Spicy Sausage & Bean Soup

This is the soup you make on a cold Tuesday when you need something filling and you need it fast.

Sliced kielbasa simmers with stewed tomatoes, chili powder, and oregano while elbow macaroni cooks right in the broth. Kidney beans go in at the end for heft and protein. The whole pot comes together in half an hour with almost no prep.

It’s somewhere between a hearty chili and a pasta soup, and it hits that savory, smoky sweet spot every time.

Kitchen Tips

• Brown the kielbasa slices in the pot first for a few minutes before adding liquid. That sear adds a layer of smoky depth.
• Use fire-roasted canned tomatoes instead of plain stewed tomatoes for extra charred flavor.
• This soup thickens as it sits. Add a splash of water or broth when reheating leftovers.