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Hamburger Soup

Hearty and satisfying this hamburger soup is made with ground beef, vegetables and diced tomatoes in a savory broth! It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Warm one pot meals like this soup, cabbage soup recipe or hearty vegetable beef soup are the best way to warm up during colder months!

Hamburger soup in pan.
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Hearty Hamburger Soup Recipe

We make this hamburger soup at least once a month at our house. It’s the perfect soup recipe to warm up with on a chilly day and makes an easy 30-minute meal that your whole family will gobble up.

This soup or my hamburger casserole recipe are some of go-to ground beef recipes when I’m running short on dinner ideas. Just like my easy goulash recipe it’s also a great way to use up any extra veggies sitting in the fridge.

It’s perfect for when you’re craving comfort food and tastes delicious served with a warm dinner roll or piece of sweet cornbread. My family always goes back for seconds whenever I make it!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Family favorite: With delicious aromas and familiar soup tastes, this soup is kid-friendly and easy to make!
  • Budget-friendly: This soup is an economical way to use ground beef, vegetables and potatoes in a one pot meal.
  • Versatile: Customize it to your families preference! Use different vegetables or spices depending what you like or have on hand.
  • Stores beautifully: This ground beef soup is actually more flavorful the longer it sits!

Recipe Ingredients

Easy hamburger soup uses simple ingredients that when simmered together become a delicious brothy soup!

Chopped veggies on cutting board.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef for this soup, and drain any fat before adding the broth.
  • Onion, carrot, celery, garlic: These veggies are key ingredients to giving the broth its balanced flavor.
  • Potatoes: I love adding potatoes for extra heartiness and starch.
  • Diced tomatoes: I like to use diced tomatoes to not only add the acidity to the broth, but also a little bit of texture.
  • Balsamic vinegar: It may seem strange, but balsamic vinegar is a secret ingredient to giving this soup a little added sweetness and punch.
  • Beef broth: I like to use beef broth to amp up the hamburger flavor.
  • Seasoning: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper give this soup extra depth of flavor.

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

While this recipe does have a few veggies in it, feel free to add more vegetables depending on what you have on hand! Other veggies that taste great in this soup are corn, peas, zucchini, or sweet potatoes.

You could even use frozen vegetables to save some chopping time!

How to Make Hamburger Soup

This hamburger soup recipe comes together

Hamburger soup ingredients in pan.
  • Brown: Cook the hamburger meat in a large pot until it has lightly browned. Drain any extra grease, then add in the fresh chopped veggies (minus the green beans) and cook for a few more minutes. Mix in the minced garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
  • Simmer. Next pour in the broth, tomatoes, water, balsamic and seasonings. Cook the mixture until it begins to boil, then stir in the chopped green beans. Cover the pot with the lid and let the soup simmer for about 10 minutes. At this point, the potatoes should be fork tender. If they are still a little hard, keep simmering until cooked through.
  • Serve. Taste the soup and add more seasonings as needed. Then ladle into bowls and add fresh chopped parsley on top for more flavor.

Expert Tips

  • Beef: I like to use lean ground beef so that there’s not a ton of grease. If there’s any grease in the pan after cooking the hamburger, make sure to drain it before adding in the other ingredients. You don’t want your soup to be greasy! You can also use ground turkey instead of beef, although the beef definitely gives it a bolder flavor.
  • Consistency: This soup has a thick and hearty consistency. To thin it out, add in an extra can of broth.
  • Heat: If you like spice, mix in a few red pepper flakes or use fire roasted tomatoes instead of plain diced tomatoes.
  • Pasta: You can also add in macaroni noodles (or other types of pasta) if preferred. Cook the pasta in a separate pot and then mix into the soup right before serving.
Hamburger soup in pan.

Recipe FAQs

How long will hamburger soup last in the fridge?

Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to five days, if it lasts that long. 

Can I make this recipe in a crock pot?

Sure, but I would still brown the veggies and meat in a skillet before adding to the crockpot to get the most flavor. From there, you can add all the ingredients and cook on low 5 to 6 hours or high 3 to 4 hours, or until the potatoes are cooked through.

Can I make this using the Instant Pot?

Yes, I would use the Saute function to first saute your onions, carrots and celery for a few minutes. Next, add your ground beef and Saute for 7-8 minutes. Add all your other ingredients ending with tomato ingredients on top and do not stir. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes, Natural Release 5 minutes, then Quick Release remaining pressure.

Can I freeze hamburger soup?

This soup makes a wonderful freezer meal. Simply prepare as directed, then let cool completely. Transfer into a freezer bag or container, leaving about an inch of room from the top so the soup has room to expand. Then store in the freezer for up to 2 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Then reheat in a pot on the stove until warm. You can add in a little broth or water to thin it out if needed.

What to Serve with Hamburger Soup

While this hamburger soup simmers on the stovetop, make a delicious grilled cheese to serve with it! Other homemade breads I love to pair with it include:

Make Ahead

This hamburger soup is a great make ahead meal prep option as the soup continues to get more flavorful the longer it sits in the fridge. Just store it in an airtight container so it does not absorb any other fridge smells.

This soup is great reheated for lunches all week or freeze it in portions and just thaw and reheat. It’s also great for gifting with some dinner rolls to someone who’s just had a baby or surgery. Everyone loves this soup!

More yummy soup recipes you might enjoy include potato soup, chicken noodle soup or chicken gnocchi soup!

More Soup Recipes to Try

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hamburger in white bowl

Hamburger Soup

5 from 3 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Easy hamburger soup made in just one pot in 30 quick minutes! It's loaded with lean ground beef, mixed vegetables, tomatoes and seasonings and is budget-friendly, hearty and satisfying.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound lean ground hamburger
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • ½ cup chopped celery
  • 2 russet or yukon potatoes , peeled and cubed
  • ½ Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 15 ounces beef broth
  • 1 (28-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
  • 1/2-1 cup water (more if you prefer thinner)
  • 2-3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar , or Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning , plus more to taste
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt , plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more to taste
  • 1 cup green beans cut into 1-inch pieces, optional

Optional: Fresh parsley, for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the hamburger. Once lightly browned, discard any extra grease. Stir in the onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes and cook 2 more minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
    • Add in the broth, tomatoes, water, balsamic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Add in green beans. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
    • Salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve warm.

    Notes

    Freeze: Transfer into a freezer bag or an airtight container, leaving about an inch of room from the top so the soup has room to expand. Store in the freezer up to 2 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. Then reheat in a pot on the stove until warm. You can add in a little broth or water to thin it out if needed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1001mg | Potassium: 1142mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 4020IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 5mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

    Hamburger in white bowl.

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