Last Updated on July 15, 2023
What about making a wholesome, hearty meal on a busy day? Well, busy day soup recipe is your answer! This easy-to-make soup is not only comforting and delicious but also requires little time and effort. All you need to do is throw together some ingredients in one pot and the result would be an amazing dish that can serve the entire family.
In addition, this soup is truly versatile – it can be served as a main course, side dish, or light meal. Moreover, you can make it ahead of time and freeze it for later. So try out the hearty busy day soup recipe today!
So, are you interested to learn how to make busy day soup? If yes, then you have come to the right place. Here, I will explain all the steps involved in making this amazing recipe and answer some of your frequently asked questions about it.
What Is busy day soup recipe?
Busy day soup is a simple, yet flavorful dish made from ground beef, onion soup mix, tomatoes, frozen vegetables, and macaroni. It’s a great way to sneak some extra veggies into your family’s meals while adding some protein and carbs.
Indeed, it is an easy one-pot meal that comes together quickly and requires minimal effort. Plus, you can customize the ingredients according to your preference, making it a great choice for busy weeknights as well.
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Where Did I First Try busy day soup?
I first tried the busy day soup recipe about four years ago. I was looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe on Internet to make during my busy weeknights, and this dish seemed like the perfect choice.
At first, I thought it would be a bit tedious to put all the ingredients together in one pot, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. All I had to do was cook the ground beef, add the onion soup mix and other ingredients, give it a good stir, and let everything simmer for about 25 minutes.
The result was an amazing dish that my family absolutely loved – it was hearty yet satisfying at the same time. My husband couldn’t stop praising my cooking, and my kids were asking for seconds.
Since then, I have made this soup multiple times and it has always been a hit in our home. The best part is that you can make it ahead of time and freeze it for later – so it makes for a great meal prep option as well.
However, this dish has a few components that can be customized according to your preference – so feel free to play around with the flavors and ingredients. So, let’s now discuss the ingredients and cooking tips for making this delicious soup. This soup is one of my favorite weeknight meal options and I’m sure it will become your family’s favorite too.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: This is the main element of the soup. Use ground beef that is lean to keep the calorie count low. You can also substitute it with turkey, chicken, or any other ground meat of your choice.
- Onion Soup Mix: Adding a packet of onion soup mix helps to enhance the flavor of the dish. Moreover, it also makes this soup even easier to make as it requires no chopping and peeling of onions.
- Water: Water is used to thin out the soup and bring all the flavors together. Make sure that you add enough water for a thinner consistency, as it thickens with time.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes not only give the dish an amazing flavor but also make it look more vibrant and appetizing. Use either canned diced tomatoes or fresh ones depending on your preference.
- Mixed Frozen Vegetables: You can use any frozen veggies of your choice such as peas, mixed peppers, corn, carrots, green beans, etc. Adding a variety of vegetables also ensures that the soup is more nutritious and healthy.
- Macaroni: Lastly, macaroni adds a nice texture to the soup and makes it more filling. Make sure that you use uncooked macaroni for this recipe as pre-cooked pasta can turn soggy in soup.
Cooking Directions
Step 1
Start by browning the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat. Drain off any fat. Add the onion soup mix, water, and diced tomatoes to the pot with the beef. Stir well, then bring it all to a boil.
Step 2
Add the frozen vegetables to the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the macaroni to the pot.
Step 3
Continue to simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until the macaroni is cooked through. Serve hot with extra diced tomatoes, if desired.
Cooking Tips
• You can add other vegetables to the soup if you’d like. Carrots, peas, and green beans all work great!
• If you’d like a thicker soup, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, then stir it into the soup during the final few minutes of cooking.
• If the soup begins to get too thick, just add a little extra water or broth to thin it out.
• For a spicier version, add some diced jalapenos or red pepper flakes.
What Ingredients Can I Replace or Substitute While Making It?
• Ground beef can be replaced with ground turkey or chicken.
• Onion soup mix can be substituted with a teaspoon of garlic powder and a tablespoon of onion powder.
• Frozen vegetables can be swapped out for fresh vegetables such as carrots, peas, green beans, or corn.
• Macaroni can be replaced with other kinds of pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or shells.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- bowls
- Spatula
- etc
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 5 cups water
- 1 28oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 3/4 cups mixed frozen vegetables
- 1 cup macaroni, uncooked
Instructions
- Start by browning the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat. Drain off any fat. Add the onion soup mix, water, and diced tomatoes to the pot with the beef. Stir well, then bring it all to a boil.
- Add the frozen vegetables to the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the macaroni to the pot.
- Continue to simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until the macaroni is cooked through. Serve hot with extra diced tomatoes, if desired.
Video
Notes
- You can add other vegetables to the soup if you’d like. Carrots, peas, and green beans all work great!
- If you’d like a thicker soup, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, then stir it into the soup during the final few minutes of cooking.
- If the soup begins to get too thick, just add a little extra water or broth to thin it out.
- For a spicier version, add some diced jalapenos or red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Information
One serving of busy day soup contains approximately
- 400 calories,
- 20 grams of fat,
- 35 grams of carbohydrates, and
- 25 grams of protein.
How to Store Leftover busy day soup?
The best way to store leftover soup is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for up to three days. If you’d like to freeze it, portion it into individual containers before freezing. Defrost overnight in the fridge or use the microwave defrost setting and heat thoroughly until hot throughout before serving.
FAQs
Can pregnant women eat this?
Yes, pregnant women can eat this soup. However, it’s important to ensure that everything is cooked properly and all ingredients are fresh before eating. It’s also advisable to consume only one to two servings of ground beef per week during pregnancy.
Can I make this soup vegetarian?
Yes, it’s possible to make the busy day soup a vegetarian dish. Simply replace the ground beef with your favorite plant-based protein such as tofu or tempeh. You could also use vegetable broth instead of water and omit the onion soup mix in order to make it vegan-friendly.
Is there a way to reduce the fat content of this dish?
Yes, you can reduce the fat content in this soup by omitting ground beef and replacing it with mushrooms or other non-meat proteins. Go for leaner cuts of meat and use low sodium ingredients whenever possible.
Wrapping Up
So, do you think you can make this dish at home? It is very easy and requires minimal effort. Plus, it’s a great way to get some extra veggies into your family’s meals while still keeping things interesting and flavorful. Give this busy-day soup recipe a try and let us know how it turns out!
With these simple steps, you can make amazing and delicious busy-day soup in no time. Now, all that’s left to do is put together all the ingredients and let the pot do its magic.
Make sure to share this recipe with your family and friends to enjoy a comforting, flavorful meal together. Happy Eating!
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Rebecca Novak is a trained chef with over 10 years of experience in the food industry. She has worked in both fine dining and casual Hungarian restaurants and specializes in creating dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients. She also loves exploring different cuisines worldwide, which allows her to bring unique flavors and ideas to the recipes she creates for Hungarianchef.com. Read more
