Best Hamburger Soup Recipe
This hearty soup will be just the thing to cheer you up on a cold winter day. This is the best hamburger soup recipe because it is a heart-warming, easy-to-make, one-pot meal the whole family will love. Made with tasty and filling ingredients, you’ll find yourself making this soup over and over!
I originally published this recipe in 2020 and have since added new photos and content.
When the weather turns chilly, there’s nothing better than a warm, hearty bowl of soup to chase away the cold. Enter Hamburger Soup, a budget-friendly, one-pot wonder packed with flavour and perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends. This versatile recipe combines simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, making it an easy go-to for any occasion.
Why You’ll Love Hamburger Soup
- Simple Ingredients: Although this is a loaded hamburger soup recipe, you can probably find most of the ingredients in your fridge and pantry.
- One-Pot Wonder: Fewer dishes mean more time to relax after dinner- that’s a win for me!
- Family-Friendly: this soup is packed with flavours kids and adults will love. Plus, it’s easy to customize with your favourite vegetables and seasonings.
- Freezer-Friendly: Make a big batch and freeze the leftovers for quick, reheatable meals on busy days.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground beef: because you can’t have hamburger soup without the hamburger. It’s a great source of protein.
- Onion, celery, and carrots: the foundational flavours in almost every soup.
- Tomato Soup: adds flavour.
- Consomme soup: make sure it’s a can of beef consomme, not broth.
- Potatoes: a satiating addition to the soup.
- Garlic salt: adds flavour.
- Celery salt: adds flavour.
- Uncooked rice or beef barley: I always use rice because we always have it on hand but beef barley would be delicious too.
- Macaroni (optional): if you want to go all out, add some macaroni in too! Or substitute it for the potatoes or rice.
- Water or beef broth: the base of the soup. I like using beef broth over water as it’s more flavourful but water is fine if you don’t have it, or use a combination of both.
How to Make the Best Hamburger Soup
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook 1/2 lb of ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain.
Add 1 small diced onion, 1 cup chopped celery, and 1 cup chopped carrots and saute until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
Season with 3/4 tsp garlic salt and 1/4 tsp celery salt. Add 1 can tomato soup, 1 can consomme soup, 2 medium diced/peeled potatoes, 1/4 cup of uncooked white rice or beef barley, and 6 cups of water or beef broth (or a combination of both). I recommend using water and then adding in Knorr OXO Beef Sachet
Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. The longer you let it simmer the more flavourful your soup will be. If you have time, you can let it simmer for up to an hour.
If you want to add noodles add 1/2 cup uncooked macaroni at the end of your cook time. Bring it back up to a boil and cook for an additional 11 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. You can eat this soup alongside a nice salad, sandwich, biscuit, bread, or bun, but it is just as good and filling on its own.
Customization Ideas
This soup is also very versatile because you can play around with the ingredients.
- Vegetarian version: Swap the ground beef for plant-based crumbles or lentils, and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free macaroni or omit. Serve with this gluten-free bread.
- Spicy Twist: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Cheesy Goodness: Top with shredded cheddar cheese or a dollop of sour cream for added richness.
- Low-carb option: Replace the potatoes with cauliflower florets and omit the rice and macaroni. You don’t have to have all potatoes, rice, and macaroni, just add in one or two.
- Texture and Consistency: Add more or less broth/water, depending on how brothy you like your soup.
- Extra veggies: You could also add extra veggies and season to taste, whatever suits your fancy. Add whatever you have on hand!
Storage Tips
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, hamburger soup will stay good for up to three days. You can reheat it over low heat on the stove or in the microwave. It will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat it in a pot on the stove.
Hamburger soup is a timeless recipe that’s as comforting as it is easy to make. It’s the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out and brings everyone to the table. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal-prepping for the week, this hearty soup is sure to become a staple in your recipe collection.
Make it once, and you’ll see why this is the best hamburger soup recipe out there. Enjoy your bowl of cozy goodness, and don’t forget to share your favourite twists on the recipe in the comments!
Check out my other soup recipes too:
The Best Hamburger Soup Recipe
A hearty hamburger soup sure to please the whole family. Comfort food on a cold day.
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef lean
- 1 small onion minced
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1 can tomato soup condensed
- 1 can consomme soup beef
- 1 cup carrots chopped
- 2 medium potatoes yellow, red, or russet
- ¾ tsp garlic salt
- ¼ tsp celery salt
- ¼ cup uncooked rice or beef barley
- ½ cup elbow macaroni optional
- 6 cups water or beef broth
Instructions
-
In a large pot or dutch oven, cook ½ lb of ground beef until no longer pink. Drain.
-
Add and saute in 1 small diced onion, 1 cup chopped celery, and 1 cup chopped carrots until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
-
Season with 3/4 tsp garlic salt and 1/4 tsp celery salt. Add 1 can tomato soup, 1 can consomme soup, 2 medium diced/peeled potatoes, 1/4 cup of uncooked white rice, and 6 cups of water or beef broth (or combination of both). Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 20-25 minutes. The longer you let it simmer the more flavourful your soup will be. If you have time, you can let it simmer for up to an hour.
-
If you are adding macaroni, add in at end of cook time, bring back up to boil and cook for an additional 11 minutes.
-
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. You can eat this soup alongside a nice salad, sandwich, biscuit, or bun, but it is just as good and filling on its own.
Recipe Notes
- Vegetarian version: Swap the ground beef for plant-based crumbles or lentils, and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- Spicy Twist: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Cheesy Goodness: Top with shredded cheddar cheese or a dollop of sour cream for added richness.
- Low-carb option: Replace the potatoes with cauliflower florets and omit the rice and macaroni. You don’t have to have all potatoes, rice, and macaroni, just add in one or two.
- Texture and Consistency: Add more or less broth/water, depending on how brothy you like your soup.
- Extra veggies: You could also add extra veggies and season to taste, whatever suits your fancy. Add whatever you have on hand!
Storage Tips
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, hamburger soup will stay good for up to three days. You can reheat it over low heat on the stove or in the microwave. It will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat it in a pot on the stove.
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