Slow Cooker Sunday -- Pasta Fagioli

I found another great blog recently and have bookmarked a ton of recipes to try out from Ann over at Apples & Twinkies. When I saw this Pasta Fagioli recipe (which is what I order when going to Olive Garden), I knew I had to try it out. Not only is it an easy recipe but it is tossed in the slow cooker -- which is a major plus for me.


Pasta Fagioli - Slow Cooker
Adapted from: Apples & Twinkies
http://www.applesandtwinkies.com/






2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, shredded
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (16 ounce) can white kidney beans, drained
3 (10 ounce) cans beef stock
3 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons pepper
5 teaspoons parsley
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (optional)
1 (20 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
8 ounces pasta

Brown beef in a skillet. Drain fat from beef and add to crock pot with everything except pasta.
Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours. During last 30 min on high or 1 hour on low, add pasta.

Our Thoughts:
This was really good and easy to make BUT it makes a TON! Next time I would half the recipe for sure. And it didn't help that I didn't pay attention to the amount of pasta it called for and used a whole bag (16 oz).
Since it was a lot of soup, I took to work the next day to share with my co-workers.