Description
This hearty Hamburger Soup is a comforting and customizable dish featuring lean ground beef or turkey simmered with vegetables, potatoes, and a flavorful blend of spices. Perfect for a cozy meal, it can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker and garnished with your favorite toppings like cheddar cheese and parsley.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 medium carrots, chopped (1 ½ cups)
- 3 stalks celery, chopped (1 ½ cups)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced (may sub 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups red or Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into ½ inch chunks
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 5 ½ cups reduced sodium beef broth
- 1 14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow deli mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional)
- 2 teaspoons granulated beef bouillon or 2 crushed bouillon cubes
Garnishes (Optional)
- Cheddar cheese (highly recommended)
- Parsley
- Green onions or chives
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Brown the Meat and Vegetables: In a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef or turkey along with chopped onions, carrots, and celery until the vegetables are softened and the meat is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Sauté Garlic and Spices: Drain excess grease if necessary. Add minced garlic and all the spices (chili powder, cumin, salt, basil, parsley, oregano, smoked paprika, and pepper) to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds to release their flavors.
- Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer: Add chopped potatoes, green bell pepper, beef broth, diced tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, yellow deli mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, liquid smoke (if using), and beef bouillon. Stir well and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Adjust Consistency and Garnish: If desired, thin the soup by adding extra water or broth while keeping it chunky. Serve garnished with cheddar cheese, parsley, green onions, chives, or sour cream according to your preference.
Notes
- This soup is very versatile; you can customize by adding or substituting proteins such as shredded rotisserie chicken, ground chicken, sausage, or mini meatballs.
- Potatoes can be replaced by 2 cups of uncooked small pasta added towards the end of cooking or by cooked wild or brown rice for texture.
- Add vegetables like zucchini, green beans, corn, cabbage, or beans at different stages as noted to vary the soup's flavor and nutrition.
- For slow cooker preparation, reduce beef broth to 4 cups and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours; seasoning may need adjustment after cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stove or microwave as preferred.
- Using lean turkey may require additional beef bouillon to enhance the beefy flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
