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. Slowly cook the soup on the stovetop, or follow our instructions for Instant Pot or slow cooker hamburger soup.
Cozy hamburger vegetable soup is a crowd-pleaser! Make this comforting fall and winter soup when you’re on a budget or when you have vegetables to use.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef, so there’s no need to drain the excess grease, and what fat is leftover will flavor the soup. You can also use chuck roast or bottom round roast cut into 1-inch pieces if you prefer.
- Spices: Season the soup with salt, 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 this soup. A combination I love is onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and peas. If you’re in a hurry and need to get something on the table fast, I recommend using a frozen bag of mixed vegetables.
- Beef Better than Bouillon: I use Better Than Bouillon and water in place of stock for this recipe. It’s flavorful, easy, and something I always keep in my pantry. Use beef broth or beef stock for a gluten-free alternative.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce enhances many of the other ingredients.
- Roma Tomatoes: Puree fresh tomatoes beforehand in a blender or food processor. If you’re in a pinch- use a can of petite diced tomatoes.
- Tomato Paste: Thicken and add color with tomato paste
- Bay Leaves: Subtly enhance 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 about what you can 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!
COOKING 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, 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 – Allow the soup to cool, then add 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.
Can I make this recipe in an Instant Pot?
1. Warm oil in an Instant Pot on saute mode.
2. Add ground beef, and break it up with a meat chopper until finely minced. Continue cooking until beef browns for about 8 minutes.
3. Combine salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, tarragon, and garlic powder in a small bowl, and then add it to the meat.
4. Next, add onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage to the Instant Pot, and continue to saute for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.
5. Stir in the peas, followed by Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, and tomato paste.
6. Add the water, Beef Better Than Bouillon, and bay leaves. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to manual high pressure for 10 minutes with a quick release.
7. Finish with soy sauce, and stir to combine. Serve this soup with freshly toasted bread, and enjoy!
How do you slow cook hamburger soup?
1. Warm the oil in a skillet.
2. Add the ground beef, and break it up with a meat chopper until finely minced. Continue cooking until beef browns for about 8 minutes.
3. Add the mixture to your Crockpot or slow cooker, then add the remaining ingredients.
4. Gently stir to combine, cover the Crockpot, and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
5. Finish with soy sauce, and stir to combine. Serve this soup with freshly toasted bread, and enjoy!
YOU SHOULD ALSO TRY:
- Austrian Goulash
- Easy Beef Stroganoff
- Kedjenou Chicken
- And more of our Soup and Stew favorites!
⭐️ Rate the Recipe
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Hamburger Soup
Equipment
- Food Processor , or Blender
- Dutch Oven , or Stockpot
- Small Bowl
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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!
Notes
- 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.