Hamburger Soup

Name: Hamburger Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 cup white onions (finely chopped); 1 cup carrot (peeled and finely chopped); 1 cup celery (finely chopped); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; Salt and black pepper to taste; ½ lb lean ground beef; 1 cup diced tomatoes; 6 cups beef broth; 4 cups yukon gold potatoes (peeled and chopped); 2 dried bay leaves; Fresh parsley (chopped for garnish)

By: Olivia Updated: 11/30/24

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Hamburger Soup is the perfect combination of comfort and convenience! It’s a hearty, one-pot meal loaded with protein, fresh vegetables, and savory broth.

Simple, satisfying meals like Hamburger Soup are my favorite during this time of year. If you’re looking for more cozy recipes to try this soup season, be sure to check out my Ground Turkey Soup with Vegetables, Ground Beef Butternut Squash Kale Soup, or my easy Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup.

A bowl of Hamburger Soup garnished with sliced green onion.

This Hamburger Soup recipe is incredibly versatile and great for families. It’s super easy and quick to make, requiring only 10-15 minutes of prep time and just 25 minutes of total cooking time.

You can use a different protein, add extra veggies, or switch up the spices, making it ideal for picky eaters. Hamburger Soup will be your new go-to for a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love.

How To Make Hamburger Soup

Ingredients

Olive oil — I like to use extra virgin olive oil. Avocado oil also works great.
Mirepoix — A classic combination of diced onion, carrot, and celery.
Garlic — Feel free to use either fresh garlic cloves or pre-minced garlic.
Tomato paste — A little tomato paste adds a ton of flavor.
Seasonings — Bay leaves, Italian seasoning, and kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
Ground beef — I use ½ lb. of lean ground beef. You can certainly add more if you want extra protein.
Tomatoes — Diced tomatoes and tomato sauce both work great in this recipe. Use whichever one you have on hand.
Broth — I prefer beef broth, but you can also use chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth.
Potatoes — Yukon gold potatoes are my favorite, but any variety of potatoes will do.
Parsley — Sprinkle on top for extra flavor and color.

Instructions to make Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Sauté the aromatics:

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery and sauté until softened.
Stir in the garlic and cook until it’s fragrant, about 1 minute.
Then, add the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and stir well to combine.

Left: diced vegetables in a Dutch oven. Right: Tomato paste and seasonings added.

Add the ground beef, vegetables, and broth:

To the same pot or Dutch oven, add the ground beef and cook until it’s slightly brown around the edges and no longer pink. Drain off any grease if needed.
Add the diced tomatoes, potatoes, broth, and bay leaves, then stir well to combine.

Left: meat added to Dutch oven. Right: broth and bay leaf added to Dutch oven.

Simmer and serve:

Bring the soup up to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25-30 mins or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
At this point, you can taste and adjust any seasonings as needed.
Remove the bay leaf and let the soup cool slightly.
Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Dice the vegetables into small, even-sized pieces. This will help with uniform cooking and you’ll get a little bit of everything in each bite.
Be careful not to over salt. I recommend adding a little salt in the beginning, and then adjusting at the end once everything has had a chance to simmer and build flavor.
Use a salad spinner to wash and dry the chopped vegetables. It’s not just for greens; it’s one of my favorite time savers for prep work.
Browning the ground beef will add a lot of extra flavor. Just be sure to remove any excess grease if needed.

How To Store Leftovers

To Store: Once cooled, transfer leftover hamburger soup to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To Freeze: Hamburger soup is a great freezer-friendly recipe! Store it in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bags and freeze for 3 to 4 months. Remember, the soup will expand when it freezes, so be sure to leave some extra space in your container.
To Reheat: If frozen, defrost the hamburger soup in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until the soup is heated through.

What To Serve with Hamburger Soup

Fluffy cornbread: This comforting soup is even better with an equally cozy side, like warm, fluffy cornbread muffins. I also have a delicious gluten-free cornbread recipe.
Crispy potatoes: Is there anything more classic than a burger and fries? Serve this hamburger soup with my crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside air fryer potato wedges.
A crunchy salad: For a nutritious, well-rounded meal, I like to serve hamburger soup with a fresh, crunchy salad like my easy coleslaw or shaved Brussels sprouts salad.
A sweet treat: Hamburger soup is a full meal on its own best served with a cozy dessert. I recommend my healthy pumpkin chocolate chip bread or low carb peanut butter cookies.
Some bread: Bread soaks up leftover soup, ensuring you savor every bit of flavor and feel fully satisfied.

Recipe Variations

Load it with veggies: This Hamburger Soup recipe is great for little ones because you can add as many vegetables as you want like corn, green beans, peas, russet potatoes, red potatoes, spinach, and it always tastes amazing.
Customize the toppings: Garnish your hamburger soup with different toppings, like sliced avocado, chopped scallion, or crunchy croutons.
Add more spices: Feel free to add your favorite spices to the mix; oregano, paprika, onion powder, or garlic powder would all work well. If you like spicy soup, add cayenne or crushed red pepper.
Add pasta: For this recipe, you can add some pasta like macaroni or fusilli.
Make it low-carb: Replace the potatoes in this recipe with a hearty, low-carb alternative like cauliflower, turnips, or sweet potatoes.

Recommended Tools

Dutch oven: You’ll want to use a large soup pot or Dutch oven with a lid to cover the soup as it simmers.
Vegetable peeler: I recommend peeling the carrots and potatoes in this recipe. A good vegetable peeler will make this process quick and easy.
Cutting board: Give yourself plenty of space for prepping veggies with a large, sturdy cutting board.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make hamburger soup in a slow cooker?

Yes! Hamburger soup is a great slow-cooker recipe. Cook the veggies and ground beef as the recipe calls for, and then transfer to your slow cooker. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on high for 2-4 hours. If you’re using an Instant Pot, save yourself a dish and use the sauté setting to cook the meat and veggies.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Definitely! If you’d rather substitute the ground beef with a lighter protein, feel free to use ground turkey or ground chicken. You’ll also want to use chicken or turkey broth instead of beef broth.

How can I thicken hamburger soup?

There are a few different ways to thicken hamburger soup. Feel free to use whichever method works best for you.
1. Roughly mash some of the potatoes with a fork to release some of the starches.
2. Simmer the hamburger soup low and slow with the lid off to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together a slurry of 2 tablespoons hot soup broth and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Then, pour it into the soup and cook for a few more minutes.

Watch Hamburger Soup Web Story.