Easy Hearty Hamburger Soup Recipe: A Cozy Bowl of Comfort

Crafting a delightful hamburger soup brings comfort and warmth to your kitchen table.

Rich beef blends seamlessly with tender vegetables, creating a satisfying meal.

Fragrant herbs and spices dance through each spoonful, promising a delectable experience.

Chefs and home cooks alike appreciate this simple yet robust dish.

Nutritious ingredients combine effortlessly, turning basic pantry staples into something extraordinary.

Packed with protein and hearty vegetables, this soup will quickly become a household favorite.

What Makes Hamburger Soup So Filling

• Hearty and Wholesome: Packed with ground beef, vegetables, and barley, this soup delivers a nutritious one-pot meal that fills you up and satisfies hunger.
• Effortless Cooking: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this recipe beginner-friendly, allowing even novice cooks to create a delicious dinner with minimal kitchen skills.
• Comfort Food Champion: Warm, rich, and loaded with classic flavors, this soup provides ultimate comfort during chilly evenings or when craving a home-cooked meal that hugs your soul.
• Budget-Friendly Feast: Utilizing affordable ingredients like ground beef, basic vegetables, and pantry staples, this recipe offers maximum taste without breaking the bank.

Hearty Hamburger Soup Ingredient Breakdown

• Ground Beef: Lean protein base for the soup's hearty texture.
• Beef Broth: Rich liquid foundation for deep flavor.
• Diced Tomatoes: Adds bright, tangy tomato essence.
• Tomato Soup: Enhances overall tomato profile and thickness.

• Barley: Provides chewy texture and nutritional boost.

• Onion, Carrots, Celery: Classic soup base with aromatic and sweet undertones.

• Bay Leaf, Parsley, Garlic, Thyme, Black Pepper, Salt: Blend of herbs and spices for complex flavor depth.

Hamburger Soup Cooking Steps

Step 1: Sizzle Ground Beef

Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until it’s perfectly browned. Drain away the excess fat and set the beef aside for later.

Step 2: Dance with Vegetables

In the same pot, toss in onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté these vibrant veggies until they become soft and fragrant, releasing their delicious flavors.

Step 3: Bring Everything Together

• Barley
• Beef broth
• Diced tomatoes
• Water
• Tomato soup

Stir everything until well combined, creating a rich and hearty base.

Step 4: Sprinkle in Herbs and Spices

• Bay leaf
• Fresh parsley
• Minced garlic
• Thyme
• Black pepper

Bring the soup to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer gently for about an hour, allowing all the flavors to mingle and develop.

Step 5: Final Touch and Serve

Remove the bay leaf before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if needed. Ladle into bowls and enjoy this comforting, soul-warming soup.

Easy Advice for Hamburger Soup

• Boost Flavor with Searing: Brown ground beef on high heat to develop a rich, caramelized taste that adds depth to the soup's overall flavor profile.
• Maximize Vegetable Nutrition: Dice carrots, onions, and celery into uniform small pieces to ensure even cooking and release maximum nutrients during simmering.
• Control Thickness Easily: Adjust soup consistency by adding more beef broth if too thick or letting it simmer uncovered to reduce and thicken the liquid.
• Freeze for Quick Meals: Store leftover soup in airtight containers for up to 3 months, making it a convenient make-ahead meal for busy weeknights.
• Enhance Protein Options: Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a lighter or vegetarian version of the soup.

Keep Hearty Hamburger Soup Fresh For Later

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for 3-4 days, ensuring freshness and food safety.
• Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Seal tightly, label with date, and freeze up to 3 months for convenient future meals.
• Pour desired portion into microwave-safe bowl. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until soup reaches 165°F internal temperature.
• Pour soup into saucepan, add splash of water or broth to prevent sticking. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until thoroughly heated and steaming.

What Matches Hamburger Soup

• Pair with Rustic Crusty Bread: Grab a warm, thick slice of artisan sourdough or whole wheat bread to soak up the rich, savory broth. The crusty texture perfectly balances the soup's hearty consistency.
• Select Bold Red Wine: Choose a medium-bodied red like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines enhance the beef's deep flavors and complement the soup's robust profile without overpowering its delicate vegetable notes.
• Create Fresh Green Salad: Toss a crisp salad with mixed greens, cucumber slices, and a light vinaigrette. The salad's bright, tangy elements cut through the soup's richness and provide a refreshing contrast.
• Add Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sprinkle aged cheddar on top of the soup or serve alongside. The cheese's sharp, nutty flavor intensifies the soup's meaty undertones and adds delightful creamy texture.

Ways to Refresh Hamburger Soup

• Vegetarian Comfort Soup: Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles or diced mushrooms for a meat-free version. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth to maintain the rich flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Hearty Soup: Swap barley with quinoa or rice to create a gluten-free alternative. Ensure all canned ingredients are certified gluten-free for those with celiac needs.
• Low-Sodium Option: Use low-sodium beef broth and skip added salt. Replace tomato soup with fresh diced tomatoes to control sodium content while keeping the soup's robust taste.
• Keto-Friendly Adaptation: Eliminate barley and replace with cauliflower rice. Choose full-fat beef broth and increase vegetable content for a low-carb friendly version that maintains the soup's heartiness.

FAQs

• Is barley necessary for this soup?

Barley adds wonderful texture and nutrition, making the soup more filling. If you don’t have barley, you can substitute with rice or small pasta.

• Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Absolutely! Ground turkey works perfectly as a leaner protein option. The soup will taste slightly different but still delicious and hearty.

• How nutritious is this hamburger soup?

This soup is packed with vegetables like carrots, celery, and tomatoes, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The combination of protein from beef and nutrients from vegetables makes it a balanced meal.

• What makes this soup different from other beef soups?

This recipe combines traditional beef soup elements with the heartiness of hamburger ingredients. The addition of barley and multiple herbs creates a unique, comforting flavor profile that sets it apart from standard beef soups.

Hearty Hamburger Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty hamburger soup brings comfort to chilly evenings with its rich, savory blend of ground beef, vegetables, and robust seasonings. Warm, filling bowls promise satisfaction as you savor each spoonful of this classic, soul-warming dish perfect for family dinners.

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Ingredients

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Protein:

• 1.5 pounds ground beef

Vegetables:

• 1 onion, minced
• 4 carrots, minced
• 3 celery ribs, thinly sliced

Seasonings and Liquid Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup barley
• 3 (10 ounces) cans beef broth
• 1 (28 ounces) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 1 (10.5 ounces) can condensed tomato soup
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• Ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Heat a spacious cooking vessel over medium-high temperature and thoroughly brown the ground beef, ensuring complete rendering of fat.
2. Transfer the cooked meat to a separate container, reserving the flavorful drippings in the pot.
3. Gently sauté the aromatic mixture of onions, carrots, and celery until they soften and release their natural sweetness.
4. Reintroduce the browned beef into the vegetable medley, creating a robust foundation for the soup.
5. Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes, water, and tomato soup, stirring to integrate all components smoothly.
6. Enhance the liquid with a fragrant blend of bay leaf, parsley, minced garlic, thyme, and freshly cracked black pepper.
7. Elevate the temperature until the mixture reaches a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
8. Allow the soup to slowly develop its complex flavors, letting the ingredients meld together for approximately one hour.
9. Carefully remove the bay leaf to prevent any bitter undertones in the final dish.
10. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor profile before ladling into serving bowls.

Notes

• Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier soup base without compromising flavor.
• Add diced potatoes for extra heartiness and to make the soup more filling for hungry families.
• Consider replacing beef with ground turkey for a lower-calorie alternative that still provides protein-rich nutrition.
• Freeze leftover soup in individual portions for quick weeknight meals, ensuring the barley doesn’t become mushy during reheating.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg