Easy Hamburger Soup
Our easy hamburger soup recipe is a hearty, protein-rich, veggie-packed main course that combines in one pot and cooks in under an hour! A family-favorite, it’s great for busy weeknights and meal prep and is perfect for warming up on chilly days.
Why You’ll Love This Hamburger Soup
If you know us, you know we love hamburger everything from our homemade Hamburger Helper to our hamburger tater tot casserole. However, in the fall and winter, this old-fashioned hamburger soup is typically the comfort food we turn to. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Rich, savory, and just a little smoky, it’s super satisfying and loaded with veggies to keep even the pickiest eaters full.
- All the ingredients combine and cook in just ONE pot! And did we mention the soup is ready to eat in a total time of 40 minutes?
- Leftovers store and reheat well, meaning we can cook once and enjoy nutritious meals for days.
Honestly, do recipes get much better than that?
Ingredients and Notes
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details and instructions!
- Lean Ground Beef – We prefer to use lean beef, at least 80% lean or leaner. However, we’ve also made hamburger soup with ground turkey, ground bison, and ground chicken, and they all taste great. Just keep in mind that the flavor will change slightly, depending on what you use.
- Onion – Use a white or yellow onion to add a sweet, pungent flavor to the base of the soup.
- Garlic – Save time with pre-minced cloves! They’re truly a game-changer in the kitchen.
- Potatoes – We prefer Russet potatoes, because they break down slightly as they cook, thickening the soup. However, any potato variety you have on hand, such as Yukon gold or red potatoes, will do.
- Broth – Use low-sodium beef broth to enhance the “hamburger” flavor.
- Crushed Tomatoes – These form the base of the broth. We recommend looking for low-sodium varieties, so you have better control over the saltiness of the dish.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This adds incredible depth and a subtle smoky taste.
- Spices – Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper give the soup a little extra oomph, adding a savory, herbaceous taste. Start with small amounts, and add more as you go! For even more flavor, feel free to add a dash of onion powder, garlic powder, or even beef bouillon.
- Frozen Mixed Vegetables – Using frozen vegetables keeps prep minimal and makes this an easy, pantry-friendly meal! We use a blend of carrots, green beans, and corn, but feel free to experiment! Peas, cabbage, or celery make great additions, too. This is a great way to use up leftover scraps in your freezer.
How to Make This Old-Fashioned Hamburger Soup Recipe
- Brown the beef. Cook the beef, onion, and garlic in a large soup pot over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, breaking it into pieces as it cooks. Drain excess fat, if needed!
2. Combine. Stir in the potatoes, broth, tomatoes, and seasonings. Then, cover and simmer before stirring the frozen vegetables into the mixture. Avoid boiling, or the potatoes will break down too quickly, and the excess starch will cause the broth to become cloudy.
3. Serve. Continue to cook until the potatoes are fork-tender (but not mushy!). Then, season to taste, and serve warm with your favorite toppings. Some of ours include crackers, sourdough bread, or shredded Parmesan cheese!
Our Favorite Ways to Serve
With protein, veggies, and carbs, this easy hamburger soup makes for a hearty, complete meal all on its own. However, we typically like to add a side of crusty bread to soak up all the broth. Then, if serving a crowd, we add a quick spinach & roasted eggplant salad or kale broccoli slaw salad for extra nutrients.
How to Store and Reheat Hamburger Soup
Once cool, transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Then, store them in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months. They taste even better the next day!
To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, warm in 30-second intervals in the microwave or in a pot over medium heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth as needed to freshen the broth back up!
Common Questions
Yes! Once cool, transfer any leftovers to a freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to three months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, warm individual portions in the microwave, or warm a large pot over medium heat, adding a splash of liquid (water or broth) as needed to loosen the soup back up.
For a thicker soup, feel free to add more potatoes. Or, create a roux by combining equal parts flour or cornstarch and water, and slowly whisking it into the broth.
We haven’t tested this recipe in a crock pot, but don’t see why not! Brown the beef in a pot or skillet as normal. Then, combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker, cover, and cook until the potatoes are tender.
Sure! Feel free to omit the potatoes, and simmer the ingredients until everything is warmed through instead.
Absolutely. Swap out or add to the potatoes with your favorite pasta or rice, such as macaroni, shells, or elbows. Because we don’t boil the ingredients, we recommend stirring cooked pasta or rice in at the very end of cooking.
More Comforting Soup Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3-4 cloves)
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces (about 3 cups)
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 can (28-ounce) crushed tomatoes
- 2-3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cups (12 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic until no pink remains. Drain fat, if needed.1 pound ground beef, 1 onion, diced, 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- Stir in the potatoes, broth, crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces (about 3 cups), 3 cups beef broth, 1 can (28-ounce) crushed tomatoes, 2-3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Stir in the frozen vegetables and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.3 cups (12 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables
- Adjust seasonings, if needed. Serve warm with crackers, bread, or topped with Parmesan cheese.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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We love this cozy and hearty hamburger soup recipe. It’s also perfect for those at our table who are gluten free or dairy free.