Pasta e Fagioli for Two
Perfect for when you’re cooking for a small household, this version of the classic Italian soup is quick, full of flavor, and just the right amount, no big pot required.
As a divorced mom of two, I’m often cooking for just myself, or for me and my kids, so I’ve become an expert at making small meals that don’t leave a mountain of leftovers. This Pasta e Fagioli recipe is scaled perfectly for two and comes together in about 20 minutes. No tricky math or halving ingredients here. Just a satisfying, cozy soup that’s the perfect amount.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
Why This Recipe Works For Two
While some recipes work out perfectly if you halve the ingredient list to make a smaller batch, others have you ending up with inconvenient amounts or the recipe just doesn’t turn out quite right. I don’t like when I end up with half a can of something leftover without a plan for it. Or sometimes your soup turns out more like a stew because of the adjusted amounts.
In this recipe, I’ve done the adjusting for you so that my easy homemade pasta e fagioli soup actually works for two. No need to guess and hope for the best! Just delicious soup in no time, in the smaller amount that you actually need.
Ingredient Tips For Smaller Portions
If you’re regularly making halved recipes to make it work for your smaller household, there are some things to keep in mind to make life easier.
I like to get the tomato paste in the tube that I can keep refrigerated. That way I can work my way through it, instead of only using one or two tablespoons from the little cans and then forgetting about the rest.
If you find yourself needing half a can of beans for something, see if there’s a frozen substitute that could work. When I make a bigger version of this soup, I like using a can of cannellini beans. But here, frozen lima beans work great and I can just grab the amount I need. Reseal the bag and leave the rest in there in the freezer for next time.
Want another soup recipe perfectly portioned for two? Try my Chicken Noodle Soup for Two.
Podcast: How to Make Pasta e Fagioli for Two
Listen to a short audio podcast episode where I explain how to make this soup. Click the arrow to play the episode.
For more episodes of the Recipe of the Day podcast, click here.
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Pasta e Fagioli for Two
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
DESCRIPTION
This quick soup is built around one of my favorite habits from learning to cook for two: choosing ingredients that let you decide how much to use, no half cans left in the fridge! For the tomato paste, you only need two tablespoons, so buy the tube and squeeze out just the amount you want. I also use frozen lima beans or soybeans (edamame) so I can take exactly what I need and pop the rest back in the freezer. Edamame are actually one of my favorite healthy snacks, so I almost always have a bag on hand.
Ingredients
- 2 strips bacon, chopped*
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste**
- 2 and 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup frozen beans, such as lima or soy
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup dry orzo (or other small pasta)
Instructions
- Set a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Remove all but 2 teaspoons of the bacon fat from the pot and discard.
- To the bacon in the saucepan add the onion and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir. Add the tomato paste and cook while stirring for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the stock, frozen beans, and salt. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir in the orzo. Once the liquid comes back to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, 7-9 minutes. Taste and add more salt, if desired.
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