flavors, but extra Parmesan on top and a pinch of red pepper flakes takes it even closer.

Your Next Cozy Bowl Awaits

When you need a dinner that feels comforting, filling, and basically guaranteed to make everyone ask for seconds, Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli shows up and does the job. It’s warm, hearty, and tastes like you spent the day stirring a pot—when really, you just let your slow cooker work its magic.

Make it once, and I’m willing to bet it becomes one of those “save me on busy nights” recipes you come back to again and again.

Keep the Comfort Going (You’ll Love These Too)

If this Slow Cooker Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli just made your dinner routine feel a whole lot easier, don’t stop here—there are more cozy, “everyone’s happy” meals waiting for you. Here are a few reader-favorites that bring the same warm, homemade vibes (and yes, they’re just as low-effort as they are delicious):

Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup – Creamy, comforting, and basically a bowl of “everything’s going to be okay” (especially on chilly nights).
Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Ditalini Soup – If you loved the sausage + pasta combo, this one is your next cozy obsession.
Tuscan White Bean Soup – Simple, hearty, and perfect when you want something warm without a lot of fuss.
Crockpot Lasagna Soup – All the lasagna comfort, none of the layering drama (because who has time for that on a Tuesday?).

If you try this recipe (or any of these!), scroll down and leave a ★★★★★ review—your stars and sweet comments help other home cooks find their next favorite dinner, and they truly make my day.