This easy hamburger soup recipe has it all. It’s easy, it’s healthy, and it’s hearty enough for a filling lunch or dinner. This hamburger vegetable soup tastes similar to my simple vegetable soup recipe, but this time I made the soup with hamburger meat to make it filling enough for a full meal (especially if you pair it with a green salad). And now it’s one of my favorite beef soup recipes!
Hamburger Soup Ingredients
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for delicious hamburger soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Olive Oil – Used for sauteing. Any oil for high-heat cooking will work, but I recommend either olive or avocado oil.Onion – I used white onion, but you can also use a yellow onion or even red onion if you like.Garlic – Fresh cloves garlic have the best flavor, but jarred is fine for convenience. Bell Peppers – Use any color you like! I used a combination of red and green.Celery – Adds crunch. We’re using 2 stalks celery, which is about 1 cup.Ground Beef – I prefer to use 85/15 grass fed beef for best flavor and nutrition, but you can use lean ground beef or really any other type you like. Other ground meat, such as ground turkey, chicken, pork, or Italian sausage, is also fine to substitute.Tomatoes – I used canned diced tomatoes. You can also use fire roasted tomatoes for a charred flavor, fresh tomatoes if you have them on hand, or tomato sauce for a smoother soup. If you like a deep tomato flavor, you can add a couple tablespoons tomato paste in addition to the diced tomatoes.Green Beans – Use fresh green beans for best flavor, but canned are fine to use if that’s what you have on hand.Spices – Italian seasoning, sea salt & black pepper.Broth – Beef broth is the classic choice for a beef soup recipe, but technically any broth (such as chicken or vegetable) will work fine.Use low-sodium if you want to cut salt a bit, or use bone broth for a richer flavor.
TIP: Customize the soup with your favorite veggies! Some popular vegetables to include are yukon gold potatoes (not low carb, though), carrots, kale, and spinach. Harder vegetables go in toward the beginning, while ones that cook quickly, such as greens, are best added in the last few minutes.
How To Cook Hamburger Soup
This section shows how to make easy vegetable soup with hamburger meat with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Is Hamburger Soup Healthy?
Yes, this hamburger soup is healthy. It’s loaded with protein and vegetables, and is also naturally gluten-free and low in carbs. Some versions include potatoes or pasta, but I’ve left them out and I don’t think you’ll miss them! If you want to add them, simply add diced potatoes or pasta of your choice at the same time as the broth, and simmer until those are cooked through.
Can You Make Hamburger Soup In The Slow Cooker?
Yes, vegetable soup with hamburger meat can be cooked in the slow cooker. If you want to cook hamburger soup in the Crock Pot:
Storage Instructions
Store leftover homemade hamburger soup in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Can You Freeze Hamburger Soup?
Yes, you can store hamburger soup for 2-3 months in an airtight container in the freezer.
Reheating Instructions:
Reheat soup in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat, or in the microwave, until hot. If it was previously frozen, you can thaw first or just reheat from frozen.
More Healthy Soup Recipes
If you like this easy hamburger soup recipe, you might like some of these other healthy soups: Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it! Serving size is large enough to be a meal. If you want this hamburger soup as a starter, the serving size can be 1 cup and the recipe will make 6 servings.
