Meaty and Cheesy Pizza Soup

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
  • 👥 Serves: 4 Bowls
  • 🥣 Main Ingredients: Crushed or diced tomatoes, Tomato sauce, Tomato paste, Oregano, Basil, Granulated garlic, Pepperoni, Meatballs, Sugar (optional), Italian bread, for serving, Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Why You'll Love It: Ready in under 30 minutes! It’s got all the zesty, herb-heavy flavor of a supreme pizza, but it’s hearty enough to be a full meal.

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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 for 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.
Side view of a bowl of pizza soup

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.

Pot with sauce and 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.

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. 

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!

Pizza soup with melted mozzarella cheese

Meaty and Cheesy Pizza Soup

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!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pizza Soup
Servings: 4 Bowls

Ingredients

  • 1 can crushed or diced tomatoes 28-ounce
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 can tomato sauce 14-ounce
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 tbsp oregano
  • 1 1/2 tsp basil
  • 1 1/2 tsp granulated garlic
  • 3.5 ounces pepperoni cut in half
  • 12-15 meatballs precooked
  • 1 tbsp sugar optional
  • Italian bread, for serving
  • shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • In a large saucepot or enamel dutch oven, place the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, water, garlic, basil, oregano, and sugar.
  • Cut the pepperoni in halves or fourths and add that along with the meatballs to the pot.
  • Bring just to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce temperature to low, stirring every now and then. Allow to simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until meatballs are heated through and soup has developed full flavor.
  • To serve: cut 1-inch slices of Italian bread and place them on a baking sheet. Place in a 350-degree oven until toasted. Ladle soup into bowls and top each with a slice of bread and a liberal sprinkling of cheese. Place all bowls back on the baking sheet and put in the oven on low broil. Watch very carefully and remove once the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly on top. Serve immediately but warn folks that the bowls are hot.
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

 

26 Comments

  1. This sounds so good that if it were not for the fact that I’m missing one can of tomatoes and the bread, this would be cooking right now. I think the bread on top really makes this. Thanks for the wonderful eats.

  2. This sounds great. I’m not a huge fan of tomato soup (I know, I know) but my family loves it. This may be the perfect compromise. Thanks for sharing!

  3. OMG!! That sounds so delicious, I love pizza and is a must have as a soup. I have got to try it. Glad I hooked up with you and Southern Plate, Thanks!

  4. I was just telling my husband I wish October will stand still for 3 months that is my favorite month. The autumn leaves, pumpkins ,Halloween, football, and of course hot chocolate. And your yum! Recipes. Thanks!!!!.

  5. Oh my goodness, can you hear my stomach growling??? As I was reading the recipe and looking at the pictures…saliva was pooling and my stomach growled really loud!!! Oh YUM!!!!! I’m going to make this one soon…does it freeze well? I want to make a bunch for my daughter and leave it in single-serving zippies in the freezer for her! Then I’ll make it at home for my dear husband!!!

    1. We also had a period in our home that some disliked pepperoni. I solved this problem by substituting Canadian Bacon in it’s place whenever it was in the recipe.

    1. Hello Ms. Sandi – I am a High School Culinary teacher ( in TN) also. We should compare notes. Oh and yes I agree I think the students would love this, imagine the standards met!

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