Knock off.
A popular word in a DIYer’s vocabulary. We LOVE to knock stuff off..mainly from stores with initials like P.B. and R.H and occasionally B.D. and C.B. I also can’t say the words “knock-off” without thinking of shows like the Sopranos or The Godfather…
“Hey, Jimmy youz wanna me knock him off for ya..”
Cricket. Cricket…um yeah, my brains a scary place.
But I promise this is a soup you will want to knock off and I mean in the best sense of the words…Today I want to share a favorite knock off of mine.
It’s one of my favorite soups from Olive Garden…Pasta e Fagioli. I was bound and determined to figure out a way to copycat this recipe at home, in large quantities…so I could have my own endless bowl of soup and not have to leave my couch. I struck gold..er or I guess pasta..when I found this recipe years ago. I wish I could give credit, where credit is due but in all honesty I have had the recipe for so long I don’t even remember where I found it. So, let’s just say whoever came up with this one was inspired by Olive Garden, and we’ll give them the credit. Cause ya know Olive Garden needs more publicity…heh.
“Hey, Jimmy youz wanna me knock him off for ya..”
Cricket. Cricket…um yeah, my brains a scary place.
But I promise this is a soup you will want to knock off and I mean in the best sense of the words…Today I want to share a favorite knock off of mine.
It’s one of my favorite soups from Olive Garden…Pasta e Fagioli. I was bound and determined to figure out a way to copycat this recipe at home, in large quantities…so I could have my own endless bowl of soup and not have to leave my couch. I struck gold..er or I guess pasta..when I found this recipe years ago. I wish I could give credit, where credit is due but in all honesty I have had the recipe for so long I don’t even remember where I found it. So, let’s just say whoever came up with this one was inspired by Olive Garden, and we’ll give them the credit. Cause ya know Olive Garden needs more publicity…heh.
This recipe not only tastes like OG’s pasta e fagioli, but it gets lots of brownie points for being a slow cooker recipe too! How about them apples or should I say, “How about them ditalis??” (That’s the little pasta that goes in pasta e fagioli in case you were wondering…)
If you’ve been looking for a hearty frugal fall soup recipe, give this one a try. Start it in the morning, enjoy your day and it will be waiting for you when you get home..and it will make your house smell great too! What more could you ask for from a soup?!
Pasta e Fagioli–inspired by Olive Garden
Ingredients:
1 lb. very lean ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup julienned carrot
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 14.5 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can regular tomato sauce
1 12 oz. can of regular V-8 juice
1 15 oz. can red kidney beans (do not drain)
1 15 oz. can great northern beans (do not drain)
1 Tbs. white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 lb ditali pasta (this is half of a box)
1 cup diced onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup julienned carrot
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 14.5 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can regular tomato sauce
1 12 oz. can of regular V-8 juice
1 15 oz. can red kidney beans (do not drain)
1 15 oz. can great northern beans (do not drain)
1 Tbs. white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 lb ditali pasta (this is half of a box)
Directions:
Prepare all of your vegetables.
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain off any fat. Transfer meat to slow cooker.
Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
Cook pasta according to directions just until al-dente. DO NOT OVERCOOK. You want them to be slightly tough still. Drain but do not rinse. Add drained pasta to slow cooker. Cook for another 20-30 minutes.
Cook pasta according to directions just until al-dente. DO NOT OVERCOOK. You want them to be slightly tough still. Drain but do not rinse. Add drained pasta to slow cooker. Cook for another 20-30 minutes.
Serve with a good crusty bread, a glass of wine and enjoy feelin’ a little gangster eating your Olive Garden knock off!
Thanks for joining me…and my mafia alter ego…at the picket fence!
This post is partying at:
Project Queen: I Turned The Daunting Into The Doable Tuesdays
E’Kat’s Kitchen: Friday Potluck
I love a good knock off! This is funny because I was thinkng about posting my Zuppa Toscana (potato soup) Olive Garden knock off today! I think I will save mine for a day or two now…and it is NOT a crock pot recipe which is what I really like about the one YOU posted here. Sounds delish! xo Diana
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can not wait to try it. That is my absolutely favorite thing to eat out. I have tried several, but this looks like it might be the real thing. Also, anything I can make in the crockpot is a winner.
Love your “knock off” humor.
That looks so good! I haven’t been to the Olive Garden in years since we don’t have one close to us. But, if it’s a “knock-off” from them, then I KNOW it’s delicious. May give this one a try.
Oh it’s hard to type with drool on the keyboard….that looks so delicious right now when it’s 4:30 and we are having leftovers for dinner. Can’t wait to make this, thanks!
The next Friday night that I have my whole brood home, we are definitely having this. I’m writing myself a note. This would be a huge pleaser here.
Yum…that looks really good. Perfect meal now that the weather is getting more Fall-like.
My hubby will love you forever. I can’t wait to make this for him. Thanks so much.
Ooooo that looks delicious, colorful and hearty-my kind of family meal! I also like that it’s cooked in a crock pot. Thanks. Shannon
OMG Heather! This is my all time favorite thing at the Olive Garden. I LOVE going there for lunch and getting the endless soup, salad and breadsticks. Do they still do that? Now that I say that, I’m realizing I haven’t been there for a couple years. Wow.
Anyway I have this recipe too, but it has the ingredient quantities from the restaurant. Way too much. I will be making yours soon! Thanks soo much for sharing!
~ Catie
Hey, Heather! I just bought the ingredients to knock off OG’s Chicken Gnocchi soup! But this one looks delicious as well. I’m all for new slow cooker recipes. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Hi Heather,
Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing!!! And it’s just in time for the cool season too, I am craving warm comfort foods.
Thanks so much for that, I am going to get the ingredients and make it.
Hugs, Cindy
Oh my goodness…this soup looks awesome and delightfully delicious especially with fall starting on Friday and football Sundays! I am definetly going to try this one! Thanks for sharing sisters! I love your blog!
Oh my gosh I am happy dancing now!!!! I LOVE this soup and now I can make it at home!! Thank you so much for sharing this Heather!! I am going to be making this this weekend i hope!!!
xoxox
It’s in my crockpot now and I shared the link on my Sweet Floweret Facebook page.
Thanks so much!
Tina
http://www.sweetfloweret.com
I’ve come by way of Michelle, she left a lovely post about your blog and your soup recipe!!I had to stop by and get that recipe….yummy!!
So glad to have found your blog!!
Found your blog through my friend Michelle at Emerald Cove. Awesome that soup looks amazing!
Ryan
This recipe looked so good, I had to try it. Last night, I made it for Bible Study, and it was so good! I will definitely be making this again. Thanks so much!
I came across your recipe from Pinterest. I use to work at the Olive Garden and the unlimited soup, salad and breaksticks were my favourite. Even 17 years later, I still choose to order them.
I made this for our Christmas Eve dinner and it was DELICIOUS. Tastes just like we were there.
I had a hard time finding Northern Beans at my grocery store but found them in a bag. When I make it next year, I will soak the beans over night rather than do the quick cook method. They were a little hard but will soften up the next time we eat it.
I did focaccia bread instead of breadsticks.
Thank you
Merry Christmas
Ms. Brown’s Grade 2 Class
I did this one… And it is so easy and great…. Thanks
This looks so good, ladies! Thanks for sharing!
My Favorite OG knock off is: Olive Garden Copycat Zuppa Toscana
http://www.food.com/recipe/olive-garden-copycat-zuppa-toscana-38298
I couldnt find anywhere about how many does this feed? Plz help
I would love to post this recipe to my pinterest board. I do not see a pinterest symbol except for all your boards. Is there anyway that I can post it to my board? Thank you so much for posting this wonderful recipe
Hi Jody, if you look towards the bottom of the post there is a graphic that says, “Share the love” if you click the pinterest button it should pin to your board. 🙂 This is an older post that was written before Pinterest so we don’t have a pin it button added to it, but we’ll get that in! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the recipe!