THIS EASY AND TASTY PIZZA SOUP FOR A CROWD IS ONE OF MY FAMILY’S FAVORITES AND IS MY ‘GO-TO’ SOUP WHEN COMPANY IS COMING!
Do you love hospitality? I do….now! But it wasn’t always that way. In our early years of marriage I wanted to be available for hospitality and serving meals to guests but I never felt prepared and it was scary. And feeding a large crowd all alone was another matter….that was practically terrifying!
Have you ever found yourself faced with serving dinner for a crowd and your didn’t know what to make? Or how to feed a crowd easily and without breaking the bank? Or how to juggle meal preparation and also be available to greet and serve guests? Boy have I!
Planning for hospitality
After struggling through hospitality and meal serving over the years I decided I needed a plan. That is when I came up with a new plan that was not only tasty and affordable, but SIMPLE. YES!! I love simple!
We now serve one of two basic meals when we have guests. In the summer months we serve a fresh salad bar when the garden is overflowing. And in the winter months when I have lots of home canned staples in the pantry and freezer we serve soup, basic Caesar salad, and fresh baked bread.
Both of these meal plans are simple and affordable no matter the size of the crowd. Now I can say ‘yes’ without worry whenever the opportunity arises to serve guests.
Creating Pizza Soup For a Crowd
I came up with Pizza Soup for a Crowd years ago when I had leftover pizza toppings in the fridge. I simply through them in with common items from my pantry and freezer like canned tomatoes and sausage. My family quickly declared it one of their favorites. Since then it has become a ‘go-to’ favorite when we are serving a large crowd.
Making home made pizzas for a large crowd sounds fun but is a huge job. But Pizza Soup is a breeze. And, who doesn’t like pizza? Everyone we have served it to from the elderly to toddlers has loved it.
My daughters and I love how easy it is to get Pizza Soup prepped and ready in advance. When our guests arrive we can spend time with them and not scurrying with last minute dinner details. And clean up for this one-pot Pizza Soup dinner is a breeze. BONUS!
What I love about this Pizza Soup for a Crowd recipe
1. It is easy to expand to the size of the crowd
It is really simple to just add a bit more bone broth and einkorn bulgur (or pasta) and a few extra spices and you can expand this soup to feed a few extra unexpected guests.
2. Crowd pleasing! Who doesn’t like pizza
Right! I don’t know anyone who would pass up a slice of pizza…or a bowl of this pizza soup! It has been popular with guests from the elderly to the tots and babes. And the cheese on the top is optional which makes it like a dairy free pizza. If you have a celiac guest you can substitute rice pasta and make it gluten free as well.
3. Hearty and packed with healthy ingredients
With whole grain einkorn bulgur, grass fed meats, fresh garlic and peppers, home made bone broth, and home canned tomatoes this soup is packed with the good stuff. And it fills you up!
4. Goes together quick
With so many ingredients that are commonly kept in the fridge and pantry it goes together in a snap and can be left to simmer ahead of guests arriving.
Pizza Soup for a Crowd video
Recipe Ingredients for Pizza Soup for a Crowd
Serves approximately 10. I double this for up to 20 people.
1 lb. grass fed ground beef
1 lb. Italian seasoned pork sausage
1 pkg. organic pepperoni slices, chopped
1 quart chicken bone broth
32 oz jar home canned or organic tomatoes or 3 lbs peeled and diced tomatoes with juices
16 oz jar home canned tomatoes blended smooth in blender or 1 15oz can organic tomato sauce
3 oz tomato paste
4 to 5 cups cooked and drained einkorn bulgur (can substitute 2-3 cups dry pasta, but be sure to add extra liquid)
1 large green or yellow pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced
15oz can organic black olives, coarsely chopped.
1 1/2 Tablespoons dry Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, fresh ground
Instructions for Pizza Soup for a Crowd
- Brown meat and chopped onion in the soup pot until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender.
- Add minced garlic cloves diced green pepper and brown for 2 minutes
- Add bone broth, tomatoes, blended tomato sauce and tomato paste. Stir and heat through. If using fresh tomatoes allow to simmer until they are nice and tender.
- When thoroughly hot, stir in einkorn bulgur, olives and spices.
- Heat well and taste. Adjust spices and garlic as necessary.
- Serve with mozarella cheese on top and a good rustic einkorn bread loaf.
How to make einkorn bulgur
I used to make this soup with pasta (usually rice pasta because of my gluten issues) but now I make it with a much healthier alternative… einkorn bulgur!
What is einkorn bulgur? It is simply whole grain einkorn that has been cooked until tender. Soaking is not necessary to make bulgur but helps break down the phytic acids present in grains and nuts and makes it more nourishing. See more about this on my post on Soaking Raw Nuts and Seeds.
Simply soak your whole einkorn in water over night, rinse in the morning, re-cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer on the stove for about 30 minutes and let to soak in the hot water another 30 minutes. You can do this just before you need it or you can make a big batch ahead and freeze it to have on hand.
For more information on using whole einkorn berries and einkorn bulgur look here.
Pin it for later
How do you serve a crowd?
Leave a comment below and tell me about your ‘go-to’ crowd pleasing meals. Or how you make hospitality a joy!
Shop this post
Whole Einkorn Wheat 3 – 1 lb pkgs, 12-1lb pkgs, 15 lb bag, 22.5 lb bag
Tramontina 12qt Stainless stock pot. This is similar to the pot I have used almost daily for our large family for many years. The base is very thick and it never scorches and it is still in almost perfect condition.
Zyliss Susi 3 garlic press. This is similar to the one I have used for the last 20 years. Durable!
Pizza Soup for a Crowd
Ingredients
- 1 lb grass fed ground beef
- 1 lb Italian seasoned pork sausage
- 3 oz nitrate free pepporoni slices chopped
- 1 quart chicken bone broth
- 32 oz tomatoes, home canned OR 3 lbs peeled and diced fresh tomatoes
- 16 oz home canned tomatoes blended in blender OR 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 4-5 cups einkorn bulgur drained
- 1 large green or yellow pepper chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced or chopped
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 to 6 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 15 oz black olives, organic chopped coarsely
- 1 1/2 Tbsp dry Italian seasoning crushed
- 1 to 2 teasp sea salt
- 1/2 teasp black pepper fresh ground
Instructions
- 1. Brown meat and onion in the soup pot until meat is no longer pink and the onion is tender2. Add minced garlic, chopped green pepper and mushrooms and brown for 2 minutes.3. Add bone broth, tomatoes, blended tomato sauce and tomato paste. Stir and heat through. If using fresh tomatoes allow to heat through until nice and tender.4. When thoroughly hot, stir in einkorn bulgur, olives and spices5. Heat well and taste. Adjust spices and garlic to taste.
6. Serve with mozzarella cheese on top and a rustic einkorn bread round.
