As a kid, I loved watching my mom in the kitchen cooking. Throwing a little salt in, stirring and throwing in more stuff and mixing again. She never used measuring spoons or cups. She just knew. My mother worked full-time and ran a business of her own, but always found the time to cook for us. In the fall and winter, I especially enjoyed the Korean soups my mom would make for us. Nothing says comfort to me more than soup.
And now, with kids of my own, it’s no surprise to me that soup is my oldest daughter’s favorite! Leek and potato soup and any soup with pasta and beans. She loves pasta e fagioli.
Warm, comforting and hearty pasta e fagioli, I can’t think of a better way to warm our tummies and enjoy a healthy meal. This soup is packed with some of my favorite seasonal fall produce: butternut squash and swiss chard. I love these together.
I made this vegetarian pasta e fagioli in my KitchenAid® 6.0Qt Cast Iron Cookware. This cast iron cookware allows for high-temperature cooking and is ideal for slow-cooking stews, soups and braised dishes on any cooktop stove, as well as roasts and baking in the oven. You can also use this for cobblers and cornbread! Bonus: The lid also doubles as a grill pan and can be used for grilling steaks, burgers, chicken, or vegetables. Isn’t that amazing?! This is the most versatile cast iron cookware ever!
The first official day of autumn is right around the corner so grab this cast iron cookware from KitchenAid and get some pasta e fagioli going!
- 1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed (at least 3 cups)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed
- 3½ cups vegetable broth + more if needed
- 2 to 3 cups swiss chard (any kind), leaves only chopped
- ½ lb. cooked elbow pasta
- ¼ cup minced fresh parsley + more for garnish
- To see the full recipe card and instructions, please visit The Kitchenthusiast.
To see the full recipe card and instructions, please visit KitchenAid’s blog, The Kitchenthusiast.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with KitchenAid. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting me in working with the brands that I use and love.
My mom cooked dinner every night after she got home at 6 from her job, and she hated every minute of it. I could tell. After we left home, she said to my dad, “I did the first 25 years. Dinner’s your job now.” So he learned how to cook! He makes a mean bolognese.
So I never had the childhood soups and comfort meals, but it sounds like your mom had that down! And you definitely do. This looks so good. And much needed, now that temps are dropping!
Oh this soup looks just perfect for the cooler weather, Alice! This is one of my favorite soups to order at restaurants, so I’m loving your homemade version. Sounds so warm and comforting!
I couldn’t agree more – soup is the ultimate comfort food. So wonderful you’re carrying on the family tradition!
I feel the same way and still love watching my mom in the kitchen cooking. It always gives me the warmest feeling just like this soup. It looks amazing and I love that soup is your eldest daughter’s favorite too 🙂 So comforting and delicious!
Bring on soup season! This looks so chock full of goodness – love the butternut squash and Swiss chard combo 🙂 Two of my favorites that I always seem to forget about… Plus pasta and beans? Oh yes!
I’ve had plenty of pasta e fagioli in my day but can honestly say I’ve never had it with butternut squash. I love this autumn addition!! Nothing says comfort like soup!
Oh I always loved being in the kitchen with my great aunts, grandma and mom. They just seemed to KNOW everything. I think I’m starting to get that way, and it’s pretty neat. Love this hearty soup, Alice. Hooray for Fall!
This is exactly what my meatless Monday needs! This looks so comforting and perfect for this colder weather! Pinned!
Since my wife comes from a crazy large Italian family, pasta fagiol is a staple around here! I’m digging this vegetarian version, though…looks delicious, Alice!!
I totally need that cast iron cookware! Love that the top doubles as its own piece of kitchenware! I also totally need this soup! Pasta e Fagioli is my husband’s favorite soup, but I dig more vegetarian soups, so this little number is perfect for both of us! Love it Alice! Pinned! Cheers to a fabulous day!!
I loved watching my mother and grandmother cook, too! It’s still 90+ degrees in Sacramento, but I’m so ready for soups right now. Love the butternut squash and tomato flavor combination here!
Soup really is the ultimate comfort food and what a great way to get more veggies into your diet too.
I love watching my mom cook and she was also busy running a business, when we were little, but always found time for easy meals like soups or pasta! This looks perfect, I woke up late this morning and I’m ready to have it for lunch 🙂 Pinning!
I’ve been on a soup kick lately so this is perfect. With the weather turning cooler, there really is nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of soup for lunch or dinner. Love this recipe, Alice!
What?! A grill pan on the lid? That is so cool! I’m so jealous. Soup is by far one of my favorite fall meals — so perfect with a slice of fresh bread!
100’s all week where I am. Fall? What Fall? HA. Good thing I cook soup even when it’s hot out. This one looks absolutely fantastic!
I love how you revisited this Italian soup by adding fall veggies like butternut squash and swiss chard to it! Here in Italy pasta e fagioli is a real staple dish during the colder months and it’s always good to find some ways to switch it up a little and make it a little bit different, so thanks for this inspiration, I’ll be trying it out for sure next time I make it.
xo
Thank you so much, Elisa!!!
As a kid, soups were my least favorite! Now, I can’t get enough of them. I’m so excited for cooler weather, just because I can eat soup every single day! Haha Love this comfort soup, Alice! Can’t wait to try it!
Bring on the soups! I love this one, Alice – so full of flavor and comfort!
My daughter loves pasta e fagioli – if she could eat that and nothing else, she’d be happy! So, I especially love your version, Alice. I love the butternut squash and swiss chard you added in! Perfect for cooler weather!
This is my idea of an easy and comforting weeknight meal! Love your vegetarian spin on pasta e fagioli!
my mom is pretty much the same way..i want to try some of her Nepali recipes and she will tell me put a little bit of this and little bit of that..and im like no momm, recipes..
My goal is to be like your mom…make dinner every night for the family and get Elliott in the kitchen one day! Love the flavors of this soup…so comforting!
Your mom sounds wonderful — what a great role model for you! I love the sound of this soup — so hearty and delicious!
What a beautiful recipe Alice. I love chard in soups and there is something so satisfying about making soup in a beautiful pot. This just hits all the right notes!!
I could be friends with Phoebe, since I’m a complete soup fan, but never made pasta e fagioli. It sounds and looks amazing Alice! Perfect for the cold weather approaching.
This looks amazing! Pasta makes everything better 🙂
Love the squash and chard addition, this is such a perfect fall recipe, easy, delicious and super filling!
I am SO with you on the soup – it’s the one thing that I miss during summertime, because cold soups are just Not The Same. This one is like a cheery dish full of fall flavors!
Absolutely perfect weeknight meal! This looks fabulous girl!
Alice, you’re totally right–soup is pure homey comfort and this one looks delicious and healthy. For similar reasons I am always into soup, which explains why most of my go-to recipes are served in big bowls with hunks of bread 😉
Ooo… I love pasta e fagioli, but I haven’t had it in ages! Oh, Alice! Your recipe is giving me some serious cravings. And I love your seasonal addition of butternut squash – perfect for fall 🙂 Pinned of course.
I am so excited for soup season and so excited to try this!! Love that you added butternut squash to this!!!!
I always envied people that didn’t measure ingredients! I’m able to sometimes, but my OCD won’t allow it other times :/ This looks like a delicious soup my family will love!