Hamburger Soup

This Hamburger Soup is quick, easy, inexpensive, make-ahead friendly, and deeply satisfying. It is elevated by a complex tomato broth spiked with a hint of smoky barbecue goodness that readers call “Delish,” “LOVE IT!” and “Amazing.” Say hello to your new family-favorite soup made on the stovetop or in the crockpot!

Original recipe 4/30/2019, Photos Updated 10/9/2024

top view of hamburger soup garnished with melted cheese


 

Why you’ll love This Hamburger Soup Recipe

  • Flavorful: As one reader said, “I find so many recipes are bland, but this recipe is amazing!” and another,” The blend of spices and liquid smoke made an amazing broth.”
  • Hearty & Comforting: Loaded with ground beef, vegetables, and potatoes, it’s a perfect comfort meal that everyone will love.
  • Smoky Complex Broth: I borrowed the barbecue flavor profile from my Barbecue Chicken Chili (an all-time readers fav) and toned it down for layers of tangy, smoky complexity with dashes of Worcestershire, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and liquid smoke.
  • Easy & Versatile: Simple to make with ingredients you likely already have and can be customized with different veggies or proteins.
  • Make-Ahead Friendly: It tastes even better the next day!
two bowls of hamburger soup topped with cheese
ingredient icon

Hamburger Soup Ingredients

This recipe uses pantry-friendly ingredients for the broth; then you can mix in all sorts of veggies. Here is my favorite combination: (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Ground beef: Lean ground beef or ground turkey are both delicious. I’ve include other protein options below as well.
  • Potatoes: These tender morsels are the other star of this recipe. Please use red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes because they retain their shape without falling apart and don’t become mealy.
  • Onion: This adds sweetness and depth and serves as the base for the flavor profile. Use one yellow onion or substitute with 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder for lazy days when you donโ€™t feel like chopping.
  • Garlic:  Four garlic cloves add aromatic depth or substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder-but fresh is so much better!
  • Veggies: Three chopped carrots, three stalks of celery, and one green bell pepper round out the veggies or substitute with your favorites.
  • Fire-roasted diced tomatoes:  These are wonderfully smoky with a sweet complexity and less acidity than traditional tomatoes. Use traditional diced tomatoes if you canโ€™t find fire-roasted.
  • Barbecue flair: One tablespoon each of yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and a splash of liquid smoke mingle with the tomato-based broth to give the Hamburger Soup a rich, complex, tangy, smoky flavor, all cradling juicy beef, tender potatoes, and veggies.
  • Beef broth: Please use REDUCED SODIUM beef broth so we can control the salt. You can always add salt but it’s difficult to remove!
  • Tomato sauce: One 15 oz. can of tomato sauce adds subtle tomato flavor.
  • Spices: The soup is seasoned with chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and pepper for smoky, robust, earthy comfort.
  • Herbs: Dried basil, parsley, and oregano for subtle earthy nuances. I use dried herbs for convenience, but you can use fresh. If using fresh, add three times the amount of dried herbs at the end of cooking so they remain poignant.
top view of hamburger soup ingredients: ground beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, bell pepper, beef broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, onions and garlic

How to Make Hamburger Soup

This Hamburger Soup is simple to make but the complex flavors taste like its been simmering for hours! Let’s take a closer look at how to make it with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

  • Step 1: Brown Beef. Brown the beef with onions, carrots, and celery in a large Dutch oven or stock pot until the veggies are softened, about 10 minutes. Cooking the hamburger with veggies infuses them with all that fabulous flavor instead of just cooking them with olive oil.
showing how to make hamburger soup by adding the hamburger, onions, carrots and celery to the pot, then browning
  • Step 2: Add Spices Add the garlic and spices and sautรฉ for 30 seconds.
showing how to make hamburger soup by adding the spices and garlic and sautรฉing
  • Step 3: Add Soup Ingredients. Add the potatoes, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, mustard, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, brown sugar, and vinegar.
showing how to make hamburger soup by adding potatoes, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, mustard, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, brown sugar, and vinegar.
  • Step 4: Simmer. Simmer over medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
showing how to make hamburger soup by simmering the soup
  • Step 5: Adjust. Add broth or water to thin the desired consistencyโ€”season with salt and pepper to taste.
a ladle full of hamburger soup recipe
top view of hamburger soup garnished with parsley

Hamburger Vegetable Soup Recipe Tips

  • Can I use freezer veggies? For an easy shortcut, you can use frozen vegetable medleys and add to the soup with the potatoes.  No need to thaw first.
  • How long does this Hamburger Soup Take to Cook? It takes about 20 minutes to simmer for the potatoes to be tender. By using Yukon Gold potatoes instead of Russets, you donโ€™t need to worry about them falling apart or overcooking, but you want to make sure they are melt-in-your-mouth tender and not remotely crunchy.
  • Can I half this recipe? Certainly!  But honestly, this soup is going to be a family favorite or personal favorite, so even if you have leftovers, they will disappear in a flash!  And bonus, this Hamburger Soup makes FANTASTIC leftovers!
  • Can I make it cheesy? To make a cheesy version, stir freshly shredded cheddar cheese directly into the soup.
  • Can I make it thicker? Yes! You can thicken up the soup to more of a stew-like consistency with a cornstarch slurry. Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 2 tablespoons cornstarch with ยผ cup of cold broth or water until the cornstarch is completely dissolved. Slowly whisk into the Hamburger Soup over low heat. Bring to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until thickened.
hamburger soup in a bowl with ground beef, potatoes, carrots, celery and bell peppers

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ADD TO HAMBURGER SOUP?

This Hamburger Soup is a goulash of sorts-it is completely customizable with protein and veggies. Remember, for whatever you add, you may want to eliminate one of the existing ingredients to keep the correct proportions – or just add more water!

  • Ground Turkey: If you substitute the beef for turkey, you may want to add beef bouillon, which is my secret ingredient when using turkey, like in my turkey chili and turkey tacos. It makes your turkey taste like beef! If using, eliminate the salt and add salt to taste at the end of cooking, otherwise the soup will be too salty.
  • Other proteins: Although this is “Hamburger Soup,” the flavorful seasoned broth is too good not to savor with other proteins! You can add shredded rotisserie chicken, ground chicken, sliced sausage, mini meatballs, etc.
  • Pasta: Substitute the potatoes for 2 cups of uncooked pasta. Add the pasta to the soup after bringing it to a boil. Babysit your pasta and cook just until al dente. Use a smaller pasta like in my Minestrone Soup that is roughly the same size as your chopped veggies. Macaroni, small shells, rotini, etc., are all great pasta for soup.
  • Rice: Substitute the potatoes for uncooked white rice and cook for about 8-11 minutes (check often so it doesn’t overcook), or add cooked brown or wild rice.
  • Zucchini: Add the zucchini at the same time as the potatoes. The zucchini takes the least amount of time to cook, so cut it on the thick side, at least 1/4โ€ thick chunks.
  • Green Beans: Add fresh or canned green beans with the potatoes.
  • Corn: Add canned corn, frozen corn or fresh corn at the end of the cooking, cover, and heat through for about 2 minutes.
  • Cabbage: Add 2 cups cabbage at the same time as the corn (if using), at the end of cooking, cover and simmer for 2 minutes, just until wilted.
  • Beans. Add one (14.5 oz) can of kidney beans or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, at the end of cooking, at the same time as the corn
    and/or cabbage (if using), and heat for approximately 2 minutes.
  • Leafy Greens: Add spinach, Swiss chard, or baby kale at the end of cooking once the potatoes are tender, stirring to wilt for about 1 minute.
showing how to serve hamburger soup by adding cheese to melt

What to Serve with Hamburger Soup?

We love serving our Hamburger Soup with a fresh green salad! Here are some favs:

What to do with leftover Ground Beef Soup

Hamburger Soup can be thickened into more of a stew-like consistency and served as a sauce. Try it:

  • Stirred into rice
  • Stuffed into peppers and baked
  • Served over zoodles or spaghetti squash
  • Served over baked potatoes
  • Stuffed in zucchini boats, topped mozzarella and baked
  • Stuffed in savory crepes
  • On top of cheesy bread
showing how to serve hamburger soup by adding cheese to melt

Want to try this HAMBURGER SOUP RECIPE?

Pin it to your SOUP, DINNER OR BEEF Board to SAVE for later!

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!  I am always pinning :)!

ยฉCarlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

top view of hamburger soup garnished with parsley

Hamburger Soup

This Hamburger Soup is quick, easy, inexpensive, make-ahead friendly, and deeply satisfying. It is elevated by a complex tomato broth spiked with a hint of smoky barbecue goodness that readers call "Delish," "LOVE IT!" and "Amazing." Say hello to your new family-favorite soup made on the stovetop or in the crockpot!
Servings: 6 servings
Total Time: 40 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box

You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 medium carrots, chopped (1 ½ cups)
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped (1 ½ cups)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced (may sub 1 tsp garlic powder)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 tsp EACH ground cumin, salt
  • 1/2 tsp EACH dried basil, dried parsley, dried oregano, smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 cups red or Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into 1/2โ€ chunks
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 5 1/2 cups reduced sodium beef broth
  • 1 14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow deli mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons granulated beef bouillon/better than bouillon or 2 crushed cubes

Garnish (Pick your Favs)

  • Cheddar cheese (highly recommended)
  • Parsley
  • Green onions or Chives
  • Sour Cream

Instructions

Stove Top Directions

  • Brown the beef with onions, carrots, and celery in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat until the veggies are softened, about 10 minutes. While the beef is cooking, prep the potatoes and bell pepper.
  • Drain the excess grease if there is any (shouldn't be much if using lean beef). Add the garlic and spices and sautรฉ for 30 seconds.
  • Add the remaining soup ingredients, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer (gentle boil) over medium-low heat and cook, uncovered, for approximately 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
  • Thin the soup to the desired consistency by adding additional water or broth, but this soup is supposed to be chunky. If desired, garnish individual servings with cheese (recommended!).

Crockpot Hamburger Soup

  • Brown the beef with onions, carrots, and celery in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat until veggies are softened, about 10 minutes. Drain the excess grease from the beef. Add the garlic and spices and sautรฉ for 30 seconds. While the meat is cooking, prep the potatoes and bell pepper.
  • Add the beef and the remaining soup ingredients to a 6-quart slow cooker BUT only use 4 cups of broth (instead of 5 1/2) because less liquid will be evaporated while cooking. You can add more broth once the soup is cooked.
  • Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours or until potatoes are tender. Thin soup to desired consistency by adding additional water or broth, but this soup is supposed to be chunky.
  • NOTE: Crockpot versions don't have as concentrated of flavor because none of the liquid evaporates while cooking so they generally need more seasoningsย – you may need to doctor the final product.

Notes

recipe variations

This Hamburger Soup is a goulash of sorts- it is completely customizable as far as the add-ins. Just keep in mind, for whatever you add, you may want to eliminate one of the existing ingredients to keep the correct proportions – or just add more water!
  • Ground Turkey: If you substitute the beef for turkey, you may want to add additional beef bouillon – my secret ingredient when using turkey like in my turkey chili and turkey tacos. It makes your turkey taste like beef! Just be sure to add additional beef bouillon at the end of cooking so you can add to taste and ensure your Hamburger Soup doesn’t taste too salty.
  • Other proteins: Although this is “Hamburger Soup,” the flavorful seasoned broth is too good not to savor with other proteins! You can add shredded rotisserie chicken, ground chicken, sliced sausage, mini meatballs, etc.
  • Pasta:ย  you can substitute the potatoes for 2 cups of uncooked pasta. Add the pasta to the soup after all of the other ingredients and bring it to a simmer. You will need to babysit your pasta and cook just until al dente. You will want to use a smaller pasta like in my Minestrone Soup that is roughly the same size as your chopped veggies. Macaroni, small shells, rotini, etc. are all great pastas for soup.
  • Rice: you can substitute the potatoes for cooked rice, specifically wild rice or brown rice for the best texture. You will want to cook the rice separately to ensure proper cooking of the rice and not overcooking of the veggies.
  • Zucchini: add zucchini at the same time as the potatoes. The zucchini takes the least amount of time to cook, so cut it on the thick side, at least ยผโ€ chunks.
  • Green Beans: add fresh or canned green beans at the same time as the potatoes.
    Corn: add canned corn, frozen corn or fresh corn at the end of the cooking, cover, and heat through for about 2 minutes.
  • Cabbage: add 2 cups cabbage at the same time as the corn (if using), at the end of cooking, cover and simmer for 2 minutes, just until wilted.
  • Beans. Add one (14.5 oz) can of kidney beans or cannellin beans, rinsed and drained, at the end of cooking, the same time as the corn
    and/or cabbage (if using), and heat for approximately 2 minutes.
    Spinach: add spinach, Swiss chard or baby kale at the end of cooking once the potatoes are tender and just stir to wilt, about 1 minute.

HOW TO STORE AND REHEATย 

  • To store: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.ย 
  • To freeze: transfer cooled soup to an airtight freezer safe container or freezer bag.ย  Squeeze out any excess air to prevent freezer burn.ย  Freeze for up to 3 months.ย  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • Stove: reheat large batches on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally โ€“ about 10 minutes.
  • Microwave: transfer individual servings to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel. Microwave for 90 seconds, stir, then continue to microwave at 30-second intervals, if needed.
ย 

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs

Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!

Carlsbad Cravings Original

Reader Interactions

leave a review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

36 Comments

  1. Gina says

    Looks wonderful. I will be swapping Textured Vegetable Protein or Butler Foods Soy Curls for Protein. Better Than Bouillon No Beef Base. Thank you for the great recipes. Have a great weekend.

  2. Paul W. says

    2 tsp of Beef boullion OR 2 tsp beef bouillon powder or beef soup base?

    • Jen says

      Yes, they are all the same, enjoy!

  3. Shirley Waddle says

    How much is a serving? Any calorie count on one serving….or maybe it’s so delish that we don’t want to know?! I always enjoy your postings. Thanks.

  4. 2pots2cook says

    It seems we have our four seasons favourite ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you so much !

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome, I’m excited for you to try it!

  5. Kathy says

    This sounds wonderful and I am going to try it. But since I am only cooking for one person, I do like to freeze individual portions to enjoy later. Can the recipe be frozen since it includes potatoes, or should some other ingredient be substituted? I so enjoy reading your postings!

    • Jen says

      Hi Kathy, I don’t personally like freezing soups with potatoes so I would suggest only adding potatoes to whatever you aren’t freezing or substituting them. Enjoy!

  6. Jude says

    Itโ€™s a rainy 47 degree day in Maine! This soup is resting on the stove and will be served shortly for lunch along with Bakewell Cream biscuits! Itโ€™s going to be a hit! It smells so good! Thanks for another great recipe!

    • Jen says

      You are so welcome Jude, thanks for taking the time to comment! It sounds absolutely perfect to warm everyone up!

  7. Kate Braun says

    I found this recipe when hunting for a hamburger soup recipe. I made it tonight and LOVE IT!! this recipe is a keeper. Thank you so much!!

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome, I’m thrilled you love it, thanks Kate!

  8. Garrett says

    Iโ€™m confused… smoked paprika is mentioned under spices (โ€œthe smoked paprika adds a little smokiness.โ€), but isnโ€™t listed as an ingredient anywhere…

    • Jen says

      My apologies – it should be 1/2 teaspoon. Enjoy!

  9. Jessi says

    Delish! My family and I loved this soup. (Didn’t have any bouillon so I skipped it and it was still wonderful.)

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Jessi! I’m so happy it was a winner with the entire fam!

  10. judi says

    OK my boys are very picky eaters – once I started cooking this dish they were in and out of their rooms wondering what smelled so good until they got to the point they had to sit by the pot watching it simmer and tasting it every 5 minutes! Needless to say we always have left overs but not today!! So delicious โค๏ธ

    • Jen says

      You made my day, thanks so much Judi! I am thrilled even your picky eaters loved this Hamburger Soup recipe!

  11. CL Williamsen says

    This looks yummy but Iโ€™m on a strict diet. Do you have the nutritional information for this?

  12. Marie says

    I followed everything to a tee except the liquid smoke for the crackpot version and mine looks more watery than the picture.

    • Jen says

      Hi Marie, the crockpot version will be slightly more watery because liquid doesn’t evaporate when cooking like on the stovetop.

      • Misty Warren says

        Mine was watery too and I made the stovetop version. Feels like the broth measurement is maybe a little off.

        • Jen says

          I really appreciate the feedback! I have reduced the broth in the recipe-hopefully it’s perfect next time!

  13. Jennifer says

    I made this exactly as written and it was perfect. The blend of spices and liquid smoke made an amazing broth. I thought I might miss some of the standard vegetables you put in typical vegetable soups, but I didnโ€™t at all. Delish.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Jennifer! I’m so pleased this hamburger soup was such a winner!

  14. Timma Wilson says

    I swapped 4 tbsp Sweet Baby Rayโ€™s BBQ sauce for the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and liquid smoke. Turned out fabulous. This soup is going in our regular rotation!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Timma, I’m so pleased to hear that! Thank you!

  15. Karen says

    The hamburger soup is delicious! It is very easy to make with ingredients that I had on hand. It is a very hardy and full of wonderful flavors.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Karen, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it!

  16. Tracey Noullett says

    I searched for hamburger soup recipe and this popped up. I was drawn to it by the number of ingredients. I find so many recipes are bland but this recipe is amazing! I substituted potatoes for pasta and it made it almost a goulash. This is amazing. Thanks

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Tracey! You are probably the one person that likes to see more ingredients – haha – just my style! I’m so pleased you loved this soup!

  17. Janet Crick says

    Hey Jen, just wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVE your recipes. I am remiss I am sorry, I never leave a comment as I usually need to “get’er done”!! Please forgive me, everyone needs cootose. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into all your recipes. You, my darlin’, are a force to be reckoned with!! 10 thumbs up and then more on top of that.
    Kindest regards

    Janet Crick

    • Jen says

      Hi Janet! Your review made my day! You are so sweet! I totally understand when things are hectic but it is so good to hear from you and that you are loving my recipes! Thank you for your amazing feedback and for coming back for more! Hope you have a wonderful day in gettin’ ‘er done!