Busy Day Soup #BudgetRecipes

I first heard of Busy Day Soup from the wonderful Simply Stacie. I just loved the name and all it implied, and even ended up sharing the recipe with my neighbor friend, Ali. Ali absolutely loved it too, and we went on to tweak and test it to make it perfect. Between the two of us, we have tweaked the busy day soup recipes to meet the taste buds of our families. 

Mine is a little different from hers, but they're both wonderful. It's a budget-friendly soup, relying on pantry staples like onion soup mix and frozen mixed vegetables.  Here is my latest version of this delicious soup. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, as it really is one of the most simple recipes you'll find!

Busy Day Soup Recipe

We like to make this on Friday or busy weeknights and then have it for quick lunches over the weekend. It's one delicious, hearty meal when we need it, and then we heat it up over the weekend for chilled out, quick meals. Everybody is off and doing their own projects, the soup is made, just warm it up yourself.  Talk about a timesaver! And trust me, I'm alll about timesaving!

You can see that we substituted curly macaroni for elbow macaroni. It's just fun but also delicious. Be adventurous like us. You can try pretty much any pasta noodles you want. It was just what we had on hand. Another great thing about this soup! You can pretty much add whatever you need to or whatever you have. Better yet, you can throw all of it in the slow cooker while you continue on with all of your puttering around the house. Just don't forget to pop it in an airtight container in the refrigerator when done.

What You Can Add to Busy Day Soup

Like I said above, you can add pretty much ANYTHING to your busy day soup. You can add things you have in the fridge that are still good but going to waste, or just add things you're craving. You can add multiple meat and vegetable types, and so much more!

Add or exchange these things in your soup for a yummy, hearty meal that keeps you fulfilled:

Chicken (shredded or diced)

Ground turkey, or sausage (cooked before adding)

Lentils, chickpeas, or beans (for a veggie-friendly option)

Tofu (for a plant-based protein boost)

Leafy greens (spinach and kale)

Fresh root veggies (parsnips and sweet potatoes)

Fresh corn, peas, or green beans

Zucchini or squash (great for adding texture without too much overwhelming flavor)

Rice or quinoa (add towards the end to avoid overcooking)

Barley or farro (adds heartiness)

Garlic, onions, and ginger (for depth of flavor)

Bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, Italian seasoning, or oregano (for earthy flavor)

Cumin, smoked paprika, hot sauce, or chili flakes (for a kick)

Lemon zest or a splash of vinegar (for zest)

Coconut milk or heavy cream (for a richer, creamy texture)

Cheese (grated Parmesan cheese for cheesy flavor)

Sour cream (a dollop to serve)

For the ultimate dining pleasure, serve with warm crusty French bread and butter. It's seriously so delicious. I know my entire family just can't get enough of it. Check out the step-by-step recipe below!