This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
On those days when nothing but comfort food will do, my go-to recipe is always this soul-soothing hamburger soup. With meaty beef, colorful vegetables, garlic, and Italian seasoning, it’s the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table. This easy ground beef soup recipe is perfect for warming hearts and filling bellies with its hearty goodness! As the aroma fills your kitchen, you’ll understand why this humble soup has stood the test of time.
The rich flavor of beef is so good in this tomato-rich soup. It also has vegetables, garlic, beef broth and more, so you just know it’s going to be satisfying and tasty.
You might also like slow cooker butternut squash soup, this Italian bean soup, or this French onion soup with Italian cheeses.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: Everything cooks in just one pot so all you need to do is prep and add the ingredients and this simple soup will be ready before you know it!
Tastes so good: If you like beef and veggies, it’s impossible not to love this hamburger soup recipe. It just tastes so delicious.
Kid-friendly: Kids love the hamburger flavors in this soup. To make it extra kid-friendly, add a handful of shredded cheese on top to serve.
Hamburger Soup Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ground beef: Lean ground beef is good for this soup.
Vegetables: Onions, celery, carrots, garlic, potatoes, green beans, and corn add plenty of color, flavor and nutrients.
Beef broth: For a meaty soup base.
Italian seasoning: Goes really well with the beef, tomato and vegetable flavors.
Avocado oil: You can use olive oil if you prefer.
How to Make Easy Hamburger Soup
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Brown the ground beef: Brown the beef in oil over a medium high heat until browned and then set it aside.
Sauté the veggies: Add the vegetables to the same pot and sauté them.
Add more ingredients: Add the beef back into the pot. Also add the beef broth, canned tomatoes, tomato soup, potatoes and seasonings. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender.
Add the frozen vegetables: Add the green beans and corn and cook for 5 minutes.
Serve the soup: Ladle the hamburger soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if liked. Serve immediately while it’s still hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free beef broth.
Vegetables: Fresh corn and green beans will work in this recipe if you prefer them to frozen vegetables, or you can use some fresh and some frozen. Add other veggies too, perhaps bell peppers or eggplant.
Potatoes: Use sweet potatoes instead of white ones.
Diced tomatoes: Use a can of tomato sauce instead.
Other seasonings: Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
Add noodles: Omit the potatoes and instead add noodles, perhaps elbow macaroni or egg noodles.
Add cheese: A handful of cheese on top turns this hamburger soup into a cheeseburger soup!
Another meat: Sub ground chicken, ground turkey or pork for the ground beef.
Spice it up: Some chili powder, hot sauce or red pepper flakes would add a kick of heat.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with buffalo chicken tenders or puff pastry cheese twists.
Side dishes: Enjoy a bowl of this hamburger soup paired with crusty bread, focaccia or one of your favorite bread basket recipes.
Desserts: Finish with tiramisu cookies or s’mores brownies.
How to Store Ground Beef Soup
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze hamburger soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm the hamburger soup back up in a pan on the stove, adding a little more broth or water if it’s thickened up too much.
Top Tips
Use lean beef: Use 85/15 or 90/10 beef so your soup doesn’t get too greasy. If your beef is higher in fat, drain it off after browning the beef and wipe out the pot before you add the veggies.
Cooking time: The cooking time depends how large or small you chop the potatoes. Once they’re tender, the soup is ready to serve.
Choose waxy potatoes: Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes or baby potatoes work better than floury potatoes which are good for mashing but tend to disintegrate in soup recipes.
Try different toppings: A dollop of sour cream or handful of shredded cheddar cheese on top would be good.
Slow cooker version: Brown the ground beef and add it to a slow cooker with the other ingredients, then cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Easy Hamburger Soup FAQs
You don’t have to thaw them completely because they cook quite quickly in the hamburger soup. I like to defrost them on the counter or run them under cold water to partially defrost them and then proceed with the recipe.
Yes, but if you want to thicken it up, mix a tablespoon each of cold water and cornstarch together, and add to the soup. Cook for 5 minutes or until thickened to your liking. If you do want a thinner soup, you can add extra broth or water.
Best Hamburger Soup Recipe
Hamburger Soup
Equipment
- Pot or Dutch Oven 5½-Quart
Ingredients
- 1 Pound ground beef, lean
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 onion, large, chopped
- 4 Cups beef broth, or as needed
- 4 Cloves garlic, minced
- 14½ Ounces canned diced tomatoes, not drained
- 2 russet potatoes, medium, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 10¾ Ounces condensed tomato soup
- 2 carrots, large, chopped
- 2 Ribs celery, chopped
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Cup green beans, frozen cut, thawed
- 1 Cup corn, frozen, thawed
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over a moderately high heat.
- Add a tablespoon of oil and brown the ground beef in there, using a wooden spoon to break it up. Transfer the beef into a bowl and set it aside.
- Turn the heat down to medium and add another tablespoon of oil.
- Add the onions, celery, garlic, and carrots, and saute for 3 to 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
- Put the beef back in the pot and add the beef broth, tomato soup, canned tomatoes, potatoes, and seasonings, stirring to combine.
- Bring the hamburger soup to a boil, cover and turn the heat down. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are almost fork-tender, stirring every now and then.
- Add the green beans and corn and cook for 5 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if liked.
Notes
Cooking time: The cooking time depends how large or small you chop the potatoes. Once they’re tender, the soup is ready to serve.
Choose waxy potatoes: Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes or baby potatoes work better than floury potatoes which are good for mashing but tend to disintegrate in soup recipes.
Try different toppings: A dollop of sour cream or handful of shredded cheddar cheese on top would be good.
Slow cooker version: Brown the ground beef and add it to a slow cooker with the other ingredients, then cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Nutrition
This ground beef vegetable soup, or hamburger soup, boasts bold flavors and is really cozy and satisfying. It’s a warming dish which is perfect for lunch or dinner on a chilly day. When you make hamburger soup you know it’s going to come out well.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The perfect soup on a chilly night. We enjoyed it to the very last drop!
It’s now become my ultimate winter comfort food. I can’t wait to keep making it!