This Pasta Fagioli soup mix in a jar is part of my series of making soups that can be stored in our pantries. Mark and I love a hot bowl of soup with a slice or two of homemade bread. What I like about this recipe is that it’s a vegetarian soup mix in a jar, but you can always add leftover cooked ground beef when you cook it yourself.
Don’t you love those meals you start in a slow cooker that cook throughout the day? You know dinner will be ready tonight with very little work? I sure do. This soup has a tomato base which is one of my all-time favorites, add some beans and a little pasta and it’s a little bit of heaven in a bowl.
When I make my sourdough bread, I freeze two loaves for soup night, so it’s ready to go when the soup is cooked. Life is so good! I thaw it the night before, and it’s ready when the slow cooker finishes cooking my dinner.
Short History of Pasta Fagioli Soup
Pasta Fagioli Soup has its roots in the rustic kitchens of Italy, where simple, inexpensive ingredients created some of the most iconic dishes. Traditionally made with pasta, beans, vegetables, and herbs, this hearty soup was a staple for families who relied on pantry essentials to stretch meals and feed a crowd.
As Italian immigrants came to America, Pasta Fagioli evolved into the beloved Italian-American comfort food we enjoy today, rich, cozy, and endlessly customizable. Its long-standing popularity comes from its affordability, nourishing ingredients, and timeless homemade flavor.
Pasta Fagioli Soup, often affectionately called “Pasta Fazool” in Italian-American households, has roots that stretch deep into the heart of rural Italy. Its name comes from the simple ingredients that define it: pasta (pasta) and beans (fagioli). What began as a humble, peasant-style dish has grown into one of the most beloved comfort foods in Italian cuisine.
In old-world Italy, especially in regions like Campania, Lazio, and Tuscany, families relied on inexpensive pantry staples to create filling, nourishing meals. Beans were plentiful, pasta was affordable, and vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery were grown right at home. Nothing went to waste, and everything was used to stretch a meal to feed a large family. Pasta Fagioli became a symbol of resourcefulness, comfort, and the beauty of cooking with what you have.
As Italian immigrants brought their recipes to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the dish evolved. Regional variations blossomed, with some versions using a tomato base, others being brothier, and some adding ground beef or sausage to make it heartier. Italian-American kitchens adopted the dish as an everyday staple, and soon it became a familiar bowl of nostalgia, served in restaurants and at family gatherings alike.
Why Soup in a Jar Gifts Are the Perfect Homemade Surprise
There’s something so heartfelt about giving a gift you made with your own hands, and Soup in a Jar gifts check every box: practical, beautiful, budget-friendly, and delicious. These charming layered jars don’t just look pretty sitting on a countertop—they hold the promise of a warm, comforting meal ready to be enjoyed on a busy night. In a world where everyone is juggling tight schedules and facing rising grocery costs, a simple homemade jar mix feels like a little act of love.
What makes soup mixes such a timeless gift is their blend of simplicity and usefulness. With a handful of pantry ingredients, you can create a thoughtful present that lasts on the shelf and brings comfort long after the holidays are over. They’re perfect for neighbors, teachers, new parents, college students, or anyone who appreciates a ready-made dinner they can just pour, simmer, and enjoy.
Plus, layering the dry ingredients in a mason jar turns an everyday recipe into something personal and eye-catching. Add a ribbon, a tag, or a handwritten note, and you’ve created a gift that feels warm, homemade, and genuinely meaningful. Whether you’re building a pantry of emergency meals or crafting heartfelt holiday gifts, Soup in a Jar mixes are a cozy tradition worth keeping.
Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar
Kitchen Items You May Need
- Slow Cooker (I used a 3-1/2 Quart One)
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Quart wide-mouth mason jars (32-ounce) with lids and rings
- Funnel for jars
- Funnel for seasoning bags
- Seasoning Bags (these are the ones I purchased: 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches) or small baggies
- Twine for Tags
- Strainer
- Dicorain (optional)
Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar
Ingredients for the Jars
- Small pasta shells (I used Ditalini)
- Great white northern beans
- Pinto beans
- Kidney beans
- Minced Onion
- Spices
- When ready to make:
- 10 cups of water
- 28-ounces diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chopped carrots
- Grated Parmesan cheese (as a garnish)
Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar is the Perfect Gift
These are great to store in your pantry, or you can gift them to a family expecting a baby or someone who is under the weather. Who doesn’t love a hot cup of soup, right? Nothing says love like a homemade soup mix in a jar.
Tips for Best Results
- Shake the jar a little to settle each layer for neat, even stripes.
- Vacuum-seal jars for long-term storage.
- Add a packet of Parmesan or a small wooden spoon to make it a cute gift set!
How to Assemble Jars
The first thing to do is gather the ingredients. Of course, you can always add more of your own favorite spices.
Grab a wide-mouth one-quart mason jar (32-ounces) to layer some of the ingredients shown above. Start with the white beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Be sure to watch for small rocks in the beans.
Place the pasta in a baggie and place it on top of the beans. Put the seasonings in a small bag and close it. The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta baggie and under the lid. It’s very tight, so squeeze the air out of the baggies. Seal the lid using a FoodSaver or Dicorain, if you so desire. Put the canning ring on and add some twine with a tag, and it’s ready to put on your pantry shelf or give to someone in need.
How To Make Pasta Fagioli Soup
Step One
Please spread the beans out to look for rocks or debris. I didn’t find any today, but I have seen some over the years.
Step Two
Grab a strainer, and wash the beans thoroughly.
Step Three
Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker (I used a 3-1/2-quart slow cooker).
Step Four
Add the water, and turn it on high for 7 hours, and then check the beans for doneness. Mix in the pasta, the tomatoes, and chopped carrots. Cook another 2-3 hours until the carrots and beans are tender.
Finished Product
Here’s the finished product: a rich, savory soup with grated/shredded Parmesan sprinkled on top. I served it with my SourDough French Bread!
How To Store Leftovers
I love these Silicone One-Cup Divider Freezer Tray containers. You can pop one section (1 cup) out and put it in a bowl to microwave whenever you want. I use them for so many things. We freeze one-cup servings of leftovers all the time. The “meal” pops right out after freezing because it’s a no-stick silicone container. We also store our cooked rice in these so we can pop out a section for use in our dinner meal prep.
Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix Recipe
Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar
Ingredients
- 1 cup small pasta shells (I used Ditalini)
- 3/4 cup dried white northern beans
- 3/4 cup dried pinto beans
- 3/4 cup kidney beans
- 1/4 cup minced dried onion
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon Celery salt
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 Bay leaf
Ready to cook Add-Ons
- 10 cups water
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1-1/2 to 2 cups chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup of sugar (I always add a bit of sugar to my tomato based soups), this is an optional item.
Instructions
Fill The Jars
-
The first thing to do is place the seasonings in a small bag and close it. The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta baggie and under the lid.
-
Grab a wide-mouth quart mason jar (32-ounces) to layer some of the ingredients shown above.
-
Start with the white beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Be sure and watch for small rocks in the beans.
-
Place the pasta in a baggie and place it on top of the beans.
-
Now, place the seasonings in a small bag and close it.
-
The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta baggie and under the lid.
Cooking the Pasta Fagioli Soup
-
Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker (I used a 3-1/2-quart slow cooker). *Set the pasta, tomatoes, and chopped carrots aside.
-
Add 10 cups of water, turn the slow cooker on high for 7 hours, and then check the beans for doneness.
-
Mix in the pasta, the tomatoes, and chopped carrots. Cook another 2-3 hours until the carrots and beans are tender.
What Jars Can I Use?
I use wide-mouth quart jars (32 ounces) because they are easier to fill and hold a bit more than regular-mouth quart jars. Although any 32-ounce jar would work, you may not be able to use a FoodSaver with them.
Should I use a FoodSaver to seal the jars?
Mark and I used a FoodSaver to seal the jars, but we didn’t add an oxygen absorber. Today, I would use my Dicorain. It’s a personal preference, but since we’ll eat these within 1 year, I’m good with just sealing them.
Can I store my soup in bags?
Yes, you can store the soups in freezer bags if you want to take them to someone without giving up a jar. Just add a tag to it for the instructions. Keep in mind that sometimes pasta can tear through plastic bags.
How long will these jars be safe to store on my pantry shelves?
As a Master Canner Preserver, I always say, “If we make it, it’s a year.” We don’t have the processing tools to store them long-term. But we must be free to do what feels right for us. I only make what I will use up in one year, that’s how I roll.
Are there Gluten-Free Noodles?
Yes, a reader mentioned she uses Sam Mills Gluten Free Corn Pasta Lasagna Corte. Yay, for another option for our GF friends! Gluten-Free Pasta
My Soup In a Jar Series
Final Word
I hope you’re enjoying my soup mixes in a jar. If you want to make them in pint-sized wide-mouth jars, it would be very easy to cut the recipe in half. Mark and I like to make larger meals and freeze some for another day. My goal is to teach people how to use beans, pasta, and rice. We can do this, my friends, we must. You can always add your favorite cooked meat if you so desire. May God bless this world, Linda
The post Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
from Food Storage Moms
No comments:
Post a Comment