Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli
This Pasta e Fagioli in the Instant Pot is comfort food at its best. We just had a weekend of lots of rain and cooler temperatures and that was the trigger for make this dish. It is the perfect meal for cuddling up in a blanket to watch a movie. Well I didn’t get to watch a movie but did make this delicious dish which is one thing my husband does love. Oh and it’s even more delicious the next day!
Pasta fazool
In our family we call it “Pasta fazool “, it is a hearty italian comfort food. I don’t make it the same as my family did, in fact I add is secret ingredient you would never expect, apple juice! Yep you heard me right, I have read several recipes and came across this once or twice so decided to give it a try one day and never looked back. I think it amps up al the flavors.
Ingredients:
for the best flavor San Marzano tomatoes are the best if you can find them. I prefer to buy whole tomatoes and give them a quick chop in my Vitamix or you can use crushed tomatoes but you can do either. I also use 2 -8 oz cans of plain canned tomato sauce that you find right next to your crushed tomatoes.
There is lots of chopping ahead
Be sure to grab one of those choppers like the Tupperware Power Chef or your food processor to make the chopping easy and fast. It makes life so easy if not life changing. My veggies are chopped up in seconds with a few pulls of my Tupperware Power Chef. No mess and no crying over onions. I probably have not chopped an onion by hand for 2 years now. Its glorious!
After your veggies are chopped you need to brown the meat and then add the veggies with the saute’ function on the Instant pot. Once the onions are translucent turn it off.
Next you add in the canned beans with their liquid, tomatoes, tomato sauce, spices and tabasco to give it a little kick.
Lastly it is time for the pasta or is it?
I use Ditalini pasta but you can certainly use other types of small pasta like shells. I do not add my pasta in unless I know it will all be eaten that day or the next. So I usually cook it separate and add to each serving bowl. It’s your choice but if you plan on eating later don’t add the pasta because it will blow up and get mushy after a day or more.
Secure you lid and cook for 5 minutes on high pressure with a quick release. Serve with a side of warm crusty bread and top with grated parmesan cheese! Yum!
On a side note this can be cooked in a slow cooker or 6-7 hours. Just brown your meet and onions in a skillet then add to slow cooker.
Be sure to check out my other instant pot recipes here.
Pasta e Fagioli
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 28oz can whole tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
- 1 15oz can white cannanoli beans
- 1 15oz can light red kidney beans
- 2 8oz cans tomato sauce
- 3 medium carrots diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic ( minced)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning ( basil, oregano, thyme )
- Salt
- Pepper
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup Apple juice
- 1 tsp Tobasco sauce (optional- use for a hint of spice)
- Grated Parmesan cheese to garnish
- 1/2 ( 2 cups) box ditalini noodles (see notes)
Instructions
- Turn Instant pot in sauté mode
- Add olive oil
- Sauté beef to brown when oil gets hot about 3 minutes
- Add onions , celery, carrots and garlic cook for 3 minutes until onion seem translucent
- Add crushed tomatoes , beans , tomato sauce, apple juice, beef broth, tobasco sauce and spice seasoning.
- Place lid on.
- Set Instant Pot on Manual for 5 minutes when done give it a quick release.
Notes
- You can choose to add in pasta but be sure to quick release right when timer goes off. I like to cook pasta separately and add in as needed so the pasta doesn’t get mushy for left overs .
- add more tabasco sauce if you like it spicer.
-Slow Cooker Method: If using a slow cooker brown meat and onions in skillet, add to slow cooker and cooke on low 6-7 hours.
I like your recipe! I will make it with parmesan.. Also, I love adding my pasta separate with any IP recipes. It just so much better! I love PF…I have an old Italian restaurant recipe, using only white cannelloni /kidney beans. It calls for adding lot’s of parmesan into the soup when it’s nearly finished cooking..even some rind..makes it lovely and creamy.
Thank you! I totally agree about adding cheese but my husband doesn’t like cheese!!!! So I add it to mine when served. How I managed to marry someone who doesn’t like cheese beats me! lol
When / at what point do you add the parmesan? Will it freeze alright? Thanks in advance 🙂
You just top it with parmesean cheese as you like. It freezes great. I always add the pasta separate even when I freeze. Then defrost or throw it back in the Instant Pot to reheat and add pasta at the end.