Instant Pot Macaroni Hamburger Soup

Prefer to let it simmer all day? My Slow Cooker Macaroni Hamburger Soup is one of the most popular recipes on the site. For a version without pasta, try my Instant Pot Hamburger Soup.

This is the soup I make when I get home at the end of the day with no idea what’s for dinner, which happens to me all the time! I use my Instant Pot for soups more than anything else. Pressure cookers are just made for soup.

Why Use a Pressure Cooker for Hamburger Soup?

The texture: Pressure cooking makes the ground beef wonderfully tender and lets the flavours meld in minutes instead of hours.

No babysitting: When was the last time you left a pot of soup on the stove for twenty minutes without running back to stir it? I don’t trust my stovetop not to boil over or scorch on the bottom. Once the Instant Pot seals, you can walk away.

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

Lean Ground Beef, Onion and Garlic: These are browned right in the Instant Pot on the Sauté setting. Use lean ground beef to keep the fat down, and if you use regular, make sure to drain it well.

Diced Tomatoes and Condensed Tomato Soup: Together they make a rich, slightly sweet tomato broth. Karlynn’s Tip: If your tomatoes taste too acidic, add a teaspoon of sugar to balance them.

Beef Broth and Seasonings: Four cups of beef broth, dried thyme, bay leaves and black pepper keep it classic.

Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Frozen vegetables hold their shape under pressure better than fresh ones, so they stay firm instead of turning mushy.

Elbow Macaroni: Cooked separately and stirred in at the end. I pre-cook the pasta so it doesn’t release starch into the soup and make it gluey.

How To Make Macaroni Hamburger Soup in the Instant Pot

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. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, drain it, and set it aside.
2. Brown the ground beef and onion on the Sauté setting until the beef is cooked and the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, then drain the fat.
3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato soup, beef broth, bay leaves, thyme, frozen vegetables and pepper.
4. Seal the lid, close the vent and cook on the Soup setting for 4 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
5. Remove the bay leaves, stir in the cooked macaroni to warm it through, and ladle into bowls.

Make It Fast or Make It Slow

In the Slow Cooker: Brown the beef and onion in a skillet, drain it, and add everything except the macaroni to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours, then stir in the cooked macaroni at the end. The full method is in my Slow Cooker Macaroni Hamburger Soup.

Cooking the Pasta in the Pot: If you’d rather not dirty another pot, release the pressure, stir in the dry macaroni, and pressure cook again for 5 minutes. I’ve done it and it works well. You can also add the dry pasta, press Sauté, and simmer while stirring until it’s tender.

Instant Pot Accessories We Use

If you cook in your Instant Pot a lot, these accessories are worth having:

• A spare stainless steel inner pot, so you can make a second dish without washing up first.
• A tempered glass lid for using the Sauté and Keep Warm settings.
• A silicone storage lid, so leftovers can go straight into the fridge in the pot.
• Extra sealing rings. Keep one for savoury dishes and one for desserts.
• A stackable steamer rack for eggs, vegetables and pot-in-pot cooking.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator: Store the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, with the macaroni separate if you can. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Freezer: Freeze the soup without the macaroni for up to 3 months, following USDA food safety guidelines. Thaw overnight in the fridge, reheat, and add freshly cooked pasta.

More Delicious Hamburger Soup Recipes

Hamburger soup is a classic for a reason. Try one of these next:

• My Crock Pot Hamburger Soup is the all-day slow cooker version.
• This Simple Classic Hamburger Soup on The Kitchen Magpie is made right on the stovetop.
• My Slow Cooker Split Pea Hamburger Soup is thick, hearty and so cheap to make.

That’s all, folks! Add some garlic toast and call it dinner.

If you make this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know how it went! Did you cook the pasta separately or right in the pot? I always love hearing about your kitchen adventures.

Happy Cooking!

Karlynn