Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. Cook: 30 min.

Makes

8 servings (2 quarts)

Updated: Jan. 05, 2024
At family get-togethers, our children always request this spirit-warming ground beef soup along with a fresh loaf of homemade bread and tall glasses of milk. This hamburger soup has robust flavor, plenty of fresh-tasting vegetables and is easy to make. —Barbara Brown, Janesville, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 3 medium carrots, sliced
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 4 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cup cut fresh or frozen green beans

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, brown beef; drain. Add the next 10 ingredients; bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are tender. Add green beans. Cover and simmer 15 minutes longer or until the beans are tender.

Hamburger Soup Tips

Can you use chicken broth with ground beef?

Yes, you can use chicken broth! In most recipes, you can substitute chicken broth or bouillon granules for beef. Doing so will only slightly change the flavor.

How do you thicken hamburger soup?

After the potatoes and carrots are tender, ladle 1 cup of hot broth into a bowl containing 4 tablespoons of flour and whisk until smooth. Add the slurry back to the soup; stir and simmer until green beans are tender and soup is slightly thickened. Check out our other soup thickening tips!

How do you make hamburger soup more flavorful?

For additional flavor, try roasting your vegetables until they are halfway cooked and then add them to the soup. Adjust the simmering time based on when the veggies are fully tender. Substituting ¾ teaspoon fresh minced oregano for the dried will also kick up the flavor. These flavor boosters work well, too.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 167 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 972mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 12g protein.