Spaghetti Lover’s Soup – Use Up That Leftover Spaghetti Sauce!
It seems like whenever I make spaghetti, I always end up with a cup or two of sauce left. Seeing as how spaghetti is one of my favorite meals, its only fitting that leftover spaghetti sauce be recycled into another one of my favorite meals. This dish is quick and easy to throw together, hearty, aromatic, and absolutely delicious from start to finish. Reminiscent of an Italian Chili, I’ve never met a soul who didn’t love it.
Using leftover spaghetti sauce really stretches the dollars here in that there is no need to add additional meat. if you like though, you can substitute a can of sauce for the leftover and make it meatless for any vegetarians in your life. See? This really does please everyone!
A note about leftovers: I don’t serve my leftovers the very next day. I usually try to wait a day in between recycling them into another meal or serving the same meal again. That way, no one actually feels they are eating leftovers. The only exception is when leftovers are taken for work lunch.
You’ll need: 2 cans kidney beans (or your favorite bean!), two cans diced tomatoes, two carrots, one stalk celery, leftover spaghetti sauce, and some dry spaghetti.
If you don’t have celery on hand just leave it out. Your sauce is seasoned enough anyway . This is really a great recipe to just use what is on hand. Last time I made it I only had a large can of baked beans. I rinsed them in a strainer and put them in and it was delicious.
Dump tomatoes, beans, and spaghetti sauce in a large pot. Its best not to wear a brand new white shirt when doing this if you have the same amount of grace that I do when “dumping”.
Whenever a recipe calls for two cans of kidney beans, I always get one can of light and one can of dark just to give it a bit more color variety.
Add water
Peel and chop your carrots and dice up your celery. I LOVE how the carrots taste in this.
If you are a carrot person, feel free to double this amount!
Stir those in.
I like to add a bit more Italian seasoning but you don’t have to.
I love me some Italian seasoning! I’ll know I’ve had enough when my skin turns green and I begin to smell like Oregano.
Until then, I ain’t a stoppin’!
Bring that to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer until carrots and celery are tender.
While that is cooking, break up your spaghetti noodles into about one inch pieces or so. of course you can substitute any old pasts for this. Whatever cranks your tractor.
Once your veggies are tender, dump in your spaghetti and continue cooking until noodles are done.
I would like for you to feed this to your family but at this point the smell might have you eating the entire pot yourself!
Spaghetti Lover’s Soup
- 2 Cups leftover spaghetti sauce
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 2 cans kidney beans
- 2 carrots
- 1 stalk celery (optional)
- dry spaghetti noodles (I use enough to make spaghetti for one person)
- 2 Cups water
- 1 T Italian Seasoning (optional)
Dump sauce, tomatoes, kidney beans, and water into pot. Peel and chop carrots and dice celery, add to pot. Add seasoning if desired. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat, simmering until vegetables are tender. Add spaghetti noodles which have been broken into one inch segments. Continue cooking until pasta is tender.
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this looks like a good and hearty soup. serve it with garlic cheese bread and yum yum. thanks for all of your hard work.
Hey Tracy, thank you so much.
It really is hearty, very filling.
Oh now you have me wanting garlic cheese bread!!!!! ~mouth drops~
Thank you for all of your kindness and for taking the time to always comment. I look forward to them so much!
Gratefully,
Christy
I freeze left over spaghetti sauce. I put it in the freezer without the lid and when it is frozen I put the lid back on so it will not freezer burn. My bunch will not eat homemade they will only eat Ragu with Mushrooms old style.
‘K…so when I make spaghetti, I mix the sauce and the noodles in the pot and serve…do you think that I could just tump that into the pot with the rest of the ingredients and it turn out ok?? I may try it anyway as I have some leftover spaghetti…I’ll try tomorrow night, because like you I like to wait a night and I’ll let you know how it turns out.
PS…I did try your mexican pizza and it was a hit with Hubby, and again you were right as it is very filling!!
Hey! That would work just fine! The noodles will be a little more done but they always are in soup anyway!!!
YAY!! So glad you tried the pizza and DOUBLY glad they liked it!!!
you know, my blog makes me hungry
lol
Thank you!!!!!
Christy
This looks really similar to Olive Garden’s pasta e fagoli. My recipe for that makes such a large amount I don’t make it often.
Now I am a pasta Fagoli lover myself and this really is very similar to it. I also make it at home but like you, don’t need such a large quantity and it isn’t the easiest recipe to tone down. This is a lot less fuss, too.
Wow, are we on the very same wavelength or what?
Oh now i want to make some spaghetti so I can make this soup!! LOL I always have left over sauce that goes in the trash at some point!!
Me too! I try to use it up but..you know how that is!
I also like to toast a piece of french bread and slather it with leftover sauce for lunch!
Thank you so much!! let me know if you get to try it!!!
Gratefully,
Christy
Looks good, but I never have any leftover spaghetti sauce!
One jar is just perfect for me and hubby.
hehe, y’all sound like a perfect waste not want not couple!!
I have (and always have had) a tendency to overcook. I think its the ingrained thing of always having enough should company drop by.
I envy your efficiency!!!
Gratefully,
Christy
P.S. I’ll share my leftover sauce
Mmm, this is one I’ll definitely have to try. So cheap and so delicious looking!
Thank you, Stephanie!! hope you’re having a great week!!
That looks good. I love soups with pasta in them and might have to try this during one of our rainy days coming up in the next week or so…
ooh me too. Come to think of it, I think I love everything that you love! lol
I think we may differ on water chestnuts.
What, no onion?
Got to add onion.
hehe, everyone in my family (other than myself) was dropped on their heads as children. I have to sneak my onion in when I do. My sauce was already seasoned with it but you are right, adding addition to the soup is a home run.
If it were just me, there would be a spoonful of onion in every spoonful! lol
Gratefully,
Christy
What a great idea for that left over sauce! I will try this for sure!
Thank you so much!! Let me know how you like it!!
Gratefully,
Christy
O this looks just yummy! And all my favorite Veggies too… A great way to get DH to eat some veggies too…
you know what is funny? My husband picks out the veggies so he doesn’t have to eat as many and i pick them out so i can eat more!
Classical tale of jack spratt I suppose….
Now I can’t wait to make spaghetti so I can make this soup. I LOVE so many of your recipes! You have gotten me excited about cooking again.
oh Tamara, thank you so much!!! That made my heart melt and now my cheeks are hurting from smiling. Thank you thank you thank you, you’ve made my day.
Let me know how you like it if you get a chance!!!
PLEASE have a week as wonderful as you are!
Gratefully,
Christy
This sounds like a good warmin’ comfort food. We’re gettin’ some cold weather the next few days so we’ll need somethin’ like this, thanks.
Hey Rebel!!
and what is up with this cold weather? Do you know who we need to talk to about this?
Yesterday it was actually hot! I have worn shorts all week and then today I step outside and BRRRRR.
you know what? I put on my shorts anyway and strutted around all day in denial! lol
I’ll wear shorts the rest of the week too and I bet you I’ll bring back the warm weather out of pure spite!!!!
Just watch and wait….I’m doing this for all of us!!!
Gratefully,
Christy
Thanks Christy! I just cleaned my refrigerator and guess what I found, leftover sauce. So tomorrow will be Christy’s Spaghetti Soup.
Hey Linda!! Let me know how you liked it!!!
You know though, I could just about eat spaghetti sauce straight from the fridge. Hope you’re not like me and end up with some for the soup! hehehee
Gratefully,
Christy
Sounds great!
Thank you, Mary!
Thanks Christy for this soup recipe.
I always have left over spaghetti sauce. Usually add it to fresh after freezing it, or use it to make home made pizza. Looks like I’ll be making a little extra next time, so I can try out this soup recipe.
Keep on cooking
Linda in Louisiana
Hey Linda! I love Spaghetti sauce on pizza’s too! Do you make your own crust?
I never thought to make soup with leftover spaghetti sauce–what a concept. I have one daughter who is an Italian food nut and I know she will love this–I’ll have to make it for her soon. Thanks for the idea. Sheila
hey Sheila! thank you so much!
It really does make for an awesome body to the soup, I hope she loves it as much as I do! She’s got a great Mama to make it for her!
Gratefully,
Christy
Hey do you drain the beans or pour them right in with the juice?
I pour ‘em right in! When in doubt, do it the lazy way.
The beans have a thick juice so we can say we are doing it to give our soup more “body”! hehe
Made this yummy meal for dinner tonight and it was a big hit! The hubs and the picky princess even liked it as well as the mother-in-law (had to share the love!!). My only disappointment is that I thought I would have enough to freeze for another meal, but we ate so much that we will barely have enough for lunch!!
Thanks so much for sharing this great recipe!!!
P.S. Learned that less is more when it comes to the noodles. I used corkscrew noodles and really used too much! I can never get the amount right!!!
P.S.S. I drained the beans and in the end had to add some water and chicken broth. Should I not drain the beans next time??
Christy,
Is this soup something that I could throw in the crockpot for convenience?
Thanks!
Krista
I made this last week and will be linking to you in my post tomorrow. It was yum-yum-yummy!! We’ll definitely be seeing this on the menu plan again! Thanks, Christy!
I had this for dinner tonight. It was delicious. You know the temps dropped below 70 here in Florida for the next few days. What a chill it brought and I’m loving it.