Hearty Beef Orzo Soup With Fresh Veggies (Printable)

Tender beef and orzo pasta simmered with fresh garden vegetables in a rich, savory broth for ultimate comfort.

# What you'll need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 3 carrots, sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 zucchini, diced
09 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
10 - 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
11 - 4 cups beef broth
12 - 4 cups water
13 - 2 cups fresh spinach leaves

→ Pasta & Pantry

14 - 3/4 cup orzo pasta
15 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste

→ Spices & Herbs

16 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
18 - 2 bay leaves
19 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
20 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat and sear on all sides until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove beef from pot and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add diced onion, minced garlic, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften and become fragrant.
03 - Stir in diced red bell pepper, diced zucchini, and cut green beans. Cook for an additional 3 minutes to slightly soften vegetables.
04 - Return browned beef to the pot. Add diced tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, beef broth, water, dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
05 - Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover pot and simmer for 30 minutes, or until beef becomes tender and vegetables are cooked through.
06 - Add orzo pasta to simmering soup and continue cooking uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until orzo reaches al dente texture.
07 - Stir in fresh spinach leaves and cook for approximately 2 minutes until just wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired.
08 - Remove and discard bay leaves. Ladle hot soup into serving bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The orzo pasta makes it feel substantial enough to stand alone as a meal
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor development
02 -
  • The soup continues to thicken as it sits because the orzo absorbs more liquid
  • Remove the bay leaves before serving, as biting into one is an unpleasant surprise
03 -
  • Pat the beef completely dry before searing to achieve better browning
  • Taste the broth before adding salt, as some brands are saltier than others

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