7-Can Soup with Ground Beef and Minestrone
Sneak Preview: This easy 7-can soup is a warm, spicy fix when you’re too busy to cook from scratch. With ground beef (optional), canned minestrone, ranch-style beans, and tomatoes, you’ll have dinner ready in less than 45 minutes.
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My friend Joan shared this recipe years ago, and it’s been a cool-weather staple ever since. With or without the optional beef, it’s simple comfort in a bowl. This 7-can soup checks all the boxes — filling, flavorful, and made with pantry staples.
Ingredients & Substitutions
• GROUND BEEF: Optional; ground turkey or meatless works, too.
• ONION: Fresh, frozen, or dehydrated — all work.
• MINESTRONE SOUP: Any condensed brand; I use Campbell’s.
• RANCH-STYLE BEANS: Swap in pinto or kidney beans if needed.
• ROTEL TOMATOES: Use mild or regular diced tomatoes for less heat.
• DICED TOMATOES: Adds body; omit for a thinner broth.
• BEEF BOUILLON CUBES: Use beef broth, Better Than Bouillon, or water.
Serving Suggestion
Saltine crackers, cornbread, or a grilled cheese sandwich all pair well. Try this Crusty French Bread or these Really Crusty Dinner Rolls if you’re a bread maker. Add hot sauce on the side if you like more heat
Spicy 7-can Soup with Ground Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) ground beef
- 1 (110 g) medium onion, chopped
- 3 10.75 oz (914 g) cans minestrone soup
- 2 15 oz (850 g) cans Ranch-style beans
- 1 10 oz. can (283 g) Rotel tomatoes
- 1 14.5 oz. can (411 g) diced tomatoes
- 2 cubes beef bouillon
- 4 cups (946 g) water
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a large pot, cook 1 pound (454 g) ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add onions: Stir in 1 (110 g) medium onion, chopped, chopped, and cook until softened.
- Stir in remaining ingredients: Add 3 10.75 oz (914 g) cans minestrone soup, 2 15 oz (850 g) cans Ranch-style beans, 1 10 oz. can (283 g) Rotel tomatoes, 11 14.5 oz. can (411 g) diced tomatoes, 2 cubes beef bouillon, and 4 cups (946 g) water.
- Simmer: Bring to a simmer and cook for 20–30 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com
Final Thoughts
This 7-can soup is the kind of meal you can throw together without thinking twice—especially on busy nights when the drive-thru is calling. It’s fast, flexible, and full of flavor. Whether you make it with beef or go meatless, the leftovers are even better the next day.
— Paula
Home Economist
Homemade Food Worth Sharing
Need help troubleshooting?
Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com — photos help!
In my version of this I add 4 oz of tomato paste and 6 ounces of diced Velveeta.
Hi Craig,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your version of this minestrone. Sounds good to me and possibly, a bit more filling.
Can this be done in a 6 quart crockpot and what would be quantities be of each item?
Oh yes. A 6-qt crockpot is perfect. I wouldn’t change any of the quantities unless you are feeding an army.
did you drain the ranch beans or use the juice?
Vince,
I do not drain. But it’s really personal preference. I like the texture it lends to the soup. Paula
Can I use minestrone with Italian sausage?
Absolutely. Sounds delicious.
Made this last night, but didn’t want to eat leftovers for 3 days, so I omitted one can of minestrone and the can of diced tomatoes. It turned out great, and just the right amount of leftover soup. Our family does not like a strong tomato base anyway, so the one can of Rotel was just right. Take care of my kids tonight!
I’m coveting your can opener. 🙂 I love the ones that cut the lids right off and don’t leave sharp edges. The soup looks great- good quick suppers are appreciated here. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe and the review on the can opener. I broke my right wrist three months ago, and I still need others to open cans for me. I will be checking out this little beauty 😉
Soaking/boiling beans is a pain in the arse. I always use canned, without shame!
So isn’t this a coincidence: I am looking for a good can opener, an electric one, I’m always scared of cutting my fingers on the lid and my birthday’s comming up.
I know what I’ll be getting!
Hamilton Beach should be very grateful to you (as am I)
That does look like on hearty minestrone! Thanks for the unsolicited review of the can opener. We still use a manual one but have been looking for an electric lately. I like the look of the sleek lines of this Hamilton Beach and the fact that you’ve been using it for years with no problems!
That soup looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it! Plus, I love the name “Texas” Minestrone 🙂
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for writing. I like the name, too, and it is deserved. The original recipe called for two cans of tomatoes with green chilis but I like it better with one can of regular diced tomatoes and one can of Rotel tomatoes. This Indiana girl can eat spicy stuff but I have limits. 🙂
Paula, I don’t have the Hamilton Beach can opener. I do have a hand held Tupperware can opener that cuts the lid the same way! I love it!
Hi Lois,
I did not realize Tupperware had one. Is it electric or manual?
I have a manuel can opener that I purchased from Wal-Mart 8 years ago that does the same thing. Thankfully it is still working like a champ!
Thank you for the new recipe! In my neck of the woods, we just got past some really nasty weather and lots of folks were without power for several days. So, it is a wise and good thing to be able to prepare a few meals (that also taste good) from canned foods. So whether it’s a time crunched day or a day without power, it’s good to be prepared!
Hi Vicki,
So glad you brought up the preparedness issue. This is a perfect recipe for that. If you leave out the meat, it can all come out of cans.
Paula,
Funny you should mention that. I’ve seen quite a few posts and videos about heat canning your own ground beef, beef cubes, and chicken. I think I just may give it a try – in small batches – to taste test the results. I’ll let you know how they turn out…
Vicki
And I just had to add that although many kitchens enjoy electric can openers, always have a manual one as a back up to be able to open cans in a power outage.
Hi Vicki,
Hope yours tastes better than my mom’s did many years ago. 🙂
For throw it together meals, I sometimes use the canned beef from Costco. Haven’t seen it anywhere else, but it is just chunks of beef in broth packed tightly, sort of like they do canned chicken. Makes a good pantry staple and good chili mixed with canned beans and tomatoes.
I have canned venison, both ground and cubed. It worked well, but the pressure canners needed are large and pricey; and the time involved is considerable. If you try canning meat you need to use the latest USDA or Ball canning books and follow their instructions.
I have the same can opener. I had been jealous of my daughters for a couple of years and she gave me one for Christmas. I absolutely love it.
Yummy recipe, thanks for sharing. I’ve been wanting a “pantry” minestrone recipe. Just FYI, the can opener doesn’t cut the can, it breaks the seal, leaving no sharp edges. I have a hand held model that I love.
Rozann,
Very interesting comment about the can opener. On the Hamilton Beach website, it says “No more sharp lid edges—cuts can along the side for smooth, touchable lid.” But I am incline to believe you are right because sometimes, I can see (barely) the glue strands as I pull the lid off. Maybe the company says it that way so we can relate it to other can openers. Thanks for writing.
That is an amazing can opener. The minestrone looks great. Easy is good!
Oh, I have no problem using pantry items especially when the finish result looks as good as your minestrone!
Nice can opener!