BEEFY TOMATO MACARONI SOUP

This soup is so easy to put together. Combine ground beef, onions, garlic , jarred spaghetti sauce, chicken stock, small pasta and seasonings and you have the most delicious soup. This will become part of your regular rotation soups.. it's a must try!

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  onion, chopped
• 3  garlic cloves, minced (I used a squirt of minced garlic)
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (24 ounce) jar  spaghetti sauce, any type
• 1 (8 ounce) can rotel, undrained (can be omitted if you prefer not a spicy kick)
• 1  teaspoon oregano or 1  teaspoon  Italian spices
• 1  pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional but good)
• 4  cups  chicken stock (not broth)
• 1⁄2 cup  whipped cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1  cup  small macaroni noodles (ditalini or small shells)
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped fresh basil, divided

Directions

1. In a large pot heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until the onion softens.
3. Add the ground beef to the onions, breaking up with a spoon and cook until no longer pink.
4. Next add the salt, pepper, oregano and the one shake of cayenne pepper to the beef and stir to combine.
5. Now pour in the chicken stock, pasta sauce and Rotel. Stir and bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Whisk in the cream cheese until smooth then add 1/2 of the fresh basil.
7. Pour in the pasta, stir and let cook for 10 minutes, covered, stirring halfway through cooking.
8. Spoon into bowls and garnish with the leftover basil.
9. *Note: The cream cheese will look lumpy when it first goes in -- WITH A WIRE WHISK, keep whisking it and it will blend until you see no white cream cheese left.