Every day is a busy day. To make those days easier (and delicious!), there’s Busy Day Soup!
Table of Contents
The only thing better than hot soup is a hot soup you can throw together quickly. Busy day soup reminds me of a casserole my mom used to make when I was young. She called it “garbage,” which sounds awful, but the nickname came from the fact that she could use up a lot of leftovers in the fridge to make it.
Busy day soup doesn’t require your leftovers; however, it is the same concept. It’s for those nights when you need a healthy meal fast. The best part is that you will want to make it any night of the week, whether you are busy or not.
This simple recipe requires only browned ground beef, dry onion soup mix, elbow macaroni, mixed veggies, and a few other ingredients you likely keep in stock at home. It’s hearty and healthy, and the flavor of the dry onion soup and tomatoes is delicious.
It may remind you a bit of chili or stew since it isn’t a thin soup but rather a nice and chunky one. I like that it isn’t spicy or made with anything too unusual. It’s the kind of meal that easily feeds and pleases a crowd.
Is Busy Day Soup Healthy?
Busy day soup is a healthy choice at mealtime. Ground beef adds protein and iron, and the mix of vegetables is a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Also, whole wheat pasta offers more fiber than other kinds of pasta, which is great for your digestive system. As a vegan, you can use veggie broth and leave out the meat. Gluten-free diets should replace the elbow macaroni with gluten-free pasta or use rice instead.
What is the secret to the best busy day soup?
The secret to incredible busy day soup lies in the dry onion soup mix. It’s such an easy step yet it really makes the soup. If you’ve ever used dry onion soup mix, you know it is irreplaceable and so important to keep on hand. I love to use it for French onion dip, meatloaf, and always for busy day soup. For this recipe, a regular onion doesn’t do the trick. Plus, the point of busy day soup is to make things easy. Dry onion soup mix has more than just onions in it, and the flavoring it adds is tough to replicate.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 package dry onion soup mix
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 can (28 ounces) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 package (12 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni
INSTRUCTIONS
Brown
Cook beef until browned.
Boil
Add soup mix, broth, and tomatoes; bring to boil.
Simmer
Mix in vegetables and macaroni; simmer until tender.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Making and storing soups ahead of time is a great idea. They reheat perfectly, and sometimes, it seems like they taste better with each passing day. To store your busy day soup, put the leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can freeze your busy day soup in the same way for up to six months. I like to double the recipe and freeze plenty of the soup to have on hand.
Any pasta will work well in busy day soup. As mentioned, you can also use gluten-free pasta. This recipe uses whole wheat elbow macaroni; however, you could also use regular semolina elbow macaroni. Broken pieces of spaghetti, rigatoni, penne, and cheese tortellini would all be delicious.
Absolutely! I like ground beef because it is inexpensive and quick, and I can choose low-fat ground beef. Still, you can use ground turkey, shredded rotisserie chicken, or chunks of a beef roast. Of course, you can also make the soup meatless.
Serving Suggestions
Nothing pairs better with a hot bowl of soup than warm bread. Almond flour bread is a healthy choice for busy day soup. Crackers are also great for dipping or crumbling into the soup. I like a chilled salad to complement the heat of the soup. Two of my favorites to enjoy on the side are Mediterranean cucumber salad and corn and mango salad. Fruit salads work nicely too, such as coconut milk quinoa salad or pomegranate persimmon salad.
Busy Day Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 package dry onion soup mix
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 28 oz. can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 12 oz. package frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni
Instructions
-
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
-
Stir in the dry onion soup mix, beef broth, and diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring the mixture to a boil.
-
Add the frozen mixed vegetables and whole wheat elbow macaroni to the pot. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until the macaroni is tender.
-
Serve the soup hot, with an option to sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition
The post Busy Day Soup appeared first on Food Faith Fitness.
