Posted in Dinner, Food, Main Dish, One Pot Meal, Soup

Hearty Pepperoni Pizza Soup

Posted on by lmc

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A couple of weeks ago, a friend mentioned that she had enjoyed a cup of pizza soup when visiting a local restaurant. It sparked a memory of a hearty soup that I had made years ago. So I headed to my trusty files to see if I could track down the recipe. I was quite pleased when I found what I was looking for.
As I began to assemble the ingredients for the recipe, I remembered that I had an interesting ingredient in the fridge that I hoped would be a flavorful addition to my soup recipe. You see, I have grown quite fond of a new item called basil paste, that I found in the produce section of the grocery store some time ago. It’s flavor is so similar to the wonderfully unique taste of fresh basil that we pick in abundance during the summer months, here in the states. A dollop of this paste stirred into a piping hot bowl of soup just transforms the flavor into something along the lines of a pizza margherita; one of my favorite pizza recipes.

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Like much of the country, we in the Midwest, are experiencing some mighty cold temperatures this winter. (I feel like I am cold all the time.). After making this soup this past weekend, I carefully packed it into serving sized containers so that I could carry it to work along with a salad for lunch. There’s something about the fresh hearty flavor and its piping hot state that just warms me to the core. I find myself counting the minutes until lunch time. When paired with a salad, and maybe a slice of crusty bread, this soup makes for a warm and comforting meal.

Hearty Pepperoni Pizza Soup

1/2 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 cups water
15 ounces pizza sauce
8 ounces sliced pepperoni, finely chopped
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon basil paste

In a large saucepan, sauté Italian sausage, green pepper and onion until onions are translucent and sausage is no longer pink; drain. Add water, pizza sauce, pepperoni, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; and simmer covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Before serving, stir in basil paste and top with Parmesan cheese.

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20 thoughts on “Hearty Pepperoni Pizza Soup”

  1. You wild and crazy woman! Pizza in a soup? I have never heard of it, but must try it. I bet the teens would love it too. And its a way to use up bits of pepperoni left over from pizza making days, then tossed in the freezer. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. You are so right, Bakermom… This is a great soup for leftovers. Unused pepperoni, saugage or veggies can all be thrown into the pot. There is a local store in my area that sells the most delicious generic pizza sauce. The combination of flavors makes the whole house smell like a pizzeria when the soup is simmering. Thanks for your comment and your wonderful sense of humor!😊

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  2. The name ‘pizza soup’ reminds me of ‘no-carb’ pizza you can get at my favorite pizza place in my hometown (Killer Pizza From Mars in Oceanside, CA), which is crust less pizza (sauce and toppings in a bowl). I like to call it “pizza soup”. Your real pizza soup recipe sounds delicious! I hope I can find basil paste in my local grocery store; is it common?

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    1. I have found basil paste at my neighborhood store but I’m not sure how readily available it is. It’s usually found by the pre-packaged fresh herbs. It’s funny you should mention low carb pizza, I try to stay away from white flour and this is the perfect substitute for plain ole’ pizza. Thanks for your comment!😊

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  4. How nice of you to track down an old recipe for a friend… especially a scrumptious soup recipe for cold weather! This is a versatile recipe – you could use any variety of meat for the sausage and pepperoni and even extra “pizza” type veggies, per one’s topping preference~

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    1. So true… In the past, I have completely ommitted the meat to make it veggie pizza soup. Soup recipes are often so easily tailored to meet the family’s taste.
      Hope all is well with you, Shanna. Hugs to those two beautiful kids of yours on this sweet Valentine’s Day!❤️

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      1. I will be posting the recipe on my blog soon! Come on over and check it out. I’ll try to remember to let you know when it’s up!! 😉 xo

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    1. Friday night pizza sounds like a great tradition, Kloe! This soup can be a bit more calorie friendly while still enjoying the great taste of pizza. Thanks for your comment! Have a great day.

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  7. Pingback: Pepperoni Pizza Soup | Rosy Hill

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