Spinach Beef Soup

Allow me to introduce you to the one-pot magic that is spinach beef soup. This hearty, savory and satisfying soup combines shades of your favorite pasta dish—ground beef, tomatoes, bow tie pasta—with a warm, comforting broth. Instead of boiling the noodles separately, they’re cooked right in the broth, soaking up all that meaty, herby goodness for a soup that’s way more than the sum of its parts. The final swirl of spinach adds color, texture and feel-good balance to all the cozy richness.

Beef and spinach soup is an easy weeknight dinner that earns you oohs and ahhs from the couch crowd without requiring a single complicated step. It’s a low-stress, high-reward soup recipe packed with flavor from the top to the bottom of the bowl. With one bite, you’ll wonder why you ever settled for the canned stuff.

Spinach Beef Soup Ingredients

• Ground beef: One pound of ground beef gives this soup its hearty, meaty base. Browning ground beef first helps build flavor right from the start.
• Garlic cloves: Minced garlic brings depth and a savory edge to every spoonful.
• Reduced-sodium beef broth: Flavorful beef broth adds heft to this soup. Cooking the pasta directly in the broth boosts flavor and makes cleanup a breeze.
• Diced tomatoes: Canned tomatoes with green pepper, celery and onion are a shortcut to big flavor. They add tang, texture, and a subtle sweetness. If you can’t find them, plain canned tomatoes work well, but you might want to add some onion, celery and pepper to the pot with the ground beef.
• Seasonings: Essential herbs and spices like dried basil, oregano, salt and pepper give the soup classic Italian-inspired flavor.
• Bow tie pasta: Also known as farfalle, this fun pasta shape adds texture and holds up well in soup. Cooking it in the broth infuses it with flavor and thickens the soup slightly.
• Fresh spinach: Coarsely chopped spinach wilts easily at the end for color and a nutrient boost.
• Parmesan cheese: A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan at serving time adds a salty, cheesy finish—because soup deserves a little glam, too.

Directions

Step 1: Brown the beef and garlic

In a 6-quart stockpot, cook the beef and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, six to eight minutes, breaking the beef into crumbles. Drain off any excess moisture.

Step 2: Add broth, tomatoes, and seasonings

Stir in the broth, tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.

Editor’s Tip: If you have homemade bone broth, use it here for added richness and flavor.

Step 3: Cook the pasta

Stir in the dried pasta and return the soup to a boil. Cook the soup, uncovered, until the pasta is tender, seven to nine minutes.

Step 4: Wilt the spinach and serve with Parmesan

Stir in the spinach until it wilts. Sprinkle servings with cheese.

Spinach Beef Soup Variations

• Use ground turkey or chicken: Use a leaner protein like ground chicken or turkey instead of the beef. Just don’t skimp on the garlic and seasoning.
• Add white beans: A can of drained white beans or chickpeas would add even more heartiness and fiber to spinach beef soup.
• Try a different pasta: Any small pasta will work in this soup—think rotini, shells or orzo.
• Add more veggies: Stir in some sauteed mushrooms, shredded zucchini or frozen peas for a bigger veggie boost.

How to Store Spinach Beef Soup

To store leftover beef and spinach soup, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will last up to four days in the refrigerator, and the flavors will intensify with time. The pasta may absorb more broth as it sits, so add a splash of extra broth or water when reheating.

Can you freeze spinach beef soup?

Yes, you can freeze spinach beef soup, but the texture of the pasta and spinach may change slightly after thawing. For best results, freeze the soup without the pasta, and add fresh pasta when reheating the beefy broth.

How do you reheat spinach beef soup?

Reheat spinach beef soup gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen the texture.

Spinach Beef Soup Tips

Can you use frozen spinach for spinach beef soup?

You can absolutely use frozen spinach for spinach beef soup. Thaw it and squeeze or strain out excess water before adding it to the pot. Since frozen spinach is cooked, you’ll only need about half as much by volume as you would raw spinach.

What else can you serve with spinach beef soup?

Spinach beef soup goes with anything. A garden salad, a thick slice of rosemary garlic bread or an exotic take on a grilled cheese sandwich are faves at my house. Or serve it as the opening act of a multiple-course dinner party.