I’ve always said that if you can put it on a crust, you can probably turn it into a fantastic soup. This Pizza Soup is a 20-minute comfort food fix that delivers all your favorite pizza flavors in a warm, comforting soup form. Made with a rich base of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning, this hearty bowl is loaded with savory pepperoni and meatballs!

Pizza soup with melted mozzarella cheese

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Meaty and Cheesy Pizza Soup
Ready In: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 Bowls
Main Ingredients: 1 can crushed or diced tomatoes, 2 cups water, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can tomato paste, 1 1/2 tbsp oregano, 1 1/2 tsp basil, 1 1/2 tsp granulated garlic, 3.5 ounces pepperoni
Why You'll Love It: This Pizza Soup is the ultimate shortcut for when you want a pepperoni slice but need the comfort of a warm bowl. It’s a thick, zesty tomato base loaded down with meatballs and pepperoni, a thick slice of toasted bread on top, and smothered in enough mozzarella to get those bubbly, brown spots under the broiler. Basically, it’s all your favorite toppings without the soggy delivery box!

All the Flavor of a Slice, No Delivery Fee Required

We’ve all had those evenings where a pizza craving hits hard, but you just aren’t in the mood for a soggy takeout box or a heavy, doughy bottom. This recipe for pizza soup has a very full-bodied flavor, as if you’d cooked it all day long, but with ‘throw-in-the-pot’ ease. I enjoy a slice of pizza as much as the next person, but I enjoy it in soup form even more.

So, besides the aforementioned toasted bread and gooey cheese, what else can you expect to find in this recipe for pizza soup? Well, it’s basically an Italian-seasoned tomato soup, filled with tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste, and seasoned with basil and oregano. I also add pepperoni, because no pizza is complete without it!

If you made these Dr. Pepper Meatballs, you may have some frozen meatballs leftover in your freezer for this pizza soup.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Crushed or diced tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Oregano
Basil
Granulated garlic
Pepperoni
Meatballs
Sugar (optional)
Italian bread, for serving
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Recipe Notes For The Perfect Pizza Soup

Add vegetables and your favorite pizza toppings to make supreme pizza soup, like bell pepper, sauteed onion, and a cup of sliced mushrooms.
Substitute the basil and oregano for Italian seasoning. To make it spicy, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
You can also substitute the meatballs and add pre-cooked bacon bits, 1 pound of cooked Italian sausage, or 1 pound of cooked ground beef. That’s going to make a meat lover’s pizza soup that no one’s going to complain about!
A bowl of pizza soup is a complete main dish, but you can definitely serve it with a nice salad like my Italian cucumber salad.
Instead of the bread, you can simply broil the mozzarella and top your pizza soup with garlic croutons if you like.
You can also top it with bacon, olives, or chopped fresh basil.
For a creamier pizza soup recipe, add a splash of half-and-half or heavy cream.
For a richer flavor, substitute the water for beef broth.

How to Make Pizza Soup

1. Combine the Base

Grab a large saucepot or an enamel Dutch oven. Stir in your diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and all your seasonings.

2. Add the “Toppings”

Toss in your pepperoni pieces and those meatballs. If your meatballs are large, you can cut them in half so they’re easier to catch on a spoon.

Adding meatballs to the pot with sauce and seasoning

3. Simmer

Bring the pot just to a boil over medium heat, then turn it down low. Let it simmer for about 20–30 minutes. This gives the pepperoni time to release its oils into the broth and ensures the meatballs are hot all the way through.

Taking meatballs out of pizza soup with a ladel

4. Toast the “Crust”

While the soup simmers, slice your Italian bread into thick rounds. Toast them in a 350-degree oven until they’re nice and firm. You want them sturdy enough to hold up to the soup!

5. The Melty Finish

Ladle the soup into oven-safe bowls. Place a piece of toasted bread on each, top with a heavy hand of mozzarella cheese, and place the bowls on a baking sheet. Broil on low until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

Adding shredded mozzarella to the pizza soup

Melted mozzarella over a slice of toast and a bowl of pizza soup

Warning: Those bowls will be hot, so use a good oven mitt!

Taking a meatball from a bowl of pizza soup with a spoon

Storage

Store soup leftovers (without the bread and cheese topping) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can also store leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before quickly reheating on the stovetop and adding the bread and cheese. I’d recommend making a fresh piece of cheesy bread for the top so you don’t lose that crunch!

If you’re looking for more pizza-inspired dishes, check out my homemade pizza rolls, this hearty deep dish pizza casserole, and perhaps one of my favorite creations, taco pizza!