Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (2024)

Busy Day Soup is perfect for those busy weeknights. It’s quick to make and requires little effort. Who loves easy recipes? Rich and savory broth, tender pasta, and loads of veggies and beef in each bite.

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (1)

Busy Day Soup

What I love about Busy Day Soup is that you can throw all the ingredients into the pot and let your stove work its magic.

It has a few low prep ingredients like ground beef, onion soup mix, mixed frozen veggies, diced tomatoes and macaroni.

It’s perfect for days where you don’t know what to make for dinner. If you’re like me, those days are frequent.

This fall is a busy season for our family. My youngest daughter rides horses a couple times a week and is also taking swimming lessons. She is in Bronze Medallion and hopes to be a lifeguard. It’s a lot of shuttling back and forth. Good times.

When I want a simple, hearty meal, I turn to this soup recipe. Serve it with soda crackers or a buttered roll. It’s so tasty and filling.

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (2)

How to Make Busy Day Soup

Grab a large soup pot, and brown the ground beef. Drain off the fat after it’s cooked so your soup isn’t greasy.

Pour in the water, onion soup mix and tomatoes with their juices. Simmer for 1 hour on medium low heat.

After the 1 hour mark, add in the uncooked macaroni noodles and frozen mixed vegetables. Cook for another 15 minutes on medium heat. The noodles and frozen veggies will cook until they are tender.

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (3)

You don’t need to thaw the vegetables. Just throw them in right from the freezer. That is what I love about this recipe, it truly is so simple to make and pull together.

Serve it up hot! It makes about 6 servings and tastes even better the next day heated up. It’s just the two of us at home now so we always have leftovers.

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (4)

Can I Swap Meat in Soup

Sure, you are more than welcome to use ground turkey, pork, or even ground chicken. Just cook the meat until it is fully done. You could even take the skins off bratwurst and use them. I am sure it would add a nice level of flavor.

Or maybe you want to layer the flavor of two meats. Beef and sausage are always a fantastic pairing and really can elevate the flavor.

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (5)

Vegetables in Soup

The veggies used in this soup can be adjusted to fit your tastebuds. If you have fresh veggies you want to prep and slice up, go for it. Or if you have a bag of frozen vegetables in the freezer that sound tasty, use them instead.

Feel free to raid your pantry or freezer and use what you have on hand. Just get creative and pick items that you like the flavor of. Then I think you will enjoy the flavor of the soup.

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (6)

Can I Change Out the Pasta in this Soup

Yes, if you don’t have any macaroni on hand, feel free to change it up. Reach for shells, rotini, ziti, etc. Any pasta will work you just want to ensure your pasta fully cooks. You could even break up spaghetti noodles to place in the soup.

I do feel that depending on the pasta the flavor of the soup varies slightly. But, overall any flavor is amazing paired with all the broth and vegetables.

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Toppings for Busy Day Soup

  • Sprinkle with fresh parsley or even Italian seasoning for color and flavor.
  • Shred and sprinkle cheese that adds a nice cheesy flavor.
  • Add on some crackers or even crunchy croutons to soak up the savory broth.
  • Splash of hot sauce to elevate the heat factor.

You can truly do so much to this soup to elevate the flavor. I love it how it is, but sometimes we add on some toppings to change up the flavor of the soup.

Meal Prep with Leftover Soup

This soup is incredible for placing in single serve containers and storing in the fridge. Meal prep for quick on the go lunches for when you need something quick. I think the flavor just blends even more as it sits in the fridge.

In terms of freezing, you will find you can freeze this soup. The vegetables will change a bit in texture as they thaw, but the flavor of this soup is still amazing and tasty. Pasta, as well, can become a bit mushy, so if you know you are going to freeze, cook to al dente.

How to Make in the Slow Cooker

You can also make Busy Day Soup in the slow cooker. Cook the ground beef first on the stove. Add all the ingredients except the pasta to the slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 6 hours. Add in the uncooked pasta when there is only 30 minutes left of cooking time.

Craving More Soup Recipes

  • Stuffed Pepper Soup | If you enjoy stuffed peppers, you will love this incredible soup recipe. You get all the flavors of stuffed peppers but without all the work.
  • Dill Pickle Soup | Serve up this comforting and filling soup. If you know someone who loves pickles, this soup was made for them.
  • Cauliflower Soup with Bacon | You have a creamy soup that is loaded with cauliflower flavor and then topped with crispy bacon in every single bite.

For other delicious soup recipes, try my New England Clam Chowder, Hamburger Soup, Cream of Celery Soup,Cream of Carrot Soup,Cheeseburger Chowder, and Cabbage Roll Soup.

What are your favourite recipes for busy days?

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (8)

Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy} - Simply Stacie (9)

Rate this Recipe

4.49 from 3779 votes

Busy Day Soup

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 6

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

An easy soup recipe your family will love! It’s quick to make and takes little effort. Perfect for those busy weeknights.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet onion soup mix
  • 1 ¾ cup mixed frozen vegetables
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 can diced tomatoes 28oz can
  • 1 cup macaroni uncooked

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot, brown ground beef. Drain fat.

  • Pour in water, onion soup mix and tomatoes with juice. Simmer for 1 hour on medium low.

  • Add macaroni and frozen vegetables. Cook 15 minutes longer on medium heat. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

If soup is too thick, add more water to thin out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 28.5g | Protein: 22.1g | Fat: 3.1g | Saturated Fat: 1.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 45.2mg | Sodium: 522.4mg | Fiber: 5.1g | Sugar: 5g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Soups

Cuisine American

Keyword busy day soup, easy recipes, ground beef, soup recipes

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FAQs

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

How did they make soup in the old days? ›

An ancient soup maker could have simply dug a pit, lined it with animal skin or gut, filled his "pot" with water and dropped in some hot rocks.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What is a soup that never stops cooking? ›

A perpetual stew, also known as forever soup, hunter's pot, or hunter's stew, is a pot into which foodstuffs are placed and cooked, continuously. The pot is never or rarely emptied all the way, and ingredients and liquid are replenished as necessary.

Why does day old soup taste better? ›

An array of salty, umami, tangy elements move in and out of the components in the soup or stew, balancing and integrating the overall flavor. Cooking beans in broth allows them to absorb some flavor from their surrounding liquid; but letting them sit for hours in the broth does a much more complete job.

What soup has been cooking for 48 years? ›

The giant pot of neua tune, a beef stew popular in the Thai capital, has been simmering since owner Nattapong Kaweenuntawong was a child, more than 45 years ago. Growing up studying the exact flavor profile of the stew from his father, Kaweenuntawong now balances the flavor himself daily.

Why do you put vinegar in vegetable soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

Why do you put lemon juice in vegetable soup? ›

Using some fresh juice to boost the flavor adds a bright hit of acid that wakes up your taste buds. You can do this with herbs too. Add the stems of soft herbs to a soup or a stew, then garnish with the leaves when serving for a brighter, fresher taste.

What is the best thickener for vegetable soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Is it possible to live off of soup? ›

As the soup diet usually only lasts for 7-14 days, it's not recommended in the long term. The NHS also highlights how very low-calorie diets like this often lead to short term weight loss, but it's likely that you'll put some or all of the weight back on once you go back to eating normally.

What is the 3 day soup diet? ›

It's just three days, enough time to feel a difference. Each day, you'll have a healthy breakfast, then soup for lunch, and a different one for dinner. If you're hungry between meals, choose one of the snacks. To add even more nutrition and interest, add a Souper Topper.

Do you lose weight on a soup diet? ›

And the fewer calories you eat on a soup diet, generally the more weight you'll lose. Just keep in mind that as with other low calorie diets, most of the weight lost over the 5–10 days is likely due to water rather than fat loss ( 11 ).

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

What are three qualities of a good soup? ›

A soup's quality is determined by its flavor, appearance and texture. A good soup should be full-flavored, with no off or sour tastes. Flavors from each of the soup's ingre- dients should blend and complement, with no one flavor overpowering another.

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