Ground Beef Vegetable Soup

Ground Beef Vegetable Soup, or sometimes called Hamburger Soup, is a flavorful and chunky tomato beef based soup loaded with ground beef, chunky tomatoes, veggies, and potatoes.

It is an old fashion quick one-pot meal that is ready under 30 minutes, making it the perfect easy dinner for busy evenings. It is budget-friendly, cozy, and so delicious!

Looking for more easy soup recipes? Also check out Creamy Potato Bacon Soup, Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Ravioli Tomato Beef Soup, Tomato Soup, and Coconut Curry Chicken Soup.

Beef Vegetable Soup

What I love about ground beef vegetable soup is that we are combining protein, veggies, and carbs to make a well-rounded one-bowl meal.

Using pantry-friendly ingredients, everything is cooked in one large pot or Dutch oven, it takes little effort and minimal time to cook and clean to bring a healthy and delicious meal to the dinner table.

If you are familiar with old-fashioned Beef Vegetable Soup, this hamburger soup is a similar dish using ground beef instead of beef chunks. It cooks a lot faster and we don’t have to wait around for the meat to get tender (beef chuck takes a little while longer to cook down).

This is also more economical and budget friendly. Ground beef is typically much cheaper than stew meat! I like using the leaner stuff so that we’re not stuck with a bunch of grease, which makes for a healthier bowl of soup.

We make ground beef vegetable soup often during busy weeknights, and refrigerate leftovers for the next day. I even freeze my hamburger soup when I need to meal prep ahead of time.

This ground beef vegetable soup recipe is chunky and hearty, with a tomato beef based broth that is savory and soothing. It is loaded with lean ground beef, celery, carrots, peas, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes…all the good stuff!

I love serving it with crusty bread, and cozying up with a big bowl on a colder fall or winter day, blanket and all. It truly is my happy place.

Equipment

To make this hamburger soup recipe, you will need a large pot or Dutch oven 6 qt or larger.

Ingredients for ground beef vegetable soup

As I mentioned earlier, ground beef vegetable soup calls for simple, pantry-friendly ingredients you probably already have on hand.

• Lean ground beef: I use 90% lean or higher so the soup doesn’t turn out greasy, and you don’t need to drain any fat.
• Vegetable oil: For searing the onions, garlic and beef — any neutral oil works.
• Onions: White or yellow, both work well.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic makes the broth so much more flavorful, but garlic powder works in a pinch.
• Celery: Dice the stalks into small, bite-sized pieces.
• Canned whole tomatoes: Canned diced or crushed tomatoes work well too.
• Beef broth: Use a good quality broth! It truly makes the soup a whole lot tastier.
• Beef bouillon (optional): Adds a ton of extra flavor. I like this beef bouillon for best results.
• Potatoes: Red, yellow or russet all work! Dice into small cubes so they cook quickly.
• Frozen mixed vegetables: Usually a mix of carrots, peas, corn and green beans. Swap in whatever veggies you have on hand.
• Herbs: I use thyme and oregano, but bay leaves, parsley or Italian seasoning work well too.
• Spices: A pinch of granulated sugar to balance the flavors, plus salt and black pepper to taste.

How to make ground beef vegetable soup (Hamburger Soup)

Step 1: Sauté The Onions And Garlic

First, grab that large pot or Dutch oven, and heat over medium heat on the stove top with vegetable oil. Once oil is hot, sear the onions until they are softened, then add garlic and cook for another minute or so, or until fragrant.

Step 2: Cook The Ground Beef

Add lean ground beef, season with salt and black pepper (about a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper to start), and sear until most of the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess grease after searing if you’re using ground beef with a higher fat content.

Step 3: Add the broth and tomatoes

Next, add celery, whole tomatoes, and beef broth. Stir to combine.

Step 4: add the potatoes and herbs

Add the thyme, oregano, and diced potatoes. Bring to a boil, and let it cook for 5-7 minutes, or until potatoes softened.

Step 5: add the mixed vegetables

Add the mixed vegetables and bring it back to a boil.

Step 6: season and finish

Stir in the beef bouillon, and season the soup with granulated sugar, salt and black pepper (to balance and open up the flavors). Feel free to add more spices to taste and adjust accordingly.

Remember that salt doesn’t just add saltiness to ground beef vegetable soup, but has the ability to open up the flavors especially if the soup tastes a little bland. You’ll be surprise by how a little bit of it can bring so much more flavor to your hamburger soup!

If you like your hamburger soup thicker, let it simmer a little longer. If it is too thick, add a bit more beef broth or water to thin it out.

Remove the soup from heat once it is done so it doesn’t dry out, and serve with crusty bread. I love my crusty bread…

Ground beef vegetable soup should be chunky yet surrounded by plenty of clear broth. It makes the perfect easy one-pot weeknight dinner.

Variations and Substitutions

Here are a few other ways to make this old-fashioned ground beef vegetable soup:

• Swap Protein: Not a fan of ground beef? Swap in diced beef chuck roast, ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
• Other herbs: Try bay leaf, Italian seasoning, parsley, dried basil or parsley alongside (or instead of) the thyme and oregano.
• Worcestershire sauce: A splash adds extra depth of flavor. Toss it in if you have it on hand, but it’s fine to skip.
• Other tomatoes: Instead of using whole tomatoes, use diced or crushed tomatoes. You can use tomato sauce but I find the flavor slightly more bland.
• Fresh veggies instead of frozen: Swap the frozen mix for fresh carrots, peas, corn and green beans, or use up whatever you have in the fridge — spinach, kale and red bell peppers are all great additions.
• Cooking oil: Swap the vegetable oil for olive oil if that’s what you have on hand. It works just as well for searing.

Storage and Reheating

Ground beef vegetable soup stores really well, which makes it a great recipe to prep ahead or keep on hand for easy weeknight leftovers.

Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Thaw completely in the fridge if frozen, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. If the soup has thickened in the fridge, stir in a splash of broth or water to loosen it back up before serving.

Ways to Serve This

There are so many ways to serve this delicious ground beef vegetable soup:

• Bread: crusty bread such as sourdough or flavored bread such as cheesy garlic rolls.
• Salad: for a healthier take, salads such as Fall Harvest Salad and Strawberry Bacon Spinach Salad are great ways to add even more veggies to the meal.
• Fruits: Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Watermelon Strawberry Salad, Grape Walnut Salad, or simply cut up some fresh fruits to serve as a side.

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