When it gets cold outside, I always like to have soup on hand to make my day a little cozier. To constitute a good soup in my book, I have some very specific requirements: It needs to be hearty, nutritious, and, most importantly, delicious.
While there are several different soups in my rotation, my favorite recipe hails from my dad’s side of the family. It checks all of these boxes and then some. Those from Kansas City will likely recognize the recipe, but if you’ve never heard of it before, now is the time to get familiar with Plaza III Steak Soup.
Meet Plaza III Steak Soup: A Kansas City Staple
If you’re from Kansas City, then you likely know the iconic steakhouse Plaza III, which opened its doors in 1963. While it was a cherished Kansas City institution for over 50 years, it sadly closed a few years back.
When she heard the news of its closing, my grandma immediately sent me her most treasured Plaza III recipe: Plaza III’s famous steak soup. She said she always made sure to cook up a batch of it to enjoy on a cold winter night. While it was sad to hear one of her favorite restaurants closed, at least she can continue to recreate this recipe from home—and can inspire others to do so as well.
The steak soup consists of a mix of veggies, stewed tomatoes, and steak, making for a warm, comforting bowl of everything a good pot of soup needs. Rich in flavor and reminiscent of a steakhouse dinner, this soup is sure to cure all of your winter blues.
How to Make Plaza III Steak Soup
Lucky for you, Allrecipes has a version of this soup that makes a whopping 16 servings—perfect to make ahead and freeze for a rainy (or snowy) day.
Chef Roger
Like many beloved regional recipes, the people who cherish it have strong opinions on how it should be prepared.
The recipe my grandma sent me (which she insists is the original), is nearly identical to the one on Allrecipes. It also calls for ground steak, though some say it is essential to use ground beef in this recipe. However, whatever beef you prefer will work in this dish. That is one of my favorite things about this soup (and many others)—it is a delicious vessel for whatever you need to use up in your fridge.
In the reviews of this recipe, there are many recommendations on how to make this recipe even more special. Some recommend adding Worcestershire sauce to amp up the umami flavor, while others suggest swapping beef consommé in for water.
However, if you keep it simple, you will still end up with an abundance of heartwarming soup to help you get through the rest of winter. No matter what ingredients you choose to use, the reviewers of this recipe all agree on one thing: It is delicious.
“I’ve been making this soup for more than 20 years,” one reviewer said. “A great, hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day.”
“I don’t normally leave reviews but I couldn’t remain quiet about this one. This was a huge hit in our house,” said another.
You don’t need to be from Kansas City to enjoy this delicious stew-like soup. Just be sure to serve it up with some crusty bread or a warm roll, and it will be quickly become a new favorite for you, too.
While most of you probably never made it to Plaza III to try this soup before it closed for good, take it from my grandma—this recipe is a close second. And after one taste, you’ll understand why it was so famous and beloved. Now, thanks to my grandma, it will hopefully reach your kitchen this winter and warm your hearts just like it warms ours!