Cheapskate Soup–an inexpensive and delicious Italian soup with ground beef, macaroni, carrots, and tomato sauce. An easy Instant Pot or Crockpot recipe.
Cheapskate Soup
We had cool temps so I decided to make a soup and it was a winning dinner! We all agreed that it was absolutely delicious. This cheapskate soup is an inexpensive dinner you can make with common ingredients that you have at your house. The cheapest way to make dinner is not to go to the store! Every time I go to the store I end up buying things that weren’t on my list 🤦♀️.
This soup says “welcome fall!” I’m ready? Are you??? Even if you’re still in an area with hot weather save this recipe for later when it cools off. It really is so good.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean ground beef–or ground turkey or ground Italian sausage (eliminate salt and halve other seasonings if you use sausage)
- Minced dry onions–or 1 cup diced onions
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Beef broth–or 4 cups water and 4 teaspoons of Better than Bouillon Beef Base
- Elbow macaroni–you can also use rotini or cavatappi
- Celery
- Carrots
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Sugar
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper and salt to coat the meat.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off saute setting.
Add in macaroni, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, tomato paste and sugar. Don’t stir.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 3 minutes. (If you don’t have a soup button then pressure cook on low for 3 minutes). When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
Stir. Ladle into bowls and serve. Top with some parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with garlic bread or breadsticks. I love making these 1 hour breadsticks. Another option is cornbread with honey butter. I also love fresh French bread or Amish white bread.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with macaroni are Cheeseburger In Paradise and Prize Winning Pizza Mac And Cheese.
- Feel free to add in more vegetables like diced tomatoes, green beans, diced green pepper, mushrooms or zucchini.
More Instant Pot Soups You’ll Love…
Instant Pot “Welcome Home” Soup
A brothy lemon, chicken and orzo soup that is a welcoming, comforting dinner.
Instant Pot Alphabet Soup
A grown-up, homemade version of your favorite childhood soup. This soup only has a handful of ingredients and is perfect on a chilly day.
Wilderness Soup
A hearty soup with smoked sausage, beans, tomatoes and potatoes.
What’s The Dill Soup
Instant Pot or Crockpot bacon and potato soup with lots of dill pickle flavor.
Instant Pot Pasta Fagioli Soup
Your favorite soup from Olive Garden made quickly at home in your pressure cooker. White and red beans, ground beef, tomatoes and pasta in a savory broth.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Cheapskate Soup
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An inexpensive and delicious Italian soup with ground beef, macaroni, carrots, and tomato sauce. An easy Instant Pot or Crockpot recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp minced dry onions
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup uncooked macaroni
- 2 ribs of celery, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper and salt to coat the meat.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off saute setting.
- Add in macaroni, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, tomato paste and sugar. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Stir. Ladle into bowls and serve. Top with some parmesan cheese, if desired.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper and salt to coat the meat. Add to the crockpot.
- Stir in the broth, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, tomato paste and sugar.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours. Then add in the macaroni and cook for another hour on high.
- Stir. Ladle into bowls and serve. Top with some parmesan cheese, if desired.
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Finally got cool enough at night to encourage me to make this. Karen, it turned out great, thank you!
It became Cheapskate plus “use leftovers in the fridge” Soup 😊. Instead of thawing a new pound of beef, I “repurposed” cooked taco meat and previously fried hot Italian sausage meat. Chose fresh onion & garlic, cause we have tons. A fridge tomato that was getting sad looking got minced up & added too. Increased the celery for extra veg, plus tossed in 3/4 cup of defrosted peas. Was feeling greedy for leftovers too, so made things go further by using 6 cups of beef broth instead of four. Yaay 😁
★★★★★
sounds like an awesome version and you were able to use up stuff! Winning!
Do you put macaroni noodles in cooked or not cooked ? Help !! And thank you 😊
uncooked!
Can I substitute ground turkey meat for the beef?
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
Lean ground beef–or ground turkey or ground Italian sausage (eliminate salt and halve other seasonings if you use sausage)
Yes, it is listed in the notes.
You are right, David. It is listed in the notes. I missed that. Thank you!
yep!
I am so in love with your Instant Pot recipes. I am a fan forever.
Ahhhh, thanks so much!