We frequently find ourselves craving a healthy, quick meal that doesn’t have to compromise on flavor or nutrition because of how quickly life goes by. When you’re short on time, this recipe for Busy Day Soup Recipe is the perfect fix. Full of colorful veggies, hearty legumes, and flavorful herbs, this soup comes together quickly and makes for a delightful bowl of comfort food even on your busiest days.
The best soup recipes make delicious, easy-to-make meals and starters that are ideal for when the weather turns chilly. Tasty options can be made to suit everyone’s dietary preferences, from a hearty cheese tortellini soup that you’ll love to homemade lentil soup. Read on for some of the best soup recipes for busy days this winter if you’re craving easy, affordable, and incredibly satisfying meals.
Ideal for hectic weeknights is Busy Day Soup. It is easy to make and takes little time. Who enjoys simple recipes? Tender pasta, a rich and flavorful broth, and a ton of vegetables and beef in every bite.
Ingredients list:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup small pasta (elbow, shell, or your preference)
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions Busy Day Soup recipe
Begin with Aromatics:
Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion, sliced carrots, and diced celery. Sauté until vegetables are softened, and the onion is translucent (approx. 5-7 minutes).
Infuse Flavors:
Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Allow the aromatics to meld for an additional 1-2 minutes until the kitchen is filled with a delightful fragrance.
Liquids and Tomatoes:
Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth and the undrained diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to mingle.
Introduce Pasta:
Add your small pasta of choice to the pot. Follow the package instructions, cooking until the pasta reaches al dente perfection.
Chickpeas and Green Goodness:
Stir in the drained and rinsed chickpeas, adding a protein punch to your soup. Toss in the chopped fresh spinach, letting it wilt and become part of the wholesome medley.
Season to Perfection:
Taste the soup and make any necessary adjustments with salt and pepper. Discard the bay leaf and marvel at the vibrant colors and rich textures coming together.
Serve with Finesse:
Ladle the soup into bowls, and for an extra touch of freshness, garnish with chopped fresh parsley. If you desire an added layer of richness, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Pause and Savor:
Take a moment to enjoy the symphony of flavors in each spoonful. This soup not only fills your belly but also offers a brief respite during your bustling day.
Busy Day Soup:
You can just toss all the ingredients into the pot and let your stove do the cooking, which is why I adore Busy Day Soup.
Ground beef, onion soup mix, diced tomatoes, mixed frozen vegetables, and macaroni are some of the minimal-prep ingredients.
When you are at a loss for what to make for supper, this recipe is ideal. Those days come around often if you’re anything like me.
Our family is very busy this fall. In addition to taking swimming lessons, my youngest daughter enjoys riding horses a few times a week. Her goal is to become a lifeguard, and she is in Bronze Medallion. There is a lot of traveling back and forth. Good moments.
I use this soup recipe whenever I’m in the mood for a straightforward, filling supper. Serve it with a buttered roll or soda crackers. It tastes great and is very filling.
How to Make Busy Day Soup
Next, brown the ground beef in a large soup pot. For a less greasy soup, drain the fat after it has cooked.
The tomato juices, onion soup mix, and water should all be added. Heat to medium-low and simmer for one hour.
Stir in the raw macaroni noodles and frozen mixed veggies after one hour has passed. Heat the food for an additional fifteen minutes on medium. Once the frozen vegetables and noodles are cooked, they will become soft.
The vegetables don’t need to be defrosted. Take them out of the freezer and toss them in. This dish is incredibly easy to prepare and assemble, which is why I adore it so much.
Turn it out hot! It’s perfect warmed the next day and makes about 6 servings. We eat leftovers all the time because it’s just the two of us at home now.
Can I Replace Meat in Soup?
It is certainly acceptable to use ground chicken, ground turkey, or even pork. Meat should only be cooked through. Bratwurst skins could even be removed and put to good use. You could definitely taste the difference.
Or perhaps you’d like to combine the flavors of two different meats. Sausage and beef combine amazingly well and have a powerful flavor-boosting effect.
Vegetables in Soup
You can change which vegetables are used in this soup to suit your palate. Go ahead and prepare and slice those fresh vegetables if you have them. Alternatively, use some frozen vegetables from a bag in your freezer if they sound good.
Use what you have on hand and go through your freezer or pantry at will. Simply use your imagination and choose foods that appeal to you. Then, I believe the soup’s flavor will appeal to you.
Can I substitute another type of pasta in this soup?
Yes, you are welcome to substitute another pasta dish if you don’t have any on hand. Grab hold of shells, rotini, ziti, etc. Any type of pasta will work; just make sure it cooks through all the way through. You could even add broken up spaghetti noodles to the soup.
I do think that the flavor of the soup varies a little bit depending on the type of pasta used. However, with all the broth and veggies, any flavor tastes fantastic.
Practical Kitchen Utensils
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- Measure cups; Can opener; Spoon; Ladle; Soup Pot; Storage Containers;
Toppings for soup on a busy day
For color and taste, sprinkle with fresh parsley or even Italian seasoning.
- To add a nice cheesy flavor, shred and sprinkle cheese.
- Serve with crisp croutons or crackers to mop up the flavorful broth.
- A dash of hot sauce to intensify the flavor.
It’s amazing how much you can tweak this soup to improve its flavor. I really enjoy it just the way it is, but occasionally we add extra toppings to vary the soup’s flavor.
Meal Planning with Remaining Soup
This soup is great for portioning out and keeping chilled in individual serving dishes. Prepare meals ahead of time for easy grab-and-go lunches. As it sits in the refrigerator, I believe the flavor just melds even more.
You will discover that this soup can be frozen. The taste of this soup is still delicious and amazing, but the texture of the vegetables will change slightly as they thaw. Cook the pasta until it’s al dente if you know it will freeze, as pasta can also get a little mushy.
How to Prepare Food in a Slow Cooker
Another option is to use a slow cooker to prepare Busy Day Soup. Using a stove, cook the ground beef first. Fill the slow cooker with everything but the pasta. Let it cook for six hours on low heat. With just thirty minutes remaining in the cooking process, add the raw pasta.
Desiring More Recipes for Soups
- Stuffed Pepper Soup: This is an amazing soup recipe that’s sure to please anyone who loves stuffed peppers. Without the labor-intensive process, you can enjoy all the flavors of stuffed peppers.
Serve this satisfying and hearty soup, made with pickled dill. This soup was designed for someone you know who enjoy pickles.
- Bacon-topped Cauliflower Soup: This creamy soup bursts with the flavor of fresh cauliflower and is perfect for any time of day.
Try my Cream of Celery, Cream of Carrot, Cheeseburger Chowder, Sausage & Cabbage, Hamburger Soup, New England Clam Chowder, and Cabbage Roll Soup for more delectable soup recipes.
Which recipes are your favorites for hectic days?
Staci Vaughan is the creator of Busy Day Soup.
Servings Six Prepare Time (5 Minutes)
- Cooking Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
- One hour thirty minutes is the total time.
A simple soup recipe that will delight your family! It requires little effort and can be made quickly. Ideal for those hectic weeknights.
Components
US Customary Measurement
- 1 ¾ cups mixed frozen vegetables;
- 1 lb ground beef;
- 1 packet onion soup mix;
- 5 cups water;
- 1 can diced tomatoes,
- 28 oz can;
- 1 cup macaroni, uncooked.
Directions:
- Brown ground beef in a large soup pot. Remove fat.
- Add the tomato juice, onion soup mix, and water. Simmer on medium low for one hour.
- Add frozen veggies and macaroni. Cook over medium heat for an additional 15 minutes. Warm up the food.
Notes on the Video
Add more water to the soup to thin it out if it is too thick.
Hardware.
The items include a recipe binder, a meal planning binder, a Dutch oven, measuring cups, and wooden spoons.
Dietary
This dish serves one bowl and has 230 calories, 28.5 grams of carbohydrates, 22.1 grams of protein, 3.1 grams of fat, 1.3 grams of saturated fat, 1.4 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 0.1 grams of trans fat, 45.2 mg of cholesterol, 522.4 mg of sodium, 5.1 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of sugar.
An internet nutrition calculator supplied the approximation of the data displayed. The advice of a qualified nutritionist should always be consulted in addition to this.
Quick 15-Minute Lentil Soup
A enduring classic, lentil soup is a hearty and quick dinner option that is frequently featured on the menus of working families and publications like Martha Stewart Living. As implied by the name, the entire preparation and cooking time is barely fifteen minutes. It’s also loaded with ingredients you might already have in your pantry, like red wine vinegar, cooked lentils (the Magazine suggests using 15-ounce can of lentils), onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. This becomes a favorite among vegetarians and vegans when you use low-sodium vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth called for in the original recipe.
Spicy Tomato Soup
Is there anything that makes winters as a child more nostalgic than tomato soup and grilled cheese? Tomato soup is still a comfort food because it’s easy to prepare and quick, and Martha Stewart Living’s version brings this traditional recipe up to date with delicious results. “This is not your average soup; rather, it’s a deeply flavorful dish with plenty of spice and aromatics,” with whole roasted tomatoes serving as the foundation. When prepared as is, it is a fantastic choice for both vegetarians and carnivores. Would you like to veganize this recipe? Make the final stir with vegan butter for a quick fix.
Ginger and Sweet Potato Soup
One of the greatest soup recipes for those searching for healthier options this winter is Health’s “Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup,” which only requires five ingredients. “This comforting soup is low in calories, fat, and cholesterol—but it’s not low in flavor thanks to the creamy sweet potatoes, spicy ginger, and just a hint of sugar,” says Health. According to the Magazine, “sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and healthy carbohydrates.” They are regarded as a superfood. After a demanding workday or busy weekend, all of this nutritious goodness makes for an excellent way to rejuvenate.
White Bean Soup with Smoke.
Have you been attempting to decide what to do with the cannellini beans that are gathering dust in your pantry? Try preparing the “Smoky White Bean Soup” from Southern Living. Anyone looking for one-pot meals that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes should try this recipe. We’re willing to wager that this recipe will become a regular feature in your winter meal rotation because it’s so delicious and comforting. Why is this recipe for white bean soup among the best? Bacon. To elevate this recipe to a whole new level, simply add an additional thick-sliced bacon slice.
In summary,
this Busy Day Soup is a nutritious and flavorful culinary companion that doesn’t skimp on flavor during life’s hectic moments. This recipe embodies the idea that a busy schedule shouldn’t ever get in the way of a delicious and comforting meal because of its easy steps and healthy ingredients. So let this soup be your go-to hero on your busiest days, providing warmth and contentment when time is of the essence. more visit
