This ravioli soup recipe combines hearty ground beef with plump cheese ravioli for a meal that’s both easy to make and high on the comfort-satisfaction scale. Packed with tomatoes, garlic and lots of herbs for that Italian-inspired touch, it makes a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy lunch.
Ingredients for Ravioli Soup
- Ground beef: Browned ground beef makes this a filling soup.
- Crushed tomatoes: An easy way to get a chunky tomato broth, crushed tomatoes are much better than out-of-season fresh tomatoes.
- Tomato paste: A can of tomato paste adds concentrated tomato flavor and gives the broth some body.
- Onions:Â Chopped onions infuse the soup with savory flavor.
- Fresh parsley: Using fresh parsley keeps the soup bright.
- Garlic cloves: Minced garlic cloves are essential in an Italian-inspired soup.
- Dried basil: One of the classic herbs in an Italian-blend seasoning, dried basil offers a mild licorice-like note.
- Sugar: Adding just a touch of sugar helps sweeten up the tomatoes so they taste more like ripe, in-season tomatoes.
- Dried oregano: Another classic Italian herb, oregano has an earthy, woodsy flavor.
- Onion salt: Using both onions and onion salt adds layers of onion taste.
- Dried thyme: Thyme’s lightly floral note blends perfectly with basil and oregano.
- Cheese ravioli: Pillowy cheese-stuffed ravioli is the star of this soup. Feel free to use the store-bought, refrigerated variety.
- Grated parmesan cheese: Stirring in grated cheese at the last moment adds classic flavor and thickens the broth.
- Additional minced fresh parsley (optional): Set aside a bit of that minced parsley to use as a garnish.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the beef and combine soup ingredients
In a Dutch oven or large pot, cook the beef over medium-heat until no longer pink, five to seven minutes, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off any fat. Add the water, tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, parsley, garlic, basil, sugar, oregano, onion salt, salt, pepper and thyme, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for 30 minutes, until onions are tender and the broth has developed some flavor.
Step 2: Cook the ravioli
Cook the ravioli according to the package instructions, then drain it. Add the ravioli to the soup and heat everything through, then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Before serving, sprinkle with additional minced fresh parsley, if you like.
Ravioli Soup Variations
- Swap in sausage: Instead of ground beef, brown up some sweet or spicy sausage.
- Make it ultra-rich:Â During the last five minutes of cooking (before adding the ravioli), stir 1/4 cup cream or half-and-half into the soup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.
- Add more veggies: If you love vegetables, you can definitely pack more into this soup. Add green peppers or zucchini when you add the onion, or stir in baby spinach during the last few minutes of cooking.
How to Store Ravioli Soup
Leftover ravioli soup can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for two to three days. The ravioli will continue to absorb liquid, making the pasta mushier and the soup thicker. You can add a bit of water or broth when reheating to thin it a little.
Can you freeze ravioli soup?
After cooking the meat and simmering the vegetables, this soup can be frozen for up to three months. When reheating thawed soup, add the ravioli and cheese just before serving.
Can you make ravioli soup ahead of time?
Similar to freezing, you can make the soup up through cooking the ground beef and vegetables. Store the soup for three to four days in the refrigerator, then add the ravioli and cheese after reheating the soup to serve.
Ravioli Soup Tips
How can I add more flavor to my tomato broth?
If you’re using Parmesan cheese that comes with a rind, add that rind at the same time as the water and tomatoes. It will infuse the soup with extra-cheesy flavor. You can store extra rinds in the freezer and use them whenever you’d like Parmesan flavor in a broth.
Can frozen ravioli or tortellini be used in place of the fresh refrigerated ravioli?
Absolutely. Just follow the package instructions for cooking, drain well and add to the soup according to the recipe.
What are the best dishes to serve with ravioli soup?
If you’re making ravioli soup for lunch or a light dinner, warm Parmesan garlic breadsticks are perfect for dipping into the soup. If you’re making it as a main dish, a hearty antipasto salad carries on the Italian theme and rounds out the meal.
