Hamburger Soup – Our hearty soup boasts a rich tomato-based broth, ground beef, and fresh vegetables; it’s an easy meal to prepare and a filling one-pot dinner that’s perfect for your budget, busy weeknights, and meal planning.
HAMBURGER SOUP
Cozy hamburger vegetable soup is a crowd-pleaser! Make this comforting fall and winter soup for when you’re cooking on a budget or have extra vegetables to use. And while you’re at it, check out this collection of 30 ground beef recipes.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef for this recipe. You can also use chuck or bottom round roast cut into 1-inch pieces.
- Spices: Season the soup with kosher salt, coarse ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and dried tarragon.
- Vegetables: Hamburger beef soup is incredibly versatile, and I love that you can use whatever is in your fridge to make the soup. I love the combination of chopped onion, fresh garlic, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and peas. If you need to get dinner on the table fast, I recommend using a frozen bag of mixed vegetables.
- Beef Broth: Flavor the soup with beef broth. You can also use beef stock or Better Than Bouillon and water.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce enhances many of the other ingredients.
- Roma Tomatoes: Puree fresh tomatoes beforehand in a blender or food processor. Use a can of petite diced tomatoes when you’re in a pinch.
- Tomato Paste: Thicken and add color with tomato paste
- Bay Leaves: Infuse the soup with a clove-like flavor using bay leaves.
- Soy Sauce: Add umami and boost the flavor of the soup.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS
Hamburger soup is one of those use-what-you-have recipes, so feel free to get creative. Here are a few suggestions for what to add or substitute for other ingredients in the soup.
- Grains: For a thicker and more filling soup, add barley or quinoa to the soup.
- Dairy: If you prefer creamy soup, add a splash of heavy cream or half and half.
- Vegetables: Use this recipe as a starting point and use what you have. Feel free to exchange or add vegetables like celery, cauliflower, kale, spinach, parsnips, green beans, or corn.
HOW TO MAKE HAMBURGER SOUP
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Warm oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Then, add the ground beef, and break it up with a meat chopper until finely minced. Continue cooking until brown and heated through for about 10 minutes.
Combine salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, tarragon, and garlic powder in a small bowl, then stir it into the meat.
Next, add onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage to the pan, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
Stir in the peas, followed by Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, and tomato paste.
Add water, Better Than Bouillon, and bay leaves. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, adjusting the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer.
Finish the soup with soy sauce, and stir to combine. Serve with freshly toasted bread, and enjoy!
EXPERT TIPS
- For thicker soup, add one teaspoon of cornstarch or include barley or quinoa.
- Cut the vegetables the same size to ensure they cook at the same rate.
SEARCHING FOR MORE LIKE THIS?
If you love this recipe, try one of these tasty beef stew recipes!
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
- Toasted Bread, Buttery Rolls, Pao de Sal
- Corn Bread, Corn Casserole
- Mashed Potatoes
- Rice, Pilaf
- Vegetable Chopped Salad, House Salad
- Saltine Crackers
WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVERS
- Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container; it will keep for 3-4 days.
- Freeze – Let the soup cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Hamburger soup freezes for three months.
- Thaw – When you’re ready to eat, defrost it in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat – Warm the leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What can you add to hamburger soup to give it more flavor?
Our soup is hearty and loaded with umami-rich ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and spices to give it depth and flavor.
Can I use stew meat?
Absolutely, and it’s delicious! Purchase chuck roast and cut it into 1-inch pieces or buy store-bought stew meat. I recommend searing the beef beforehand and increasing the cooking time by 30-40 minutes.
What is the difference between hamburger soup and vegetable beef stew?
To make soup, cook the ingredients in broth, whereas preparing a stew implies cooking the ingredients in just enough liquid for the beef to tenderize. By the way- if you’re craving stew, check out our collection of beef stew recipes.
⭐️ Rate the Recipe
Feedback is Valuable – It helps us improve and update our recipes, so we can provide delicious meals you love. Consider leaving a comment or rating below the recipe card, and feel free to share your adaptations or ask any questions. We cannot wait to hear about what you’ve made.
Hamburger Soup
- Small Bowl
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 93/7 lean ground
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt,
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon tarragon, dried
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 medium carrots, chopped
- 4 petite potatoes, quartered
- 2 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded
- 1 cup peas
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 Roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped, and blended
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Beef Better Than Bouillon
- 4 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- Warm oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Then, add the ground beef, and break it up with a meat chopper until finely minced. Continue cooking until brown and heated through for about 10 minutes.
- Combine salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, tarragon, and garlic powder in a small bowl, then stir it into the meat.
- Next, add onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage to the pan, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
- Stir in the peas, followed by Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, and tomato paste.
- Add water, Better Than Bouillon, and bay leaves. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, adjusting the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Finish the soup with soy sauce, and stir to combine. Serve with freshly toasted bread, and enjoy!
- For thicker soup, add one teaspoon of cornstarch or include barley or quinoa.
- Cut the vegetables the same size to ensure they cook at the same rate.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
Brea
Thursday 22nd of September 2022
I’m pregnant and struggling to get in protein and veggies that I normally love. Tressa’s website in general has been a god send because recipes like this take nutritious food and turn it into something cozy and tasty. This soup has the BEST flavor and I love that you can get creative with the vegetables. This is your fall go to soup 100%%!!
Tressa Jamil
Thursday 22nd of September 2022
Wow, that is such high praise and I am so thankful it was able to meet a need during such an exciting time.
Richard
Friday 16th of September 2022
This healthy beef vegetable soup recipe is fantastic! Very easy to prepare and way better than canned soup.
Tressa Jamil
Saturday 17th of September 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment; I am happy you enjoyed it.