Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (2024)

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This hamburger soup recipe is a simple and hearty meal made with ground beef, potatoes, and a delicious tomato broth. It’s a budget friendly complete meal that makes excellent leftovers!

You may also like my Instant Pot Hamburger Soup recipe.

Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (1)

Why you’ll love it

Hamburger soup is one of those classic American comfort food dishes that’s easy to like and friendly on your wallet! You can’t go wrong with this cozy soup that has ground beef, potatoes, and a tomato broth that’s big on flavor.

The best part of this soup is how easy to make it is. It’s also full of inexpensive ingredients, and it’s an extremely versatile and flexible recipe. You can simply toss in whatever veggies you have on hand that need using up, and it’ll taste great.

What is hamburger soup?

  • As for the name, it’s called hamburger soup because of the ground beef, which is sometimes referred to as hamburger meat. This soup doesn’t actually taste like hamburgers, and it’s essentially a satisfying and simple ground beef soup. It’s sort of like a quick and easy alternative to Beef Stew.

What you’ll need

  • Olive oil, onions, and celery – sautéing these essentials creates the perfect base for this hearty soup
  • Garlic – we’re using three cloves to add depth of flavor
  • Ground beef – adding protein makes this soup a complete meal. I like to use lean ground beef so that none/very little fat needs to be discarded during cooking
  • Tomato paste and diced tomatoes – using both varieties gives the soup great texture and taste, and tomatoes are a classic complement to ground beef
  • Beef broth – amps up the flavor even more than using water. Use homemade or store-bought
  • Potatoes – Russets are my choice, but in a pinch yellow or red will be fine
  • Italian seasoning – the herbs in Italian seasoning like oregano, thyme, and rosemary are the final touch in this tasty broth. Feel free to use fresh herbs instead
  • Salt & pepper – if you use regular broth vs low sodium, you won’t need to add much salt, but be sure to use enough
Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (2)

Did you know?

  • A 32 oz carton of beef broth equals 4 cups. Just pour the entire thing in for this recipe!

How to make hamburger soup

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (3)

In a large soup pot, sauté the onions and celery in olive oil until softened. Add in the garlic, and brown the ground beef.

Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (4)

Add in the tomato paste followed by the diced tomatoes, broth, potatoes, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, and then let bubble gently for 20 to 25 minutes.

Substitutions and variations

  • If you don’t like having pieces of tomato in your soup, use petite diced tomatoes or sub the diced tomatoes for tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes, and then add more broth or water to thin if needed.
  • You can throw in any vegetables from your fridge, or you can use frozen chopped mixed vegetables (for example, corn, green beans, carrots, or peas). A handful of spinach added when the soup is nearly done cooking would be terrific!

Helpful tips

  • I used Russet potatoes, but feel free to sub with a different kind. I really like using Russets in soups because they fall apart easily since they’re a starchy variety.
  • I use lean ground beef (use up to 95% lean if you like), so I don’t find it necessary to discard any of the fat. This saves a bit of work, and the little bit of fat that’s left over gives the soup a flavor boost! You can drain the fat if you want. I certainly recommend draining some out if you use regular ground beef, or the soup will end up oily.
  • Depending on what kind of tomatoes you use, your soup could be less vibrant than the photos. That’s totally ok!

Leftovers and storage

  • This hamburger soup makes fantastic leftovers, and they’ll keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
  • For best results, heat up in a saucepan slowly over a low heat.
  • It also freezes well. Consume within 3 months of freezing for best results.

More soups with ground beef to try

  • Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup Recipe
  • Creamy Beef Taco Soup
  • Cheeseburger Soup
  • Crockpot Taco Soup
  • Macaroni Soup
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Do you like hamburger soup? Will you give this recipe a try? Let me know in the comments below! You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.

Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (6)

4.92 from 59 votes

Easy Hamburger Soup

By Natasha Bull

This hamburger soup recipe is a simple and hearty meal made with ground beef, potatoes, and a delicious tomato broth. It's a budget friendly complete meal that makes excellent leftovers!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 2 sticks celery chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 large Russet potatoes peeled & diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil, onion, and celery to a large soup pot. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, until softened.

  • Stir in the garlic, followed by the beef. Cook until the beef has just browned, stirring occasionally (about 5 minutes). You shouldn't need to drain much fat if you're using lean ground beef, but feel free to drain some/most of it if desired.

  • Stir in the tomato paste, then add in the diced tomatoes, beef broth, potatoes, and Italian seasoning.

  • Increase the heat and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat a bit so it’s gently boiling. Cook for 20-25 minutes. You can cook it a little bit longer to intensify the flavor if you wish.

  • Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Serves 4-6.
  • Anything from about 1 to 1.5 pounds ground beef will work.
  • Got an electric pressure cooker? Try the Instant Pot version of this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 904mg, Potassium: 1232mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 319IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

This recipe was originally published on January 30, 2019. It’s been tweaked to be even easier, tastier, and has new photos!

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Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (7)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you boil hamburger meat for soup? ›

You can boil ground beef! Place the meat in a large pot and cover it with water. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon or spatula then bring the water to a boil. Turn down the heat, cover, and simmer for several minutes or until the meat is fully cooked.

Will raw ground beef cook in soup? ›

Can You Put Raw Ground Beef In Soup? If you cook it thoroughly in the liquid, yes you can. However I've found this beef takes better when it's cooked first and the broth and other ingredients are added after it's cooked.

Do you drain hamburger meat for soup? ›

Crumble ground beef into a stockpot over medium-high heat; cook and stir until beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in carrots, celery, and onion; cook and stir until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

How long should you boil hamburger? ›

How long does it take to cook ground beef? Once the water has come to a boil, cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer. It should only take about 15 minutes for the beef to fully cook through. The meat will turn brown when it's done, so keep an eye on it.

Should you brown beef before putting in soup? ›

How to make Beef Soup. The key step here is to brown the beef well – aggressively is the term that I use. This adds a ton of flavour to the beef itself and the broth, from the brown bits on the bottom of the pot that dissolves into the broth.

Do you season meat before putting it in soup? ›

Generously season the beef with salt and pepper before browning it. This will help to bring out the natural flavors of the meat and create a delicious base for your soup.

Should beef be cooked before adding to soup? ›

If you are adding meat to a soup, sear or brown it in a sauté pan before you add it to the soup.

How do you add richness to beef soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says.

When to season ground beef? ›

Seasoned Ground Beef: A Picture Guide

Step 1: Add the ground beef to a hot, heavy bottomed pan. Step 2: After the beef has cooked for 3-5 minutes, add the salt. Step 3: Once the fat has rendered, add in the spice mixture.

Should you drain the fat from your ground beef? ›

First of all, that “grease” is rendered fat, which is what gives the delicious flavor to your ground beef. While it's fine to get rid of some excess grease, you always want to keep some of it in the pan. If you rinse away all the grease, you're literally rinsing away flavor, and your beef will end up dry.

Why do you put brown meat in soup? ›

During cooking, beef undergoes many chemical changes, affecting its appearance, taste and texture. Browning or searing the lean outer surface of your beef produces the rich, deep meaty colours, flavours and aromas we love. This browning process is known as the Maillard reaction.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

Is it good to boil hamburger meat? ›

Boiling your ground beef is a great idea if you want to cook with leaner, less fatty meat. This is a simple, quick, and easy-to-clean process where you cover the meat in water and brown it on medium heat for for 3-5 minutes or so. Boiled beef is also often used to feed dogs, as it is a great form of protein.

How do you boil hamburger meat? ›

Set a pot of water to boil on your stove top. I suggest a large stockpot to do larger quantities and ensure you have room. Stir occasionally to help the hamburger meat move around and cook evenly. Boil for approximately 6-8 minutes or until thoroughly cooked – no pink showing.

Does boiling ground beef make it more tender? ›

After browning the meat and adding liquids, bring to a light simmer then reduce the heat so that it is just bubbling every now and then. This will give you the most tender meat; true, hard boiling will make meat stringy and tough. (Too much heat!)

How long does it take to boil meat for soup? ›

Chop beef chuck and remove as much hard fat as possible then season with a little salt and sear on one side with olive oil. Remove meat from the pan once you see a little browning on one side. Add broth, onions, garlic, celery rib, tomato paste and meat to large pot and simmer for at least one hour and a half.

References

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