What’s better than a hearty and meaty hamburger? That same hamburger in a soup, of course. This fabulous recipe is one of my easiest soups! This steaming pot of beefy goodness is comforting and satisfying, not at all what you’d expect from a hamburger soup recipe.
There’s no doubt that soups come in an incredible variety of flavors and colors. When it comes to easy soup recipes, there’s no limit to your creativity! And talking about creative recipes, this hamburger soup recipe is tons of fun!
What is a Hamburger Soup?
A hamburger soup is an easy and creative way to use ground beef. Sautéed with onion and garlic and tossed with tomatoes, potatoes, and carrots, this hearty soup is a combination of flavors, colors, and textures you don’t want to miss. It has it all, and it’s superbly balanced!
This hamburger soup recipe is not only easy to follow, but it’s also a crowd-pleasing meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. It’s also a sneaky way of getting the little ones to eat their veggies!
What Goes Into A Hamburger Soup?
- Oil – A neutral-flavored oil keeps the ground beef from sticking to the pan.
- Ground Beef – Versatile and inexpensive, ground meat can be as lean or as fatty as you want.
- Yellow Onion – This onion is sweeter than white and red onions.
- Garlic – This famous aromatic bulb is a base for many exciting dishes, including this ground beef soup!
- Thyme – Dried thyme has more flavor than fresh, and since it has a long shelf-life, you can have it year-round.
- Bay Leaves – The tea-like aroma in these leaves gives flavor depth to soups and stews. Discard before serving.
- Cajun Seasoning – This colorful mix of herbs and spices can elevate any dish to spicy heights. Even better, it’s super easy to make your own.
- Carrots – When cooked right, carrots become tender and sweet. And they add vibrant color to this soup!
- Celery – This fragrant vegetable gives an earthy note to the hamburger soup recipe.
- Tomatoes – When ripe, this fruit (not veggie) is sweet and tangy. It’s perfect for all types of savory dishes!
- Potatoes – Starchy and filling, this root veggie is super versatile and gives body to our soul-satisfying soup.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This versatile sauce gives flavor to meat, stews and many other dishes! This famous sauce is made with anchovies malt vinegar and lots of spices.
- Tomato Paste – Intense tomato flavor without adding too much liquid.
- Beef Broth – Amped up with bouillon, a rich beef broth makes the base for our hamburger soup. This one’s hearty and comforting!
- Green Peas – Nothing beats the lively, pearly green peas. This handy ingredient gives color and nutrition to any dish, and once cooked they’re deliciously tender.
- Parsley – The perfect garnish for this soup, parsley adds a hint of green with the loveliest herbal touch.
Alternative Ingredients
You can use various kinds of ground meat instead of beef:
Ground Pork – Ground pork is perfect for this soup for a fattier alternative and an equally meaty flavor.
Ground Turkey – This choice truly shines in this recipe for a leaner, healthier soup.
Use different spices:
Paprika – This amazing pepper will also give color and a spicy flavor to ground beef soup.
Old Bay Seasoning This famous spice blend shares similarities with Cajun and Creole spices and will elevate the hamburger soup nicely.
Tips and Tricks
Dried herbs are better for soups and stews, as they add more flavor to the hamburger soup than fresh ones. Add the parsley last, though, and make sure this one’s fresh!
Sautéed onions and garlic are better than powdered, especially when sautéed with the meat, and they’re the base that builds the soup’s flavor.
Mix and match your favorite veggies for this tasty one-pot meal. Why not try some broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans? Anything goes! You’ve got to eat your greens somehow. Right?
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve the hamburger soups steaming hot with a side of fluffy bread or your favorite starch. Adding pasta to this hearty broth isn’t a bad idea either!
Storing. To store hamburger soup, let it cool down to room temperature on the counter. Then keep your leftover soup in the fridge in an airtight container. You can freeze your soup for up to two months.
Reheating. To reheat hamburger soup, simply pour it into a pot and heat it on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, you can scoop it into a microwave-safe bowl and reheat it. It’s even more important to stir it before serving when using the microwave.
FAQs
Noodles make this soup a complete meal! Also, add your favorite veggies for a new take on this tasty soup.
You can use ground pork, turkey, or lamb instead of beef. You can also use beans or lentils as a meat-free option.
Waxy, red, and new potatoes are the best for soups, as they don’t break apart as easily.
What Goes with Hamburger Soup?
This magnificent dish is a whole meal in itself, but it does like to have a little company. Perhaps actual hamburgers? Just kidding! 😉
Serve this comforting soup with a fresh tossed salad to balance things out! Oh, and hamburger soup is even more fantastic with a side of freshly made bread.
More Meaty Soups to Try
How to Make a Hamburger Soup
Cook the Ground Meat
- Cook the Ground Beef. Heat a large pot or saucepan over medium heat with a tablespoon of oil. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. If there’s any excess fat, remove it with a wooden spoon and discard. (Photo 1-3)
- Add the spices and seasonings. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and creole seasoning, and cook, constantly stirring, until onions wilt and beef browns slightly. (Photo 4)
Add the Vegetables and Broth
- Add the veggies. Stir in carrots and celery. Add the tomatoes with their liquid, potatoes, tomato paste, beef bouillon, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine. (Photo 5-7)
- Add broth. Pour in beef broth, water, salt, and pepper (to taste). (Photo 8)
Add the Peas
- Boil and simmer. Bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the potatoes are tender. If sauce gets too thick, add ½ cup water. Make sure the sauce doesn’t get too thick.
- Add the peas. Add green peas and continue cooking for about 2-3 minutes or until heated through. (Photo 9)
- Adjust it. Adjust the thickness of soup and seasonings with more liquid and seasonings (optional). Top with parsley. Serve hot. (Photo 10)
Watch How To Make It
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Hamburger Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (14 mL) of oil
- 1 pound (453 g) lean ground beef
- 1 cup (52 g) yellow onion, diced
- 3 (35 g) garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons (2 g) minced thyme
- 1-2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon (12 g) Creole or cajun seasoning
- 1 cup (128 g) carrots , diced
- 1 cup celery stalks, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced or crushed tomatoes
- 2- 2½ cups potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 teaspoons (12 g) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon
- 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth
- 1-2 cups (240-480 ml) water as needed
- ¾ cup (109 g) frozen peas, optional
- 2-3 tablespoons (8-12 g) chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat a large pot or saucepan over medium heat with a tablespoon of oil. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. If there's any excess fat, remove it with a wooden spoon and discard.
- Add the onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, and creole seasoning, and cook, constantly stirring, until onions wilt and beef browns slightly.
- Stir in carrots and celery.
- Add the tomatoes with their liquid, potatoes, tomato paste, beef bouillon, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
- Pour in beef broth, water, salt, and pepper (to taste).
- Bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the potatoes are tender. If sauce gets too thick, add ½ cup water. Make sure the sauce doesn't get too thick.
- Add green peas and continue cooking for about 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
- Adjust the thickness of soup and seasonings with more liquid and seasonings (optional).
- Top with parsley. Serve hot.
Tips & Notes:
- Dried herbs are better for soups and stews, as they add more flavor to the hamburger soup than fresh ones. Add the parsley last, though, and make sure this one’s fresh!
- Sautéed onions and garlic are better than powdered, especially when sautéed with the meat, and they’re the base that builds the soup’s flavor.
- Mix and match your favorite veggies for this tasty one-pot meal. Why not try some broccoli, cauliflower, or green beans? Anything goes! You’ve got to eat your greens somehow. Right?
- Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
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