Busy Day Soup

It takes little creativity to discern why busy day soup bears its name. The most hands-on cooking you have to do is browning the meat, but the rest of the recipe is simply dumping in the remaining ingredients and letting it boil for a few minutes.

The base of most soups is made from sautéed onions, celery, and carrots, but to speed up the process after a busy day, this recipe calls for a package of dry onion soup mix instead. The advantage to using this soup mix is that it lends a ton of mouthwatering savory flavor to the meat without the labor of endless chopping and cooking. By adding the packet to the browning meat, you ensure that all of the spices in the mix are able to permeate the soup by infusing the fat from the ground beef with rich flavor.

After that, it's a matter of adding vegetable broth, canned fire-roasted tomatoes, and a bag of frozen vegetables. Some pasta noodles are thrown in to bulk up the soup with some much needed starch, and after the pasta is done cooking in the flavorful broth, it's ready to serve.

Ingredients for Busy Day Soup

To make this hearty weeknight soup, you'll need:

• Extra-virgin olive oil: For browning the beef.
• Ground beef: Can substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or sausage, if preferred.
• Dry onion soup mix: Adds deep flavor to the soup without having to prepare a mirepoix.
• Vegetable broth: The base of the broth. Can substitute with chicken, turkey, or beef broth.
• Canned fire-roasted tomatoes: For a sweet and smoky tomato flavor.
• Frozen mixed vegetables: Any type of vegetables you have on hand will do nicely here.
• Dried pasta noodles: Such as gemelli to bulk up the soup for a filling weeknight meal.

How To Make Busy Day Soup

This soup comes together quickly and easily, for a satisfying meal at the end of a long day:

• Step 1. Brown beef: Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot, and brown the beef.
• Step 2. Add broth and vegetables: Stir in onion soup mix, then broth, tomatoes, and vegetables. Bring to a boil.
• Step 3. Add pasta: Add pasta; boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.
  

Variations for Busy Day Soup

This soup is here to make your life easier, and simple swaps based on what you have on hand can ensure that it does just that:

• Beef: Swap for ground turkey, pork, chicken, or sausage.
• Seasonings: Swap the onion soup mix for a variety of spices, including paprika, cayenne, chili powder, and more.
• Vegetables: Add fresh onions, peppers, mushrooms, or any frozen vegetables you have on hand.
• Pasta: Any small pasta shapes will do, or swap with tortellini, potatoes or leftover rice.
• Toppings: Serve topped with fresh herbs, a hit of hot sauce, or shredded cheese for a little extra flair.

Want to get ahead of the day? Prep this soup in the slow cooker. Just cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or LOW for 5 to 6, adding the pasta in the last 30 minutes of cooking.

How To Make Busy Day Soup Ahead

This soup isn't just quick to make, it can also be prepped up to three days in advance. Prepare and bring the soup to room temperature. Refrigerate in an airtight container, then reheat on the stovetop until hot throughout when ready to serve.

How To Freeze Busy Day Soup

This soup can be frozen for up to six months, so making a big batch is a great way to get ahead of busy weeknights. Fill freezer-safe zip-top bags no more than three-fourths of the way full, and seal, pushing out any air. Freeze flat until solid.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop until hot throughout before serving.

More Quick Soup Recipes You'll Love

Having a bevy of quick soup recipes on hand during those busy fall and winter months is key for getting through the season:

• Chicken Rotisserie Noodle Soup
• White Bean-and-Chard Soup
• Chicken-and-Prosciutto Tortelloni Soup
• Lasagna Soup
• 30-Minute Chili
• Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
• Broccoli-Cheddar Soup
• Cheeseburger Soup

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.