Description
Classic Ground Beef Soup is a warm, hearty, and easy-to-make meal that combines tender ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a savory broth to deliver comforting flavors perfect for chilly days and family dinners. Packed with protein and vegetables, it offers balanced nutrition with simple pantry ingredients in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Broth
- 1 lb ground beef (80% lean recommended)
- 6 cups beef broth
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
Tomato Base
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste or 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1–2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: Start by heating a large pot over medium-high heat, then add the ground beef. Cook it until nicely browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. This step develops a robust flavor base for the soup.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Remove the browned beef momentarily and in the same pot, add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables become tender and fragrant, allowing their natural sweetness to come forward.
- Combine Ingredients and Add Liquids: Return the beef to the pot and stir in tomato paste or canned tomatoes. Pour in the beef broth and add diced potatoes, herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well to prepare for simmering.
- Simmer the Soup: Bring the soup to a gentle boil then reduce heat to low and let it simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until the potatoes and vegetables are fork-tender and flavors meld beautifully.
- Final Taste and Adjust: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as desired, perhaps adding a pinch more salt or pepper. This final step ensures your Classic Ground Beef Soup is perfectly balanced and ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Use quality ground beef with around 80% lean content for juicier and more flavorful results.
- Don’t skip browning the beef to develop rich depth and savory notes in the broth.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture in the soup.
- Simmer slowly on low heat to fully develop and meld the flavors.
- Fresh herbs like thyme or bay leaves elevate the aroma and complexity best.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: ground beef soup, hearty soup, easy soup recipe, comforting dinner, beef and vegetable soup, gluten free soup
