Busy Day Soup: The 6-Ingredient Dinner That Saves the Day
This hearty Busy Day Soup is the ultimate weeknight lifesaver! Made with just six simple ingredients—ground beef, tomatoes, frozen vegetables, onion soup mix, water, and macaroni—it delivers comfort food flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for busy families who want a homemade meal without the fuss.
- Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 500 g ground beef (alternatively use ground turkey or chicken)
- 28 oz diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1-2 cups mixed frozen vegetables
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 5 cups water
- 1 cup uncooked macaroni (or other pasta of choice)
Instructions
- Cook the Protein: In a large soup pot, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking it into small pieces. Drain off any excess fat.
- Simmer the Base: Add water, onion soup mix, and the undrained diced tomatoes to the pot. Stir to combine and simmer on medium-low heat for 1 hour to develop flavors.
- Add Pasta and Vegetables: Stir in the macaroni and frozen vegetables. Continue to cook for another 15 minutes on medium heat until pasta is tender and vegetables are heated through.
- Serve: Ladle into bowls and enjoy the soup hot. Top with shredded cheese if desired.
Notes
Don’t drain the canned tomatoes—the juice adds essential flavor and liquid to the soup. Add pasta only during the last 15 minutes to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course, Soup
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
