This Busy Day Soup is perfect for those days when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. It is full of flavor and comes together quickly with pantry staples.
The next time you are looking for a simple yet family-friendly recipe to make a cold night then this is the recipe for you. And, if you love beef soap recipes then next time give this Instant Pot Beef Tomato Soup recipe a try.
Jump to:
Why I Love This Recipe
This easy and delicious Busy Day Soup is the perfect solution for those days when you don’t have much time to spare in the kitchen! Filled with savory flavors, this meal comes together quickly and effortlessly with pantry staples, making it a great go-to option for busy families who are looking for great-tasting, and nutritious.
- While this soup does need to simmer for a little while, it’s pretty much hands off making it perfect for busy days.
- It’s also easy to make and kids love it.
- These simple ingredients are budget-friendly and easy to customize to what you have on hand.
If you love homemade soup recipes, you may also enjoy this Instant Pot Hamburger Soup recipe.
Ingredients
You can find the full list of ingredients and the amounts that are needed to make this easy recipe in the recipe card below.
- ground beef – You will need some ground beef to make this simple soup recipe.
- soup mix – I like to use onion soup mix, but you can use beefy onion soup mix also if you want a little more flavor.
- vegetables – You will need a can of petite diced tomatoes, and a bag of mixed vegetables for this simple recipe.
- pasta – I used ditalini pasta to make this homemade soup.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
If you want to customize this Busy Day Soup recipe, here are a few ideas that would make great additions:
- Potatoes – Add some diced potatoes to the soup, and make sure that you cook them into they turn tender.
- Protein – Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or crumbled Italian sausage.
- Cheese – Sprinkle in some grated Parmesan cheese when the soup is finished cooking.
- Vegetables – If you want to add more vegetables you can sauté some onions, celery, or even add spinach to the soup recipe.
How to Make Busy Day Soup
Are you ready to make this comfort food? Just follow these directions and you will have a bowl of hearty soup in no time at all.
Step 1: Brown the ground beef
In a large dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, crumbling as it cooks. Drain the meat well and then return it to the pot.
Step 2: Add the diced tomatoes and seasonings
To the pot, add the onion soup mix, 5 cups of water, and the canned tomatoes. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer on medium low for 1 hour.
Step 3: Add the vegetables and pasta
Stir the mixed vegetables and pasta (or rice) into the soup. Add the remaining cup of water if desired. Cook for an additional 15 minutes or until the vegetables and pasta are tender.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve a bowl of beef vegetable soup like this with a side of Air Fryer Cornbread Muffins or these Air Fryer Dinner Rolls. And, if you want to end this meal with a sweet treat check out these Peach Cobbler Cupcakes.
Pro Tips
Here a few tips that you can use to make sure that your soup turns out perfectly every time that you make it.
- If you don’t have any ditalini pasta, you can use elbows or any other small pasta shape that you have on hand.
- There are so many different things that you can add to this recipe, you can add garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper or some crushed red pepper flakes if you want to increase the flavor.
- Instead of water you can use beef broth or beef stock to add richness to the broth.
- Canned vegetables can be swapped out for the frozen veggies, just make sure that you drain them first.
- If you want to add more protein, you can add some drained and rinsed beans. Kidney beans or great northern beans will work great in this busy day soup.
Storage
Storage – This soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheating – Reheat the soup on the stovetop on medium heat or in the microwave for 1 -2 minutes until hot.
Freezing – If you plan to turn this soup into a freezer meal, follow steps 1 and 2. And, then cool the soup completely. Once cooled freeze in a freeze-safe container.
Thawing – Thaw in the fridge overnight, and then add the vegetables and pasta.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Yes, brown the ground beef until it cooked through. And, then add the water, seasonings, and tomatoes. Cook on low for about two hours. Then add in the pasta and vegetables and cook on high for 30 minutes.
I recommend freezing soup without pasta and potatoes because they can become mushy when thawed and reheat. If you add them after thawing, they will hold their texture better.
Yes, just use your favorite meat substitute or drained and rinse beans instead of the ground beef. If you are using beans skip the first step.
This soup got it’s name because it’s a dump and go recipe. There’s no need to worry about chopping vegetables or spending a lot of time on prep.
More Soup Recipes
If you like soup, give these recipes a try:
Want to make this delicious recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin it so that you can come back to it later.
Busy Day Soup
Equipment
- dutch oven or large pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 5 to 6 cups water divided
- 28 ounces can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 cup uncooked ditalini pasta or any small pasta or rice
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, crumbling as it cooks. Drain the meat well and then return it to the pot.
- To the pot, add the onion soup mix, 5 cups of water, and the canned tomatoes. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer on medium low for 1 hour.
- Stir the mixed vegetables and pasta (or rice) into the soup. Add the remaining cup of water if desired. Cook for an additional 15 minutes or until the vegetables and pasta are tender.
Notes
- If you don’t have any ditalini pasta, you can use elbows or any other small pasta shape that you have on hand.
- There are so many different things that you can add to this recipe, you can add garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper or some crushed red pepper flakes if you want to increase the flavor.
- Instead of water you can use beef broth or beef stock to add richness to the broth.
- Canned vegetables can be swapped out for the frozen veggies, just make sure that you drain them first.
- If you want to add more protein, you can add some drained and rinsed beans. Kidney beans or great northern beans will work great in this busy day soup.