It’s a whole meal ready in minutes.
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Pasta—any and all pasta—is hands down my husband’s favorite food. Pasta amatriciana, spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccine Alfredo, and Bolognese… the list goes on. I try to make it at least once a week, but I don’t always have the 30 minutes or hour it takes to make from-scratch pasta. Enter ALDI. The budget grocery store’s dinner hero status grew even bigger when I recently discovered its Specially Selected Pasta Fazool.
Simply Recipes / Aldi
ALDI Specially Selected Pasta Fazool
- Price: $3.89 for a 24-ounce jar
- Why I Love It: The incredibly hearty soup is packed with pasta, cannellini beans, and veggies. It reheats in minutes and makes a cozy, satisfying dinner on busy days.
Why I Love ALDI’s Pasta Fazool
Outside of the fact that it’s just so fun to say “pasta fazool,” the Americanized version of Italian pasta e fagioli (aka pasta and beans) only costs $3.89 at ALDI. At 24 ounces, it contains four servings, but my husband ate almost the entire jar in one sitting—that’s how good it is.
The soup starts with lots and lots of tomatoes, along with Parmesan cheese and spices. It’s packed with round hollow pasta noodles, cannellini beans, and veggies like carrots and onions. This cross between pasta and soup is perfect on a cold winter’s night, especially since it’s ready in just a few minutes.
One bite and you’ll be transported to Italy—or at least a nearby Italian-American restaurant. The soup is incredibly hearty, chockful of noodles and tomatoes and so much Parmesan cheese that it almost has a creamy texture. There’s a strong garlic flavor, but it’s not overpowering.
How I Enjoy ALDI's Specially Selected Pasta Fazool
I recommend heating it in a small pot on the stovetop. On my high-powered induction stove, it was steaming in less than three minutes. You can also warm it up in the microwave.
While it tastes just delicious by itself, I added a finishing sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, which gave it more of a homemade feel. I think the next time I make it, I might also add a splash of wine or vodka to give it just a bit of additional flavor; if I have fresh parsley, basil, or chives on hand, I might sprinkle some on top, too.
Given that it reheats so quickly, the Pasta Fazool would make a great school or office lunch if you pack it into a thermos. This is going to my family's go-to soup for chilly nights after busy days.
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