Busy day soup is a quick, hearty meal packed with ground beef, beans, and vegetables in a flavorful broth. This easy recipe is perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or when you need comfort food fast!
1poundlean ground beef 93% to 7%also known as ground sirloin
1packet onion mushroom soup mixI used Lipton brand from a 1.8-ounce box
2cupswaterroom temperature
4cups1 quart low-sodium vegetable broth
15.25ounceswhole kernel corndrained
14.5ouncescut green beansdrained
14.5ouncespeas and carrotsdrained
14.5ouncespetite diced tomatoesin juice
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonblack pepper
½pounddry elbow pasta noodles8 ounces
Instructions
In a large (6 to 8 quart) stockpot, on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and lean ground beef. Brown the beef for 5 to 6 minutes or until no pink remains. Break up the meat as it is browning. Drain any excess fat from the pot before adding the remaining ingredients.
Add the onion mushroom soup mix packet to the 2 cups of water and stir to combine and hydrate the onions and spices. Add to the pot of cooked and drained ground beef.
Add the low-sodium vegetable broth, whole kernel corn, cut green beans, peas & carrots, petite diced tomatoes, salt, and black pepper.
Lower the heat to medium and simmer the busy day soup for 20 minutes stirring every few minutes.
Add the dry pasta to the pot of simmering soup, stir and cook the noodles for 10 to 13 minutes. Make sure to stir the soup every few minutes to make sure that the noodles are not sticking to each other. Turn off the heat to the pot once the noodles are cooked fully.
Notes
I like to add low-sodium or no salt added broths and canned vegetables when I cook to control the amount of salt in my recipes. Note that if you do not use the low-sodium/no salt versions, you will want to reduce the amount of additional salt added to your recipe. You can increase, or decrease, the amount of salt in the recipe according to taste.
Ground beef can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to use it. This is a great time saver for busy days.
You will want to serve this recipe right away as the pasta noodles will continue to cook and absorb the liquid from the soup as it sits.