There’s something incredibly comforting about a bowl full of rich broth, tender beef, and satisfying noodles, isn’t there? This Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe is exactly that—a soul-warming hug in a bowl that’s perfect for chilly evenings or any time you want a nourishing, delicious meal with minimal fuss.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made my fair share of beef soups over the years, but this Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe stands out because of its perfect balance of flavors and its velvety creamy finish. It’s the kind of dish that invites you to slow down and savor each spoonful.
- Deep, rich flavor: Searing the beef and baking the soup in the oven develops an incredible depth you just don’t get with quick stove-top recipes.
- Creamy, comforting broth: The addition of half and half and fire-roasted tomatoes creates a luscious broth that feels indulgent but is still homey.
- Perfectly tender beef: Slow baking the beef in the broth ensures it’s fall-apart tender, making every bite melt in your mouth.
- Customizable noodles & veggies: You can swap out noodles or add your favorite herbs and veggies to make it truly your own.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe blends familiar ingredients that each play a specific role in texture and flavor. I love breaking down what they contribute—it makes shopping and prepping so much easier!
- Top sirloin steak: A lean but tender cut that sears beautifully and becomes melt-in-your-mouth after slow baking.
- Salt and pepper: Simple seasonings that bring out the natural flavors of the beef.
- Vegetable oil: For searing the beef without overpowering its flavor.
- Egg noodles: Their sturdy texture holds up well in the soup without getting mushy.
- Butter & olive oil: Used for sautéing veggies, giving the soup a rich base.
- Onion, carrots, celery: Classic soup veggies that add sweetness and body.
- Garlic & red pepper flakes: Aromatics that add warmth and gentle heat.
- Flour: To create a roux that thickens the broth perfectly.
- Water or beef broth: The liquid base—using broth boosts flavor even more.
- Beef base, Worcestershire, soy, Dijon mustard: Layers of umami that make the broth complex and savory.
- Dried herbs & paprika: For subtle herbaceous and smoky notes.
- Half and half or evaporated milk: Adds creaminess without heaviness.
- Cornstarch: Ensures the soup thickens nicely without clumping.
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes: Adds acidity and a smoky brightness.
- Frozen petite peas: A pop of sweetness and color at the end.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to your taste or dietary needs. I often switch up the veggies or swap out the noodles for gluten-free versions, and it still turns out fantastic.
- Variation: I’ve tried adding mushrooms and fresh thyme instead of the dried herbs, which gave it an earthy, woodsy twist that was delightful on a cold night.
- Dietary tweak: For a lighter version, swapping half and half for evaporated milk works beautifully to keep creaminess with fewer calories.
- Vegetarian take: You could skip the beef and add hearty mushrooms or tempeh with vegetable broth for a satisfying meat-free alternative.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe
Step 1: Sealing in the Flavor with a Good Sear
Start by seasoning the chopped sirloin with salt and pepper right on the cutting board—this helps coat every piece evenly. Heat your oil until it’s just smoking in a heavy-bottom pot or Dutch oven, then sear the beef in batches so it browns deeply without steaming. You’re looking for a rich golden crust—that’s where the magic happens! Remove the beef and save those flavorful drippings in the pot.
Step 2: Building a Flavorful Base with Veggies and Roux
To that pot, melt your butter with olive oil and add the diced onions, carrots, and celery. Take your time sautéing until the onions are soft and translucent—about 8 minutes. Then toss in garlic and red pepper flakes for just 30 seconds to release their aroma. Lower the heat and sprinkle in flour to create a roux, cooking it until the raw flour smell is gone, about 1-2 minutes. This is your secret to a beautifully thickened broth.
Step 3: Bringing It All Together and Slow Baking
Now, very slowly stir in the water or broth, scraping up those browned bits stuck to the bottom—they pack in flavor you don’t want to miss. Add your beef base, Worcestershire, soy sauce, Dijon, and herbs, then return the seared beef to the pot. Once everything is combined, bring to a simmer, cover, and pop it in the oven at 325°F for about 90 minutes or until your beef is tender enough to fall apart.
Step 4: Cooking Perfect Egg Noodles
While the beef is baking, boil your noodles separately until just al dente—meaning they still have a little chew. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to keep them from sticking if you’re not ready to combine yet. Cooking noodles in the soup itself can toughen the beef and make the pasta too soft, so this extra step is worth it.
Step 5: Finishing Touches for Creamy, Flavorful Bliss
When the beef is tender, take the pot out of the oven and place it back on the stovetop. Whisk together half and half and cornstarch, then stir into the soup along with the fire-roasted tomatoes. Heat gently until it thickens—about 3 minutes—adding frozen peas right at the end. Finally, stir in the noodles, taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Top Tip
From my years of making this soup, a few little tricks have really upped my game. These tips will help you get that tender beef and luscious broth every time, and avoid common pitfalls that can leave soup watery or beef tough.
- Sear in batches: Crowding the pan steams the beef instead of searing it, so take your time browning in batches for that rich crust.
- Don’t rush the baking: The 90-minute bath in the oven is what makes the beef buttery soft—skip it and you’ll end up with chewy meat.
- Cook noodles separately: I’ve tried cooking noodles in the soup, and it always affects the beef texture. Do the noodles separately for perfect al dente noodles.
- Use fire-roasted tomatoes: Adds a subtle smoky acidity that cuts through the richness beautifully—don’t skip!
How to Serve Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping my bowl with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley—it brightens the rich soup perfectly. A few cracks of freshly ground black pepper and a dash of flaky sea salt take it over the edge. If you like a bit of zing, a squeeze of fresh lemon or a dash of hot sauce adds a lovely contrast as well.
Side Dishes
To make a complete meal, I often serve this soup with crusty artisan bread or garlic knots—perfect for dipping into that savory broth. A simple green salad dressed with a tart vinaigrette offers a refreshing counterpoint too.
Creative Ways to Present
For dinner parties, I like to serve this soup in wide, shallow bowls so the noodles and beef have room to shine visually. Garnishing with a sprig of thyme or rosemary makes it look elegant and rustic at the same time. Making mini grilled cheese sandwiches alongside also scores big with guests!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
When I have leftovers, I store the soup in an airtight container in the fridge. It keeps beautifully for up to 4 days. Just give it a gentle reheat on the stove to bring back all those cozy flavors.
Freezing
Freeze the soup without noodles for best results—the noodles can turn mushy or weird when thawed. I swap half and half for evaporated milk before freezing to help prevent the broth from separating. Then when reheating, I cook fresh noodles to add right before serving.
Reheating
Slow reheating on low heat, stirring gently, prevents the dairy from curdling. Once bubbling, add freshly cooked noodles and heat through quickly. This way, you get soup that tastes almost as good as when you first made it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While top sirloin is great for its balance of tenderness and flavor, you can use chuck roast or brisket cut into pieces as well. Just make sure to adjust cooking time depending on the cut to get it tender.
I don’t recommend cooking the noodles directly in the soup because the boiling can toughen the beef and cause the pasta to become mushy. Cooking noodles separately and adding them right before serving keeps everything at its best texture.
Yes! After you’ve seared the beef and prepared the vegetables and roux on the stove, transfer everything to the slow cooker with adjusted amounts of water and beef base. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours. Then finish up with the cream and noodles as usual.
Evaporated milk is a great substitute if you want a lighter soup or are avoiding half and half. It still adds that creamy texture without weighing down the broth. Just whisk it in the same way at the end of cooking.
Final Thoughts
I love this Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe because it brings together simple ingredients and turns them into something memorable and cozy. Whenever I make it, the house fills with those inviting aromas that make everyone start gathering around the kitchen. Give it a try—you’ll feel like you’ve got a secret comfort food weapon in your recipe arsenal!
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Hearty Beef Noodle Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This hearty Beef Noodle Soup recipe features tender top sirloin steak simmered in a flavorful broth with aromatic vegetables, herbs, and spices. The soup is enriched with half and half and thickened with cornstarch, then combined with perfectly cooked egg noodles and fire roasted diced tomatoes for a comforting and delicious dish perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
BEEF AND NOODLES
- 2 pounds top sirloin steak, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 2 cups egg noodles, or your favorite sturdy pasta
SOUP
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- ¾ cup carrots, chopped or sliced
- 2 ribs celery, chopped or sliced
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup flour
- 5 cups water (or 5 cups reduced sodium beef broth as substitute)
- 2 tablespoons beef base or beef bouillon (crushed if using cubes)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
ADD LATER
- 3 cups half and half or evaporated milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 15 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup frozen petite peas, not thawed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F to prepare for baking the beef and soup.
- Sear Beef: Toss the chopped beef with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half the beef and sear each side until deeply golden, about 4 minutes total. Remove with a slotted spoon and repeat with remaining beef, keeping drippings in the pot.
- Sauté Vegetables: Melt butter and olive oil in the drippings over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and sauté until onions soften, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds.
- Make Roux: Reduce heat to medium and stir in flour. Cook 1-2 minutes until the raw flour smell disappears.
- Add Broth and Seasonings: Slowly stir in water (or broth), scraping up browned bits. Add beef base, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and dried herbs. Stir in the seared beef.
- Bake Soup: Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to the oven. Bake for 90 minutes until the beef is very tender. Start cooking pasta the last 20 minutes of bake time.
- Cook Noodles: Boil egg noodles separately in salted water until just al dente. Drain and toss lightly with olive oil if the beef is not yet done to prevent sticking.
- Add Dairy and Tomatoes: Transfer the pot to the stove. Whisk half and half with cornstarch and stir into soup along with diced tomatoes. Simmer gently until thickened, about 3 minutes. Add peas during the last minute of cooking.
- Combine and Season: Stir noodles into the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- Broth: Substitute water with 5 cups reduced sodium beef broth and omit beef base for deeper flavor.
- Slow cooker option: After step 5, use 4 cups water and 1 ½ tablespoons beef concentrate, transfer to slow cooker, cook on HIGH for 4-6 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours until beef is tender, then finish the recipe as instructed.
- Storage: Keep soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
- Meal prep: Prepare entire soup ahead, refrigerate elements separately, or assemble and refrigerate soup pre-baking for quick reheating.
- Freezing: Avoid freezing with noodles and half and half together; instead, freeze soup (made with evaporated milk) without noodles for up to 3 months. Add fresh noodles when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
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