The holidays are winding down, but I still have a house full of hungry people . . . and I’m pretty much DONE cooking big too-dos for a while (did you see the peppermint crepe cake I made that too like 6 hours to make and 5 minutes to eat).
Thank goodness my Easy Beef Sofrito Soup is a no-brainer to make, I can have a big batch whipped up in less than 20 minutes to feed my hungry homies and house guests. It’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s guaranteed to get me some high-fives as we cheer on our favorite football teams on the big screen.
This Latin-inspired beef soup is spiced with sofrito, a tomato, bell pepper, onion and garlic sauce and recipe starter that takes soups (and so many other recipes) to the next level. The spice isn’t too “hot,” so everyone can enjoy this family-friendly soup – I know my kids love the lean ground beef and slurping up the vermicelli noodles. It’s like a slightly spicy spaghetti soup! I originally made this for my friends at BeefLovingTexans.com and they loved it!
Oh, and Easy Beef Sofrito Soup is an economical dinner that makes large servings for about $1.50 per bowl. However, this budget-friendly soup doesn’t skimp on beef though, I always like to make sure me and my guys are getting enough muscle-making protein – this easy beef soup recipe has about 22g per serving and 340 calories of balance nutrition. I prefer to use ground chuck specially ground for chili – however, any ground beef will do!
After browning the beef with chopped onion in a large soup pot, the next task is to simply to add a bunch of healthy and convenient packaged products you can stock in the pantry including a carton of beef broth, jar of red pepper spaghetti sauce, can of petite diced tomatoes, bottled sofrito sauce, and a small package of vermicelli (the broken-up variety used for traditional fideo). After the sofrito soup comes to a light rolling boil, turn the temperature down a bit and let it simmer for another 5 minutes while those thin noodles become tender.
You know I like to sneak in extra vegetables, especially in a beef noodle soup that could use some balance. So, I stir in handfuls of coarsely chopped fresh spinach. At first it looks like TOO much spinach, but don’t worry, it will wilt into the soup quickly. Now just ladle up into Easy Beef Sofrito Soup into bowls, mugs (or a thermos to go) and enjoy. Word of warming – it’s addictive and you may need a fork too!
Do you have signature quick soup or beef soup recipe? Hosting a football game party or have extended guests for the holidays? How do you like your spice — mild, medium or hot? Please share the comments – XOXO, Jennifer
A 20 minute soup that the whole family will love -- like Latin-inspired spaghetti soup!
- 1 ½ lbs. beef chuck for chili or regular-grind ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion chopped
- 32 oz. beef stock
- 2 cups “spicy red pepper” style pasta sauce
- 1 15- oz. can petite diced tomatoes with juice
- 1/3 cup jarred Sofrito sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 5- oz. package dry vermicelli noodles for fideo or regular vermicelli that has been broken into 3” pieces
- 1 5- oz. package baby spinach coarsely chopped
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In large stock pot, over medium-high heat, cook ground beef with chopped onion until beef browned and onion translucent. Drain off any excess fat.
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To pot, add beef stock, pasta sauce, canned tomatoes including juices, sofrito sauce, and water. Stir and heat until light rolling bowl, then reduce heat to medium.
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Add broken vermicelli noodles to pot and let simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until noodles softened.
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Remove from heat and stir in chopped, fresh spinach. Stir until wilted. Serve among 8 bowls and enjoy!
This looks so good! Making it for my teenagers this week.
Oh yay, I hope they like it — the noodles in there pretty much sealed the deal for my boys.
Are the dry vermicelli noodles gluten fee?
you could easily substitute a gluten-free thin spaghetti type noodle, break into approximate 3″ pieces
I’m making this to freeze ahead, would replacing the noodles with rice work? I haven’t found noodles freeze well.
I think the rice swap sounds like a smart idea — I’ve noticed that too with freezing noodles.