This Hamburger Soup is the perfect weeknight dinner idea. It comes together in no time and makes a delicious family dinner!
I’ve been a soup kind of girl since the beginning.
When I was two years old there were only two foods that I would eat. Raw, cold hot dogs (I am a little embarrassed to admit this) and Campbell’s vegetable soup. The only thing was I liked the soup straight out of the can, no water added and cold!
Now you may wonder what would possess a mother to give her child a raw hot dog and soup straight out of the can? I’m not sure and my mother doesn’t remember either but I guess when you are desperate to get your child to eat you will try about anything. Any time a young mom expresses concern about what her child will or won’t eat I always reassure them, as long as they are healthy, you are fine. I turned out o.k.!
I am happy to say that I have outgrown that soup phase and now enjoy my soup warm and most of the time homemade, not out of the can. Although I must admit there are some days that nothing sounds or taste better than a bowl of Campbell’s tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich – definite comfort food for me.
One of the very first homemade soups I think I ever had was hamburger soup. My mom mentioned on the phone to me the other day that she had made a pot of hamburger soup and how good it tasted. I had forgotten all about hamburger soup.
My mom has no idea where she got the recipe from . It is an old one, handwritten on an index card. Since it’s been a bit cold and rainy here in the beautiful Northwest I decided it was definitely a soup kind of day.
I really don’t like calling it Hamburger Soup because the name doesn’t sound as appetizing as the soup really is! The name just makes it sound so boring and simple. Hamburger Soup is an easy and quick soup to put together and the perfect weeknight dinner solution. You really can make dinner in about 20 minutes if you don’t let it simmer. The simmer does help meld the flavors together but it is still delicious without the hour or so of simmering.
How to Make Hamburger Soup
Brown up some hamburger, add in some freshly chopped onion, celery and carrot and then open a few cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, a little ketchup and a few seasonings. The recipe also calls for some frozen corn but you can also use canned corn. Simple but the flavor is wonderful!
The recipe made enough for about 3 meals for our reduced size family so the leftovers got put into a ziploc baggie and saved for another rainy day. The soup thickens up a bit so just add in some more beef broth before you serve it again and it will stretch even further!
Some of my other favorite soups:
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Hamburger Soup Recipe
- 1 lb ground beef cooked and drained
- 2 tsp. garlic minced
- 1 C carrots chopped
- 1 C celery chopped
- 1 C onions chopped
- 6 cups beef broth
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 32 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp salt
- 10 oz frozen corn kernels
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 4 Tbsp ketchup
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Brown hamburger with garlic
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Combine all ingredients in a large stockpot
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Bring to boil
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Reduce heat and simmer 1-1/2 hours
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Originally posted February 21, 2011
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I love the story and the recipe!
Nutella sandwiches, Life Cereal, and Mini Wheats are keeping my 3 year old alive, so I can definitely relate!
My family loves soup so this just went on our list of recipes to make. I love your bowls!!
This looks SO delicious! I have just discovered your blog and am totally in love with it thus far! Beautiful pictures and site! I will have to try a lot of the recipes 🙂
lol, I used to love frozen hot dogs!
I made hamburger soup last night too. My recipe is very similar to yours, except I add 1/3 c barley (and no ketchup).
Yum, this looks like something my whole family (even the 2 year old!) will eat. And with Spring nowhere in sight over here, I’m definitely going to be making some this week. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hamburger soup is such a classic! Thanks for reminding me.
I have hamburger sitting out–I guess I know what we’re eating tonight. It’s supposed to be a cold week and soup is perfect.
i have a similar recipe for hamburger stew, just a little thicker i guess. i love it, i am a total soup girl. my family not so much but they have to live with it when i am feeling like it’s a soup day!!
This must be a standard in a lot of families – because I have one by the same name with (basically) the same ingredients. Yours looks absolutely beautiful – you gave me the urge to make it today…
Mmmmmm….homemade soup! It’s even cold enough here in LV for homemade soup – yay!
Your unusual food combo made me laugh. When my son was 2 yrs old,the only things he would eat were Cheerios,American cheese and he only wanted OJ to drink. I worried so much about his health but everything turned out very well as he just had his 22nd birthday! 🙂
We make a similar Hamburger Soup, but we call it Autumn Soup. This might be a more appealing name for you. We always make it before the kids go out trick 0r treating to make sure they get a healthy start for the night.
It was cold Turkey Vegetable Soup and you took a can with you to friends and family in case you didn’t like what they were having.
I was happy for the day you graduated from cold dogs to Instant Breakfast.
In our family, we make something we call corn niblets. It’s browned hamburger (I use ground turkey) then add corn and campbell’s veggie soup. we serve it over rice and add a sprinkle of cheese. It’s a family favorite and I just made it this week. 🙂
I made this soup last night and my husband and I both loved it. Very healthy and filling! The perfect soup that will last for several meals during our predicted snowy weather. Thanks for sharing it!
This looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipes and pretty pictures.
Leigh Anne,
I made your soup tonight. I grew up with this soup, except it always had potatoes in it. I added a few yukon golds chopped up. It was delicious on a cold wet night.
Thank you for another successful recipe. I have yet to make a recipe from your blog that has not been a hit. Thumbs up and keep up the great work.
So glad you enjoyed it! It is a Fall like day here in Portland today and Hamburger Soup sounds perfect.
I’ve been in a soup making kick for a few days now and I made this soup last night. I have to say this soup was AMAZING. It is sooooo good. I had a little Italian bread with it and dipped it in the broth–YUMMY! I had some left overs today for lunch and I’m so glad there’s more in my fridge because it’s so good I don’t want the bowl to be empty. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
I printed this recipe as soon as I saw it on your blog. I finally made it for a Halloween party and it was a hit! I brought the leftovers for lunch at work today. So good, as is every other recipe I have tried from your website. Thank you!
So glad you are enjoying them! Thanks for letting me know.
My husband’s sister gave me this recipe when we were first married 40+ years ago. Their Mother made it and everyone loved it. Actually, when she gave it to me, she called it “Harvest Soup”. Maybe that title will appeal to you more than Hamburger Soup.
I like your name better! Guess I better rename the recipe. Thanks!
Can this soup be made in a crock pot? If so how long do you think it should be cooked?
Thank, Janet
I am sure you could cook it in a crock pot. I have never done it though. I would just put it on low for a couple of hours.
Hi! Getting ready to make this for the first time tonight. All I could find were extra-large beef bouillon cubes. Do I use 6 of this size or should I cut back the number I use?
Thanks!
Love this soup! I do have some changes, though. I would use tomato paste instead of ketchup. And 6 cups of water? That’s an insane amount of liquid in addition to the tomatoes and tomato sauce. I added 1 can tomato sauce, 2 cans petite diced tomatoes and 1 can beef broth, and that is plenty soupy enough. Also added about 3-4 potatoes cut up. I would wait with the salt until everything is added, and then add salt to taste. Will be making it again 🙂
I have been cooking your hamburger soup for many years. I don’t know where I got the recipe, but most of my hometown friends also have it and love it. Most likey one of them got it from you.
I use salt free tomatoes and corn, low sodium broth and a saltless seasoning due to a family member who is diabetic with heart problems. Still a terrific soup that we enjoy so much.
Nancy, It is one of our family favorites too – so glad you love it!
Better Homes and Garden “Cooking for Two” 1969. Wednesday night meals. My mom made this for us once a week growing up and I finally found the old cookbook a few years ago to add to my collection.
I like that you add corn to your version. I changed my version to ground turkey and add Rotel to give it a kick.
This is definitely an oldie but goodie. Love the idea of turkey and Rotel too!
Looks delicious and will be mighty tasty come this weekend when our cold front and freezing temperatures move in. Was thinking about adding some chopped up zucchini to this as well.
Thank You