Ground Beef Vegetable Soup
Ground beef is a versatile ingredient. It can be used in so many ways: for meatballs, lasagna, stuffed bell peppers, and even soup!
Ground beef soup is a rich and fulfilling meal, with loads of flavors. It’s also sometimes called hamburger soup.
Regardless of what you call it, the fact is that ground beef soup is a comfort food that will nourish your body and soul.
Choosing The Right Beef
For this soup, choose ground beef that is 80% lean and with 20% fat.
This is an ideal ratio because you will get the flavor from the fat, but also have some nice chewy bits in the soup. Instead of just beef, you can also add some pork. It will give it more flavor.
Preparing the beef is the most important step. This soup requires a bit more effort than some dump-and-stir soups. To get the extra flavor, you will really have to work with that beef.
The savory flavor of the soup comes from perfectly browned beef, and that’s what sets this soup apart from any other soup you have tried. Make sure you are using a large pot so the beef can sear nicely, instead just steaming in its own juices.
Making The Soup (Overview)
Once you have seared and cooked the ground beef to perfection, it is time to add the aromatics. These include onion, garlic, and celery, if you’re using it.
The liquid from the vegetables will help you release the browned bits of the ground beef and that is where most of the flavor hides.
Once all this is settled, it is time to add chopped canned tomatoes and beef stock. You can also use vegetable stock, but beef stock gives a bit more to the soup.
After simmering the beef with canned and chopped tomatoes for 15 minutes, it is time to add your veggies. I used a mix of carrots, peas, and a bit of cauliflower.
You can make your own mix or use a frozen store bought version. Make sure you do not overcook your veggies, as they will become mushy.
Tips For Making Perfect Ground Beef Soup
- Go with 80% lean ground beef. If you want, you can go with leaner. Just make sure your beef is not too fatty. If you do have fatty beef, drain the excess fat once the beef is browned.
- Ground beef soup is pretty basic soup, where the flavorings come from the ground beef, beef stock, and veggies. Keep things simple and don’t go wild with spices. Salt, pepper, and a bit of bay leaf, if you want, is all you need. Do not throw in aromatic herbs, because they will overpower the flavor of the beef and veggies.
- When you use canned chopped tomatoes, add in all the juices. Instead of plain tomatoes, you can use fire roasted or even spicy tomatoes for a twist.
What Else Can Be Added?
Besides common soup veggies, you can add some spinach or Swiss chard. This extra addition will increase your soup’s nutritional value and make it look more appealing.
If you want to add grains into the soup, that’s fine too. Wild rice, white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or bulgur will add a nice touch.
Still, make sure you cook these separately and just add into the soup in the last minutes of cooking. If you add them too soon, they may become mushy.
How To Serve Ground Beef Vegetable Soup
Traditionally, soups like this are best served with bread. I prefer rusty sourdough bread that perfectly complements the soup. You can choose any kind you like; plain white, whole wheat, and even corn.
Ground Beef Vegetable Soup
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 0.5 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef stock
- 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ cup mixed vegetables, thawed or fresh (peas, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, green beans)
- 1 bay leaf, optional
Instructions
1. In a large sauce pot, cook beef with onion and garlic powder until nicely browned. If your beef is on the fattier side, drain any excess grease.
2. Add beef stock and canned chopped tomatoes.
3. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. If you are using a bay leaf, now is the time to add it. Bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer the soup for 15 minutes.
4. Add in the veggies and Worcestershire sauce.
5. Simmer for 10 minutes or until veggies are tender.
6. Remove bay leaf and serve soup warm with some bread (I recommend sourdough).
Ground Beef Vegetable Soup
This ground beef vegetable soup is deliciously savory and goes perfect with a side of sourdough bread!
Ingredients
- 0.5 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef stock
- 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ cup mixed vegetables, thawed or fresh (peas, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, green beans)
- 1 bay leaf, optional
Instructions
- In a large sauce pot, cook beef with onion and garlic powder until nicely browned. If your beef is on the fattier side, drain any excess grease.
- Add beef stock and canned chopped tomatoes.
- Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. If you are using a bay leaf, now is the time to add it. Bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer the soup for 15 minutes.
- Add in the veggies and Worcestershire sauce.
- Simmer for 10 minutes or until veggies are tender.
- Remove bay leaf and serve soup warm with some bread (I recommend sourdough).
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