Nothing quite comforts like a bowl of warm, velvety soup on a chilly evening. This Creamy Beef Noodle Soup Recipe brings together tender chunks of sirloin, hearty noodles, and a rich, creamy broth that feels like a big, delicious hug in a bowl.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve been making versions of this soup on and off for years, and whenever I serve it, it quickly becomes the highlight of the meal. There’s something magical about how the creamy broth hugs tender beef and noodles — pure soul food.
- Rich, comforting flavor: The combination of beef, Worcestershire, soy sauce, and herbs gives the broth deep, layered flavor you won’t find in your average noodle soup.
- Perfectly tender beef: Baking the beef in the oven makes it melt-in-your-mouth tender and lets all those savory juices develop beautifully.
- Creamy without heaviness: Using half and half and a cornstarch slurry thickens the soup without making it over-the-top creamy.
- Easy ingredient swaps: You can customize it easily with more veggies or switch the noodles based on what you have on hand.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient here plays a thoughtful role—whether it’s to build layers of flavor, add heartiness, or contribute that smooth, creamy texture we all crave. Let’s dig into why I love these choices and some tips on shopping for the best results.
- Top sirloin steak: I prefer sirloin because it’s lean but still flavorful; cutting it into chunks helps it cook evenly and stay tender.
- Egg noodles: They hold up nicely without getting mushy—bonus points for their quick cooking time.
- Unsalted butter and olive oil: Butter adds richness, olive oil brings a subtle fruitiness — together they’re the perfect base for sautéing veggies.
- Onion, carrots, celery: The classic soup trio that brings natural sweetness and depth.
- Garlic and red pepper flakes: Garlic warms things up and red pepper flakes add just a smidge of heat for balance.
- Flour: Creates the roux to thicken the broth just enough without heaviness.
- Water with beef base or broth: Using broth amps up flavor, but beef base works great if you don’t have broth on hand.
- Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce: These umami powerhouses deepen the soup’s savory profile.
- Dijon mustard: Adds a subtle tang that brightens the creamy broth beautifully.
- Herbs & spices (parsley, oregano, thyme, paprika): Bring earthy, aromatic notes to round out the flavor.
- Half and half and cornstarch: The combo creates that luscious creamy consistency without being too heavy or oily.
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes: I love the slight smokiness and acidity they add—it really wakes up the broth.
- Frozen petite peas: Added at the end for sweetness and a pop of color.
Make It Your Way
This recipe is so forgiving that you can totally make it your own. I often swap in different herbs or add extra veggies like mushrooms or spinach, depending on what’s in my fridge. It’s all about tailoring the soup to your mood and pantry.
- Variation: One time, I added a handful of chopped kale near the end for a boost of green. It added freshness and a bit more texture that my family enjoyed.
- Dairy swap: If you want to make it lighter, evaporated milk works well in place of half and half, and you get a similar richness.
- Slow cooker version: I’ve done this soup in my crockpot by prepping through the sauté step then letting it cook low and slow for all day — perfect hands-off comfort food.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Beef Noodle Soup Recipe
Step 1: Sear the Beef to Lock in Flavor
Start by seasoning your chopped sirloin generously with salt and pepper. Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil until it’s smoking hot in a heavy Dutch oven. Add half your beef pieces without crowding the pan and let them get that gorgeous golden crust — it’ll take about 4 minutes total. Don’t rush this; the caramelization is key to flavor. Remove and repeat with the rest. Keep the drippings—they’re liquid gold.
Step 2: Sauté Veggies to Build Your Flavor Base
In the same pot with the beef drippings, melt butter along with olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in your onions, carrots, and celery, stirring occasionally until the onions are translucent and veggies are starting to soften—about 8 minutes. Then add garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a quick 30-second stir to release their aromas.
Step 3: Create the Roux and Add Your Broth
Turn the heat down to medium and sprinkle in the flour. Stir it into the veggies and cook 1-2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste; you’ll notice the mixture thickening a bit. Slowly pour in the water while scraping up all those flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom—that’s where much of your soup’s richness hides! Add the beef base, Worcestershire, soy sauce, Dijon, and your dried herbs and spices. Return the seared beef to the pot.
Step 4: Oven-Bake for Perfectly Tender Beef
Bring your pot to a gentle simmer, cover it, and pop it in a 325°F oven. Let it bake for about 90 minutes, or until the beef melts in your mouth. During the last 20 minutes, start cooking your egg noodles separately in salted water until just al dente—you don’t want mushy noodles soaking in the soup all day.
Step 5: Finish With Cream, Tomatoes, and Peas
Once the beef is tender, bring the pot back to the stove top. Whisk together half and half with cornstarch and stir it into the soup along with fire roasted diced tomatoes. Let it simmer gently for about 3 minutes until it thickens. Add peas at the very end for that sweet pop of freshness.
Step 6: Combine & Season to Taste
Stir in your noodles, then taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley if you have it on hand. Then serve it up and get ready for some serious comfort!
Top Tip
From countless pots of this soup bubbling on my stove, I’ve learned a few tricks that transform this dish from good to unforgettable. Here’s what makes the difference:
- Sear the beef properly: Don’t skip the sear or do it at too low heat—you want that golden crust for depth.
- Cook noodles separately: Adding noodles too early or cooking them in the soup leads to mushy, clumpy noodles. Keep them separate until the end.
- Use a gentle simmer: Too vigorous boiling can toughen the beef; low and slow is your friend.
- Don’t rush the roux: Cooking flour properly prevents a raw taste and gives you that silky texture you want.
How to Serve Creamy Beef Noodle Soup Recipe
Garnishes
I like to sprinkle fresh chopped parsley or thyme leaves on top—it adds a light herbal brightness contrast to the rich soup. Sometimes, I’ll toss in a squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of cracked black pepper right before serving to elevate the flavors even more.
Side Dishes
This soup is a meal on its own, but I often pair it with a simple green salad dressed in a tangy vinaigrette or a crusty bread for dunking. Garlic bread or a warm baguette complement the creamy broth so well.
Creative Ways to Present
For a cozy dinner party, I serve the soup in rustic stoneware bowls with a swirl of crème fraîche or sour cream on top. A sprinkle of smoked paprika adds a pop of color and subtle smoky flavor that guests love. I’ve also ladled it into mini cast-iron skillets for individual servings—makes it feel so special.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover soup in airtight containers in the fridge, and it’s best eaten within four days. If you’re prepping ahead, keep the noodles separate so they don’t get soggy overnight.
Freezing
I’ve found that freezing the entire soup isn’t the best idea because the noodles get mushy and the creaminess can split. Instead, freeze just the soup base (using evaporated milk rather than half and half). When you’re ready, thaw overnight, reheat gently, then add freshly cooked noodles for a fresh experience.
Reheating
Reheat on low-medium heat on the stove, stirring frequently to prevent curdling. If the soup thickens too much while reheating, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it back up.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While top sirloin is ideal because it’s tender and flavorful, you can use chuck roast or stew meat if you prefer. Just keep in mind that tougher cuts may need longer cooking times to become tender. The slow bake in the oven helps any cut become melt-in-your-mouth delicious though.
The key trick is to cook the noodles separately until just al dente and add them at the very end of the soup-making process. Avoid cooking noodles directly in the soup or adding them too early because they soak up too much liquid and become mushy quickly.
Absolutely! For an even creamier soup, use heavy cream instead of half and half, but keep in mind this will add richness and calories. For a lighter version, substitute evaporated milk or reduce the cream amount to make it less heavy but still flavorful.
Yes! After browning the beef and sautéing the veggies, transfer everything to a slow cooker with adjusted water and beef base quantities. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours until the beef is tender. Then finish the soup as directed.
Final Thoughts
This Creamy Beef Noodle Soup Recipe isn’t just another soup — it’s the kind of dish that feels like a warm embrace after a long day. Whether you’re feeding your family or treating yourself, it’s straightforward to make, endlessly comforting, and easy to adapt to your tastes. I can’t recommend giving it a try enough — I promise, you’ll be coming back for seconds.
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Creamy Beef Noodle Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This hearty Beef Noodle Soup combines tender seared sirloin with a rich, creamy broth and perfectly cooked egg noodles. Slow-baked to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and flavored with aromatic vegetables, spices, and a touch of cream, it's a comforting meal perfect for cool days.
Ingredients
BEEF AND NOODLES
- 2 pounds top sirloin steak, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 2 cups egg noodles, or your favorite sturdy pasta
SOUP
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- ¾ cup carrots, chopped or sliced
- 2 ribs celery, chopped or sliced
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup flour
- 5 cups water (see notes to use broth)
- 2 tablespoons beef base or beef bouillon (crushed cubes if using)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
ADD LATER
- 3 cups half and half or evaporated milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 15 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup frozen petite peas, not thawed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and season beef: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Toss the chopped beef with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper while still on the cutting board to evenly season.
- Sear beef: Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until very hot. Add half the beef and sear until deeply golden on all sides, about 4 minutes total. Remove with slotted spoon and repeat with remaining beef. Leave drippings in the pot and set beef aside.
- Sauté vegetables: Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil in the beef drippings over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and sauté until onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Make roux: Reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the raw flour smell is gone.
- Add broth and seasonings: Lower heat to low and slowly stir in the water while scraping up browned bits from the pan bottom. Add beef base, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and dried herbs and spices. Stir in the seared beef.
- Bake soup and cook beef: Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer Dutch oven to the preheated oven. Bake for 90 minutes or until beef is very tender and melts in your mouth. Start preparing noodles about 20 minutes before the baking time ends.
- Cook noodles: Boil egg noodles in salted water until just al dente, a couple minutes before package instructions. Drain and lightly drizzle with olive oil if beef is not yet done to prevent sticking.
- Add cream and thicken soup: Remove pot from oven and transfer to stovetop. Whisk together half and half and cornstarch, then stir into soup along with diced tomatoes. Simmer gently until soup thickens, about 3 minutes. Stir in frozen peas during the last minute of simmering.
- Combine and season: Stir noodles into the soup. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, replace water with 5 cups reduced sodium beef broth and omit the beef base or bouillon.
- Slow cooker option: Follow recipe through the step of adding broth, use 4 cups water and 1 ½ tablespoons beef concentrate. Transfer to slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 4-6 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours until beef is tender.
- Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- For meal prep, prepare entire recipe ahead or refrigerate components separately to speed up final assembly.
- To freeze soup, omit noodles and use evaporated milk instead of half and half. Freeze soup separately for up to 3 months and add freshly cooked noodles when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
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