Crock Pot Hamburger Soup

Short on time? My Instant Pot Hamburger Soup gets this same cozy soup on the table in well under an hour. If you love a heartier version with pasta, try my Slow Cooker Macaroni Hamburger Soup.

Is Hamburger Soup Healthy?

Hamburger soup has been feeding families for decades, and it’s more nutritious than people give it credit for. Lean ground beef is packed with protein and iron, and the soup is loaded with vegetables. A trick my friend’s mom taught me in high school: after you brown the beef, drain it and rinse it with hot water to wash away extra fat. You’d be shocked at how much fat goes down the drain!

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

Lean Ground Beef and Onion: One and a half pounds of lean ground beef, browned with a diced onion and minced garlic, gives the soup its hearty base. Browning it first is what makes this soup taste so good, so don’t skip it.

Tomatoes: A can of diced tomatoes and a can of condensed tomato soup make a rich, slightly sweet broth. Karlynn’s Tip: If your tomatoes taste a bit sharp or acidic, a small pinch of sugar balances them out.

Beef Broth: Use a strong, good-quality beef broth. It’s most of the liquid in the soup, so it makes a big difference to the flavour.

Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Using a bag of frozen mixed vegetables saves you a ton of chopping. Corn, peas, carrots and green beans are all perfect here.

Seasonings: Bay leaves, dried thyme and black pepper keep things classic. Remember to fish out the bay leaves before serving!

How To Make Crock Pot Hamburger Soup

This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet until the beef is cooked through and the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
2. Drain off the fat (and rinse the beef if you like), then add it to the slow cooker.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato soup, beef broth, bay leaves, thyme, frozen vegetables and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
5. Remove the bay leaves, taste for seasoning, and ladle into bowls.

Make It Fast or Make It Slow

In the Instant Pot: Brown the beef, onion and garlic on the Sauté setting, then drain the fat. Add everything else, stir, seal the lid and cook on the Soup setting, then let the pressure release naturally. The full method is in my Instant Pot Hamburger Soup, and my Instant Pot Macaroni Hamburger Soup is a heartier version with pasta.

On the Stovetop: Brown the beef in a large soup pot, add the rest of the ingredients, and simmer with the lid partly on for 30 to 45 minutes. My stovetop version, Simple Classic Hamburger Soup, is on The Kitchen Magpie.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator: Let the soup cool, then store it in airtight containers in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat individual bowls in the microwave or the whole pot on the stovetop.

Freezer: Hamburger soup freezes beautifully. Freeze it in portions for up to 3 months, following USDA food safety guidelines, and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

More Delicious Hamburger Soup Recipes

Once you get hooked on hamburger soup, there are so many ways to make it. Try one of these next:

• My Slow Cooker Macaroni Hamburger Soup is a reader favourite.
• This Slow Cooker Split Pea Hamburger Soup is thick, hearty and so cheap to make.
• My Slumgullion is an old-fashioned ground beef and macaroni dinner your grandma would have made.

That’s all, folks! This is one of those recipes that every family should have in their back pocket.

If you make this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know how it went! Did you get the kids to help? I always love hearing about your kitchen adventures.

Happy Cooking!

Karlynn