Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Hearty hamburger vegetable 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.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

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.

Additions and Substitutions

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 Vegetable Soup

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 1: 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.

Step 2: Combine salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, tarragon, and garlic powder in a small bowl, then stir it into the meat.

Step 3: Next, add onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage to the pan, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.

Step 4: Stir in the peas, followed by Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, and tomato paste.

Step 5: Add water, Better Than Bouillon, and bay leaves. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, adjusting the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer.

Step 6: Finish the soup with soy sauce, and stir to combine. Serve with freshly toasted bread, and enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Cut the vegetables the same size to ensure they cook at the same rate.
• For thicker soup, add one teaspoon of cornstarch or include barley or quinoa.

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Serving Suggestions

What to do With the Leftovers

• Refrigerate – Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
• Freeze – Let the soup cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Hamburger vegetable soup freezes for three months.
• Thaw – Defrost the soup in the fridge overnight.
• Reheat – Warm the leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions