Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli Soup is the perfect comforting dish on a cold day. This Italian soup is packed with hearty vegetables, beans and pasta and is easy to make in your Instant Pot! Stovetop directions included.
With the frigid temps we’ve been getting, soup has been on heavy rotation around here. We are soup fanatics and can have soup all year round. But even more so once the weather cools down.
This Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli Soup has been happening a lot around here. We already shared this copycat Olive Garden recipe using our slow cooker and I couldn’t wait to see how it would work in our Instant Pot.
It cooks up thick, hearty and full of savory Italian flavors. The best part of all, this yummy soup is loaded with healthy vegetables, ground turkey (or beef) and beans.
Plus, it’s super simple to make in your instant pot or in a [amazon_textlink asin=’B01N6P7ZKG’ text=’big Dutch oven’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’lifmadswe09-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’953f6bc8-90b2-11e8-8a0e-3bf5c95e85b3′] on the stovetop (see recipe notes for stovetop version) and perfect for busy weeknights.
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT PASTA E FAGIOLI
- You start off by sauteing the onions, ground turkey (or beef if you prefer) and spices in the [amazon_textlink asin=’B00FLYWNYQ’ text=’Instant Pot’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’lifmadswe09-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5a5fb4d5-90b2-11e8-939f-8f7f11f6b3b3′].
- Add the celery and carrots just until they start sweating and then you’re going to add the seasonings, tomato sauce and beef broth.
- Lock the lid in place and turn to PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for 4 minutes.
- Once the 4 minutes is up, allow the pressure cooker to release naturally for 8 minutes, then turn the valve to VENTNG.
- Carefully open the lid and stir in the al dente pasta.
- Serve hot with a side of crusty bread, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and some fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
- **NOTE about pasta – **If you plan to freeze this or serve the next day, leave out the pasta and cook on the side and then combine when you are ready to enjoy. This helps the pasta not get soggy.
This hearty soup is especially perfect for those cold nights when you don’t want to go out. Just grab a blanket and curl up with a cozy bowl.
Serve the soup with a side salad, crusty bread and dig in!

Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli Soup is the perfect comforting dish on a cold day. This Italian soup is packed with hearty vegetables, beans and pasta and is easy to make in your Instant Pot! Stovetop directions included.
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil avocado or grapeseed oil work as well
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3/4 pound extra-lean ground turkey
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper chili flakes optional
- 1 rib celery chopped
- 1 large carrot chopped
- 3 cups tomato sauce canned or homemade
- 28 oz canned diced tomatoes, undrained (preferably fire roasted or Italian style)
- 1/2 cup homemade beef stock or good quality no-salt beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/2 cup canned kidney beans drained and rinsed, or cooked from scratch
- 1/2 cup canned Great Northern beans drained and rinsed, or cooked from scratch
- 2 medium zucchini chopped
- 1/4 cup uncooked Ditalini pasta or other small pasta, use gluten-free or other small pasta (use gluten-free pasta if necessary or leave out entirely
- sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar to taste
- water as needed to thin out soup to desired consistency
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- Press the SAUTE button on the Instant Pot. Allow to preheat or until it beeps. Add oil to the inner pot and saute the onions for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the ground turkey, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook and crumble until meat is brown and no longer pink. Drain any fat and return the pot back to the Instant Pot.
- Add the celery, carrots, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, fennel seeds, kidney beans, and zucchini.
- Press Cancel then close the lid. Press the MANUAL (older models) or PRESSURE COOK (newer models) button and set for 4 minutes. Turn the valve to SEALING.
- After the soup cooks for 3 minutes and the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 2 minutes. Then turn the valve to VENT to release the pressure.
- Once the pressure is released, open the lid stir in the uncooked pasta. Press the SAUTE button cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and cooked.
- If soup is too thick for your liking, add more water as needed. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and discard bay leaf. Stir in balsamic vinegar if desired.
- Serve warm with bread, sprinkled Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley if desired.
- In a large heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onion and saute for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the ground turkey, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook and crumble until meat is brown and no longer pink. Drain any fat and return the pot back to the stove.
- Add the celery, carrots, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, bay leaf, kidney beans, and zucchini. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in pasta and remove from heat. (***you can also cook the pasta directly with the soup but this soaks up more water so you may have to add more water. Just add the pasta after simmering for 20 minutes, then bring to a boil and allow to cook for another 8-10 minutes or until pasta is tender)
- If soup is too thick for your liking, add more water as needed
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste and discard bay leaf. Stir in balsamic vinegar if desired.
- Serve warm with bread, sprinkled Parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley if desired.
**NOTE about pasta – **If you plan to freeze this or serve the next day, leave out the pasta and cook on the side and then combine when you are ready to enjoy. This helps the pasta not get soggy.
If you like the Instant Pot pasta e fagioli recipe, here are more comforting soup recipes:
Robin Edwards -
Thank you for this DELICIOUS Soup recipe! It’s WONDERFUL, and so easy!
Deidre -
This came out so good! My family loved it and asked for more! Thanks!
Patricia -
Excellent soup! Thank you for sharing.
heather -
this is amazing! thank you!