Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta Fagioli

I originally made this Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta Fagioli at the end of a particularly chilly December here in Phoenix.

Temperatures had dipped into the 50s during the day and 30s at night—which felt downright cold to us—and Rod, along with several other family members who had gathered for Christmas, had come down with a nasty cold.

I’d somehow managed to escape it, but it definitely felt like soup season.

And there’s nothing quite like a bowl of steamy homemade soup when it’s cold outside or you’re feeling a little under the weather.

This hearty Italian-inspired soup is filled with ground chicken, kidney and cannellini beans, tomatoes, vegetables, fresh herbs and just enough pasta to make it satisfying without overwhelming the broth.

The original recipe came from an issue of Weight Watchers Magazine. I adapted it a bit, using canned beans instead of dried, pasta shells instead of orecchiette, and adding carrots and celery.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Pasta Fagioli

• Hearty and satisfying. Chicken, beans, vegetables and pasta make this a substantial bowl of soup.
• Mostly hands-off. Once everything is in the slow cooker, it simmers away on its own.
• Makes a big batch. Perfect for feeding a family or stocking the freezer.
• Packed with Italian flavor. Fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaves make a big difference here.
• Easy to adapt. Use your favorite small pasta or whatever beans you have on hand.
• Great for leftovers. Like so many soups, the flavors get even better after a day in the refrigerator

Ingredients

Ground skinless chicken breast – Keeps the soup hearty while still being relatively light.

Fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaves – These really make the soup. I think the combination of fresh herbs is one of the reasons we liked this so much.

Dried oregano – Adds another layer of Italian flavor.

Onion, celery and carrot – The classic trio of vegetables gives the broth more flavor and substance.

Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds plenty of savory flavor.

Chicken broth – Forms the base of the soup.

Kidney and cannellini beans – I use canned beans for convenience. Be sure to drain and rinse them before adding.

Whole Italian tomatoes and tomato sauce – Give the soup its rich tomato base.

Whole wheat pasta shells – I like small shells, but orecchiette or another small pasta will work.

Salt and black pepper – Add to taste.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta Fagioli, Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

Gather and prepare all the ingredients.

You’ll need a 6-quart slow cooker (affiliate link) for the full recipe. If you’re using a 4-quart slow cooker (affiliate link), cut the recipe in half.

This makes a big batch of soup.

Step 2: Brown the Chicken

Lightly coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium heat.

Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon (affiliate link), until browned, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the cooked chicken to the slow cooker.

Step 3: Bundle the Fresh Herbs

Place the fresh thyme, rosemary and bay leaves in a small piece of cheesecloth and tie it closed.

No cheesecloth? I didn’t have any either, so I bundled mine in a clean paper coffee filter and tied it closed. It worked just fine.

Add the herb bundle to the slow cooker.

Step 4: Add the Remaining Soup Ingredients

Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic, chicken broth, water, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and salt.

Stir everything together.

Step 5: Slow Cook

Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender:

• LOW: 6 to 8 hours
• HIGH: 3 to 6 hours

Step 6: Add the Pasta

About 20 minutes before you’re ready to eat, stir in the pasta.

Cover and cook on HIGH until the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Remove and discard the herb bundle.

Taste and season with additional salt and black pepper as needed.

A Lesson Learned About the Pasta

The first time I made this soup, I failed to notice that the original recipe called for an entire pound of pasta.

That turned out to be way too much.

The pasta absorbed nearly all the liquid and what was supposed to be soup became something considerably thicker!

Fortunately, it was easy enough to rescue by adding more chicken broth.

Had I done what I usually do and compared a couple of similar recipes first, I probably would have caught it.

I’ve since adjusted the recipe to use 6 ounces (about 1½ cups) pasta, which gives you a much better balance of broth, beans, chicken and pasta.

Recipe Notes & Variations

• Don’t overdo the pasta. Six ounces is plenty. Pasta continues absorbing broth as the soup sits, so more isn’t necessarily better.
• Use another small pasta. Orecchiette, ditalini, small elbows or other small pasta shapes will work.
• Use canned beans. The original recipe used dried beans, but canned kidney and cannellini beans make the recipe much easier.
• Don’t skip the fresh herbs if you can help it. The rosemary, thyme and bay leaves add wonderful flavor and were one of my favorite things about this soup.
• Expect leftovers to thicken. The pasta will continue absorbing liquid in the refrigerator. Add a little chicken broth when reheating if you prefer a soupier consistency.
• Add a little heat. A sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes is especially good with the tomato, beans and herbs.

Serving Suggestions

This is one of those soups that really doesn’t need much alongside it.

A simple green salad or a slice of crusty Italian bread is plenty. A little grated Parmesan over the top is delicious too.

How Many Calories and WW Points in Chicken Pasta Fagioli?

According to my calculations, each generous 1¼-cup serving has about 282 calories.

To see your current WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App.

For those following older WW programs, the recipe was:

• 7 PointsPlus

If you’ve made this Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta Fagioli Soup, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

 

More Slow Cooker Soups You Might Like

• Slow Cooker Pizza Soup
• Hearty Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Soup
• Slow Cooker Ham and Split Pea Soup
• Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Meatball Soup