Traditional Italian Pasta e Fagioli (pasta and bean) soup made with ease in an Instant Pot!

Savory flavors of pancetta, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, herbs, cannellini, kidney beans and pasta infuse and cook together in your Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker. Have delicious hot soup ready and waiting for you when you get home! Each spoonful dissolves in your mouth.

Pasta Fagioli

Nothing is more satisfying than a hearty bowl of hot Pasta e Fagioli soup. Bite-sized pieces of tiny pasta, wholesome beans, in a tomato-based broth fit perfectly on your spoon. Each bite delivers a balance of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and vegetables all in one tasty serving.

Hey there! I’m Jessica Gavin, a Certified Culinary Scientist and I unravel the science behind better cooking on my website JessicaGavin.com. I’m thrilled to share this comforting Pasta e Fagioli soup recipe with you. I’ve taken the classic stove-top method and converted it to a simple Instant Pot version.

Instant Pot

The multi-cooker has multiple functions, perfect for maneuvering through the various cooking techniques needed to master this recipe with ease. You’ll be delighted to discover how the pressure cooker is efficient and cuts back on dishwashing.

Use my shortcuts by grabbing common pantry ingredients to make preparation faster and budget-friendly.

How to make Pasta E Fagioli in the Instant Pot (or Pressure Cooker)

• Saute pancetta, garlic, onions, carrots and celery to light brown and intensify their flavor.
• Cook the dried pasta using high pressure for 3 minutes, and 10 minutes natural release.
• Add the canned cannellini and red kidney beans at the end of cooking just to warm them, keeping them intact and creamy in texture.

With multiple components in this pasta and bean soup, a little bit of strategy is needed to ensure the right taste and texture. Robust ingredients like pancetta, onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, and dried pasta can withstand brief cooking under pressure. The beans, however, are added at the very end to prevent tiny legume explosions.

The Instant Pot makes the soup all in one pot for quick and flavorful results.

Pasta E Fagioli Ingredients

• Small dried pasta like shells or ditalini
• Aromatics like garlic, onion, carrots, and celery
• Canned diced tomatoes and paste
• Canned cannellini and red kidney beans
• Diced pancetta or bacon
• Vegetable stock or broth
• Bay leaf, thyme, oregano and thyme

To save on time, convenience items like canned tomatoes and beans reduces the need to chop or pre-soak. It usually takes hours to cook beans from scratch. I’m not afraid to break out a can opener for those dinner time rush kind of nights.

Serve with big slices of garlic bread to soak up the delicious soup!

If you enjoy this recipe, I know you will also love my 30-minute minestrone soup too!

Need more soup recipes? Try these!

Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup
10-Minute White Bean Parmesan Spinach Soup
Best Lentil Soup

Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli

Instant Pot Italian pasta e Fagioli (pasta and bean) soup made with pancetta, carrots, celery, tomatoes, herbs, cannellini, and kidney beans.

PRINT SAVE go to your favorites

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ⅓ cup diced pancetta or bacon ¼-inch dice
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 cup diced white onion ¼-inch dice
• ½ cup diced celery ¼-inch dice
• ½ cup diced carrots ¼-inch dice
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 28 ounce canned diced tomatoes with juice
• 4 cups unsalted chicken broth
• 1 cup dried small shell pasta
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 2 rosemary sprigs
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 15- ounce canned cannellini beans drained and rinsed
• 15- ounce red kidney beans drained and rinsed
• Black pepper as needed for seasoning
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnish
• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese for garnish

Instructions

• Select "Saute" on the Instant Pot. Allow pot to heat, it will indicate "Hot" on the display when ready.
• Add olive oil to the pot, once hot add garlic and onion, saute until fragrant, 1 minute.
• Add celery and carrots, saute 1 minute.
• Add tomato paste, saute 30 seconds.
• Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, pasta, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, rosemary, and salt.
• Make sure that the release valve is in the "Sealing" position.
• Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn and lock the lid.
• Press "Manual" button on the Instant Pot on high pressure, and then set the timer to 3 minutes using the "+" or "-" buttons.
• It will take about 15 minutes for the pot to heat up and build up the pressure. You will see some steam release from the lid, and then the time will start on the display.
• Once cook time is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes. 
• Use an oven mitt or towel to slowly and carefully twist the steam release handle on the lid to "Venting" position. The initial release will spray some moisture around the pot so be careful.
• Add the cannellini and red kidney beans, stir to combine and allow to warm for at least 10 minutes before serving. 
• Taste soup and season with salt and pepper as desired.
• Garnish soup with parsley and parmesan cheese. 

Nutrition

Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 1134mg | Potassium: 1781mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 3245IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 9.8mg