Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup

Some nights, the soul craves a culinary hug, a warm embrace in a bowl. Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup is precisely that – a dish that’s less a soup and more a comforting story, simmered to savory perfection. This isn’t just macaroni soup; it’s a hearty, heartwarming medley, where tender beef mingles with plump tomatoes and playful pasta in a broth so rich, it’s practically liquid velvet. Why is it so loved? Because it’s weeknight nourishment, a simple path to profound comfort that nourishes body and spirit, all in one pot. Prepare to be soothed by its savory, tomato-kissed charm – your soup season starts now, with this incredibly easy recipe that promises maximum comfort with minimum fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Bowlful of Warmth, Effortlessly Made

When chilly evenings descend, Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup rises as a culinary sun, offering a radiant warmth and comforting embrace in every spoonful. It’s the taste of coziness, a dish that chases away the cold without demanding hours in the kitchen, making it the quintessential comfort food for those seeking warmth and flavor in equal measure.

One-Pot Wonder, Minimal Cleanup

Weeknight dinners just got simpler. This soup is a one-pot dream, minimizing kitchen chaos while maximizing deliciousness. Effortless cooking, maximum reward, and fewer dishes to wash.

Family Friendly, Flavorful Fun

From the youngest to the wisest, this soup is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s a family-friendly classic that everyone will adore, making mealtime a joyful and comforting experience.

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Ingredients

Gathering the Hearty Components for Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup

To begin your comforting culinary creation and craft Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup, assemble these readily available and permissible ingredients, each carefully chosen to contribute to the savory flavors and heartwarming textures of this classic and beloved soup:

For the Savory and Hearty Soup Base:

• 1 lb Ground Beef: Ground beef, the robust heart of this comforting soup, provides a rich and savory protein base, offering a satisfying heartiness that perfectly complements the tomato broth and tender macaroni, creating a truly substantial and fulfilling meal. Opt for ground beef with an 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio for optimal flavor and moisture in the soup.  
• 1 tablespoon Permissible Olive Oil: Permissible olive oil, with its fruity aroma and savory flavor, serves as the cooking medium for browning the ground beef and sautéing the aromatic vegetables, adding a subtle richness and preventing sticking without overpowering the other comforting flavors. Vegetable oil or canola oil are excellent permissible alternatives.
• 1 Medium Yellow Onion, diced: Yellow onion, with its balanced flavor that mellows and sweetens as it cooks, forms the aromatic foundation of the soup, contributing a foundational savory note and enhancing the overall depth of flavor with a touch of gentle sweetness that unfolds beautifully in the broth. White onion can be used as a permissible substitute for a slightly sharper, more pronounced onion note if desired.
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced: Fresh garlic, the aromatic messenger, infuses the soup with its signature pungent warmth, creating a foundational layer of flavor that awakens the palate and permeates the broth with its irresistible savory notes. Mincing the garlic finely ensures maximum flavor release and even distribution throughout the soup.
• 1 (28 oz) can Diced Tomatoes, undrained: Canned diced tomatoes, providing the signature tomato base of the soup, contribute a juicy sweetness and a touch of acidity that is essential for tomato soup flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the dish and creating a foundational tangy note. Fire-roasted diced tomatoes can be used for a slightly smoky flavor variation.
• 4 cups Permissible Beef Broth: Permissible beef broth, forming the liquid heart of the soup, provides a savory depth and rich beef flavor that enhances the overall taste profile of the dish, creating a comforting and flavorful soup. Low-sodium beef broth is recommended to control the final salt level and allow the other flavors to shine.
• 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano: Dried oregano, with its robust and slightly peppery flavor, adds a classic Italian-American herb note that is essential for tomato-based soups, complementing the beef and tomato broth beautifully and contributing a familiar and comforting aromatic element that deepens during simmering. Dried basil or Italian seasoning blend can be used as permissible alternatives or additions for a slightly different herb profile.
• ¾ teaspoon Sea Salt: Sea salt, the essential flavor enhancer, is crucial for seasoning the beef and vegetables, drawing out their inherent flavors and ensuring a well-balanced and delicious soup that sings with savory notes. Adjust the amount to your personal taste preference, seasoning thoughtfully throughout the cooking process to create a harmonious flavor profile.
• ½ teaspoon Black Pepper: Black pepper, adding a subtle warmth and a gentle peppery bite, provides a foundational seasoning element that complements the rich soup without overpowering, offering a familiar and balanced pepper note that enhances the savory depth without being assertive. White pepper can be substituted for a milder pepper flavor if preferred.

For the Hearty Macaroni and Vegetable Accents:

• 1 cup Uncooked Macaroni Pasta: Uncooked macaroni pasta, forming the hearty carbohydrate base of the soup, provides a satisfying texture that perfectly absorbs the flavorful broth and complements the savory beef and tomatoes, creating a balanced and fulfilling meal. Elbow macaroni or small shell pasta are ideal for soups.  
• 1 cup Diced Carrots: Diced carrots, adding a touch of sweetness and vibrant color, contribute a subtle vegetable note and a pleasant sweetness that balances the savory beef and tomato broth, enhancing both flavor and visual appeal.
• 1 cup Frozen Peas: Frozen peas, adding a pop of vibrant green color and a touch of sweetness, contribute a fresh vegetable element that complements the hearty soup and adds nutritional value and visual appeal. Frozen peas are convenient and add a burst of freshness to the soup.

How to Make Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup?

Step-by-Step to Heartwarming Soup Bliss

Creating a comforting and flavorful Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup is a straightforward culinary journey, effortlessly navigated by following these clear and concise steps, designed to maximize flavor and minimize active cooking time for a perfect weeknight meal that warms from the inside out:

Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef and Awaken Aromatics:

Heat permissible olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it shimmers, indicating it’s ready for cooking. Add ground beef to the hot pot and break it apart into smaller crumbles using a spoon or spatula. Cook the beef, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and no longer pink, allowing it to develop a rich, savory flavor that forms the foundation of the soup. Ensure the beef is thoroughly browned for optimal flavor development. Drain off any excess grease from the pot after browning the beef, ensuring a less greasy and more flavorful final soup. Removing excess fat prevents the soup from becoming oily and heavy. Return the browned beef to the pot. Add diced yellow onion to the pot with the browned beef and sauté over medium heat for approximately 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent, releasing its fragrant aromas and creating a flavorful vegetable base for the soup. Sautéing the onion until softened enhances its natural sweetness and improves the overall flavor profile of the soup. Add minced garlic to the pot with the softened onion and sauté for another minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic becomes fragrant, infusing the vegetable base with its pungent and savory notes. Be careful not to burn the garlic; sautéing it briefly until fragrant is key to maximizing its flavor without bitterness.

Step 2: Build the Hearty Tomato Broth:

Add canned diced tomatoes (undrained), permissible beef broth, and dried oregano to the pot with the browned beef and sautéed vegetables, combining all liquid and flavour components of the soup. Season the soup base with sea salt and black pepper, distributing the spices evenly and ensuring a well-balanced and flavorful broth. Stir well to combine all ingredients and ensure a homogenous soup base. Bring the soup mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the broth is heated through and the flavors begin to meld together, creating the comforting and flavorful soup base. Simmering the broth allows the flavors to deepen and harmonize.

Step 3: Simmer with Macaroni and Vegetables to Tender Perfection:

Add uncooked macaroni pasta and diced carrots to the simmering soup, incorporating the pasta and vegetables that will cook directly in the flavorful broth. Stir gently to combine all ingredients and ensure the macaroni and carrots are submerged in the soup liquid for even cooking. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the macaroni is cooked through and tender and the carrots are softened, indicating the soup is nearing completion and the pasta and vegetables are cooked to perfection. Simmering gently allows the pasta and vegetables to cook through without becoming mushy and allows the flavors to continue to meld. Stir in frozen peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking time, adding the vibrant green peas just before serving to retain their bright color and fresh flavor. Stir in the frozen peas during the last few minutes to prevent them from becoming overcooked and losing their vibrant color.

Step 4: Serve and Savor Your Heartwarming Soup Bowl:

Serve Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup hot, directly from the pot or in bowls, allowing everyone to enjoy the warm, savory, and utterly comforting goodness of this hearty family meal. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or grated Parmesan cheese, if desired, for a final touch of visual appeal and fresh flavor. Encourage everyone to savor each heartwarming spoonful of their homemade soup perfection!

Tips for Variations

Spicy Italian Sausage Macaroni Soup

Add a spicy Italian twist and extra flavor to your Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup with Italian sausage. Substitute half of the ground beef with 0.5 lb of permissible Italian sausage (removed from casings) in Step 1. Add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (or to taste) to the soup in Step 2 along with the oregano for a spicy kick. The Italian sausage and red pepper flakes will add a spicy, savory, and Italian-inspired flavor profile to the soup.

Hearty Vegetable and Bean Macaroni Soup (Vegetarian Option)

Create a vegetarian and even more vegetable-packed version of your soup by omitting the beef and adding beans and extra vegetables. Omit the ground beef in Step 1. Add 1 (15 oz) can of cannellini beans or kidney beans (rinsed and drained) and 1 cup of diced zucchini or bell peppers to the soup in Step 3 along with the carrots and peas. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth for a fully vegetarian soup.

Cheesy Tomato Macaroni Soup

Add extra cheesy comfort and richness to your Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup with cheese. Stir in 1 cup of permissible shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese during the last 5 minutes of cooking time in Step 3 along with the frozen peas. Top each serving with extra shredded cheese or a dollop of sour cream for an even cheesier and more indulgent soup.

FAQ

Can I use different types of pasta?

Question: Besides macaroni, are there other permissible types of pasta that would work well in Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup while maintaining its comforting and hearty character?

Answer: Yes, other small pasta shapes like small shells, ditalini, or orzo pasta would work well. Avoid using long pasta shapes like spaghetti or fettuccine, as they are less suitable for soup.

How do I make the soup thicker?

Question: What are some tips to make Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup thicker if I prefer a heartier, less brothy consistency?

Answer: To thicken the soup, you can simmer it uncovered for a longer period to reduce the liquid. Alternatively, you can create a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) and stir it into the soup during the last 10 minutes of cooking. You can also mash some of the cooked macaroni against the side of the pot to release starch and thicken the soup naturally.

Can I prepare this soup ahead of time?

Question: Is Beef & Tomato Macaroni Soup suitable for preparing ahead of time? What is the best way to store and reheat it while maintaining its comforting texture and savory flavors?

Answer: Yes, this soup is perfect for making ahead. The flavors actually deepen overnight. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of beef broth or water if needed to thin it out to your desired consistency.

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