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In this hamburger soup recipe, we’re ditching the heavy, processed canned stuff and filling our bowls with protein-packed lean ground beef, fiber-rich sweet potatoes, and plenty of tender cauliflower florets instead. It’s hearty, it’s budget-friendly, and it’s the best big, steaming, nostalgic bowl of satisfying hamburger soup you’ll ever make. . .done Clean Food Crush style!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Not only is this hamburger soup healthy and made with clean ingredients, but there are so many other great reasons you’re going to want to make this recipe over and over again:
- Hearty: It’s hearty, it’s healthy, and it’s a family favorite on a busy weeknight. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in those extra veggies! So many vegetables that I was tempted to call it hamburger vegetable soup! The sweet potatoes and cauliflower get so tender they almost melt into the broth, creating this naturally thick and satisfying texture without any heavy creams or flours.
- Meal Prep: It’s perfect for meal-prep because it actually tastes even better the next day (and the next day)! Plus it freezes and reheats well.
- Budget Friendly: We’re using panty staples here and lean ground beef bought on sale for a dinner option that won’t break the bank. I actually created a whole list of recipes you could make to use up the ground beef in your fridge because it’s so cheap and versatile!
- Great For A Crowd: Have a party coming up? This is the perfect soup to put in the crockpot when it’s cool outside and let people grab a bowl when they want to warm up. We show you 3 different ways to make this soup to account for your time.
- Comfort Food: It’s the ultimate “hug in a bowl,” but I’ve given this childhood classic a serious CleanFoodCrush upgrade.
- Versatile: What I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. Whether you’ve got all day to let it simmer in the slow cooker (I’m a huge fan of “low and slow” for that deep flavor!), need it on the table in 30 minutes with the Instant Pot, or just want to whip it up on the stove, I’ve got you covered.
Ingredients
These are the simple ingredients that make this hearty hamburger soup recipe perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that will fill everyone up.
Lean Ground Beef: I used grass-fed ground beef in this recipe, and if you can find it on sale I recommend using it so you get more omega-3’s.
Beef Broth: In all of my soup recipes I like to add homemade bone broth. For this particular hamburger recipe, I used beef bone broth, but you could also use chicken bone broth if you prefer.
Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are something I always have in my pantry. Buy them in bulk so you have them on hand for this soup anytime.
Cauliflower: Cruciferous vegetables are something we all need to eat more of! In this recipe, the cauliflower becomes super soft and creamy, soaking up the delicious broth in the process.
Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce really gives this soup depth of flavor. Buy one that has as few bad ingredients as possible, or make your own Worcestershire sauce.
Ketchup: The ketchup gives a touch of welcome sweetness to balance everything out perfectly. You can buy a good brand or make this homemade ketchup.
Paprika and Oregano: We’re using a mix of smoked paprika and oregano to give it that perfect smoky depth.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations And Substitutions
Lean Meat: Substitute the lean beef for another lean ground meat like ground turkey or ground bison.
Vegetable Swap: Soup recipes are typically very forgiving, especially with the type of vegetables you use. So use what you have, like fresh green beans, peas, broccoli, carrots, celery, zucchini, corn, and more.
Potato Substitution: If you don’t have sweet potatoes you could use red potatoes or russet potatoes, however take note that the carbs will be higher in the soup. For more similar taste and nutrition facts, you may want to try butternut squash. You could also try adding rice instead of potatoes.
Flavor Twists: You could make this soup slightly different each time to change up the flavors by adding Italian seasoning one time, different herbs the next, and even making it a cheeseburger soup by adding cheddar cheese.
Make It Vegan: This soup becomes vegan if you swap the ground meat for tofu crumbles or lentils, and replace the beef or chicken broth with vegetable broth.
How To Make Hamburger Soup 3 Ways
Hamburger Soup on the Stove Top
Step 1. Cook your ground meat in a large stockpot over medium heat, breaking it up, until nicely browned (5–6 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
Step 2. Add in your chopped onion, Worcestershire, and seasonings, then cook 3–4 minutes until the onion is softened.
Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
Step 3. Stir in the diced sweet potato and cauliflower florets and add your broth.
Step 4. Add in your, tomato paste, and ketchup. Stir well to combine.
Step 5. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until your sweet potatoes are tender.
Step 6. Taste test and adjust seasonings as desired.
Hamburger Soup in the Crock Pot
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook your ground meat until nicely browned (about 5–6 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet with the meat and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, and oregano, and cook for just 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Combine in the Slow Cooker: Transfer the meat and onion mixture into your slow cooker. Add the diced sweet potatoes, cauliflower florets, bone broth, tomato paste, and ketchup. Stir well to ensure the tomato paste is fully incorporated.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6–7 hours (I prefer slow & low) or on High for 3–4 hours, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Pro-Tip: If you prefer your cauliflower to have a bit more “bite” and texture, wait to add the florets until the last 90 minutes of cooking on Low (or last 45 minutes on High).
- Taste test and adjust your sea salt and black pepper as desired.
Hamburger Soup in the Instant Pot
- Turn your Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Once hot, add your ground meat and cook until browned (5–6 minutes), breaking it up as you go. Drain any excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onion to the pot and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute more.
- Pour in about ½ cup of your bone broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any of those delicious brown bits from the bottom of the pot (this prevents the “Burn” notice!).
- Add the diced sweet potatoes, tomato paste, ketchup, and the remaining bone broth. Stir well to make sure the tomato paste is fully blended.
- Note on Cauliflower: If you like your cauliflower very soft, add it now. If you prefer it to have some texture, wait until step 6!
- Secure the lid and set the valve to “Sealing.” Select Manual/Pressure Cook on High for 5 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, carefully perform a Quick Release of the pressure.
- Open the lid and stir in the cauliflower florets. Turn the Instant Pot back to Sauté for 2–3 minutes, or simply put the lid back on (with the power off) and let it sit for 5–8 minutes. The residual heat will perfectly tenderize the cauliflower without turning it to mush!
- Give it a good stir, taste test, and add your sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
Love, Rachel
Rachel’s Tips For The Best Results
- When using the instant pot or crock pot to make this soup, add your cauliflower at the beginning of cooking for very soft cauliflower, or toward the end for cauliflower with a bit more bite to it.
- Don’t skip the browning of the meat. This step helps keep the beef tender and in hearty crumbles instead of disintegrating into the soup.
- Keep the veggies around the same size and shape so they cook evenly.
- A vegetable peeler can help you peel those sweet potatoes faster.
- A sharp pro chef knife is best for cutting tough tubers like sweet potatoes.
How To Serve
Hamburger soup is hearty enough to be a complete meal, but you could also serve it in smaller bowls or cups for a nice side dish or appetizer.
Toppings are also a fun way to really let people customize their own bowl of hamburger soup. Sprinkle with any of the following topping ideas:
- Shredded Cheese
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Diced Pickles
- Chopped Nitrate-Free Bacon Bits
- Chopped Onions
- Diced Tomatoes
Meal Prep And Storage
Need a meal prep idea for this week? Make extra of this hamburger soup because it’s filling, hot, and perfect for a meal prep lunch! Store it in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months and pull it out for a fast pre-made dinner idea.
To reheat leftovers or meal prep, place the thawed or frozen soup in a saucepan and heat through, or microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until the soup is hot and delicious.
Recipe FAQs
Can you freeze hamburger soup?
Absolutely! This recipe for hamburger soup freezes really well and tastes even better when reheated!
Is hamburger soup healthy?
Fresh vegetables, homemade bone broth, and lean ground meat are clean, natural ingredients that make this hamburger soup healthy.
Should I drain the hamburger meat for the soup?
I recommend draining the fat off the hamburger meat before adding the other soup ingredients.
Did you try this Hamburger Soup recipe? If so, it would mean so much to me if you would comment and rate this recipe!
🩷Rachel
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Easy Hamburger Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef, bison, or turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 3 sweet potatoes, small, peeled and diced small
- 1 head cauliflower, large, cut into small florets
- 6 cups beef or chicken bone broth
- 2 Tbsps tomato paste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- sea salt , and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Stockpot Instructions:
- Cook your ground meat in a large stockpot over medium heat, breaking it up, until nicely browned (5–6 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
- Add in your chopped onion, Worcestershire, and seasonings, then cook 3–4 minutes until the onion is softened.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Stir in the diced sweet potato and cauliflower florets.
- Add in your bone broth, tomato paste, and ketchup.
- Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until your sweet potatoes are tender.
- Taste test and adjust seasonings as desired.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook your ground meat until nicely browned (about 5–6 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet with the meat and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, and oregano, and cook for just 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Combine in the Slow Cooker: Transfer the meat and onion mixture into your slow cooker. Add the diced sweet potatoes, cauliflower florets, bone broth, tomato paste, and ketchup. Stir well to ensure the tomato paste is fully incorporated.
- Cover and cook on Low for 6–7 hours (I prefer slow & low) or on High for 3–4 hours, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender.
- Pro-Tip: If you prefer your cauliflower to have a bit more “bite” and texture, wait to add the florets until the last 90 minutes of cooking on Low (or last 45 minutes on High).
- Taste test and adjust your sea salt and black pepper as desired.
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn your Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Once hot, add your ground meat and cook until browned (5–6 minutes), breaking it up as you go. Drain any excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onion to the pot and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, and oregano. Cook for 1 minute more.
- Pour in about ½ cup of your bone broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any of those delicious brown bits from the bottom of the pot (this prevents the “Burn” notice!).
- Add the diced sweet potatoes, tomato paste, ketchup, and the remaining bone broth. Stir well to make sure the tomato paste is fully blended.
- Note on Cauliflower: If you like your cauliflower very soft, add it now. If you prefer it to have some texture, wait until step 6!
- Secure the lid and set the valve to “Sealing.” Select Manual/Pressure Cook on High for 5 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, carefully perform a Quick Release of the pressure.
- Open the lid and stir in the cauliflower florets. Turn the Instant Pot back to Sauté for 2–3 minutes, or simply put the lid back on (with the power off) and let it sit for 5–8 minutes. The residual heat will perfectly tenderize the cauliflower without turning it to mush!
- Give it a good stir, taste test, and add your sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- When using the instant pot or crock pot to make this soup, add your cauliflower at the beginning of cooking for very soft cauliflower, or toward the end for cauliflower with a bit more bite to it.
- Don’t skip the browning of the meat. This step helps keep the beef tender and in hearty crumbles instead of disintegrating into the soup.
- Keep the veggies around the same size and shape so they cook evenly.
How To Serve
Hamburger soup is hearty enough to be a complete meal, but you could also serve it in smaller bowls or cups for a nice side dish or appetizer, add rice to the soup as a starch ins Toppings are also a fun way to really let people customize their own hamburger soup. Sprinkle with any of the following topping ideas:- Shredded Cheese
- Pickled Jalapenos
- Diced Pickles
- Chopped Nitrate-Free Bacon Bits
- Chopped Onions
- Tomatoes
Meal Prep And Storage
Need a meal prep idea for this week? Make extra of this hamburger soup because it’s filling, hot, and perfect for a meal prep lunch! Store it in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months and pull it out for a fast dinner idea. To reheat leftovers, place the thawed or frozen soup in a saucepan and warm through, or microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between until the soup is hot and delicious.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
