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Hamburger soup in a white ceramic bowl with ground beef vegetables and tomato broth

Easy Hamburger Soup

A one-pot tomato-based soup built on properly browned ground beef, with tender potatoes, carrots, celery, and green beans simmered in a rich savory broth. A complete weeknight dinner ready in 45 minutes with standout leftover quality.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rest Time 0 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

  • 500g (1 lb) ground beef, 80/20 fat ratio
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1cm rounds
  • 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
  • 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (about 450g), peeled and cut into 1.5cm cubes
  • 1 cup (150g) green beans, trimmed and cut into 3cm pieces
  • 1 can (400g) diced tomatoes, with liquid
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 cups (960ml) low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven
  • slotted spoon
  • Wooden spoon
  • Ladle

Method
 

  1. Place a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef to the dry pot and break apart. Cook, stirring only every 60 to 90 seconds, for 6 to 8 minutes until deeply browned with no pink remaining and all released liquid evaporated. Transfer beef to a plate with a slotted spoon, leaving drippings. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 to 2 tablespoons.
  2. Add diced onion and celery to the pot over medium heat. Cook 3 to 4 minutes until onion is soft. Add garlic, stir 60 seconds until fragrant. Add tomato paste, stir and press it against the hot pot for 2 minutes until it darkens slightly in color and smells sweeter.
  3. Pour in beef broth, scraping up all the fond from the pot bottom. Add diced tomatoes with their liquid, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Return browned beef to the pot. Bring to a full boil.
  4. Add potato cubes and carrot rounds to the boiling soup. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with lid slightly ajar, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
  5. Add green beans. Continue simmering uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until potatoes are fully fork-tender, carrots offer no resistance at the center, and green beans are bright green and tender.
  6. Taste and adjust salt. Ladle into bowls and top with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • Brown the beef fully until genuinely golden-brown with no steaming liquid in the pot: this is the foundation of the broth's flavor.
  • Cook tomato paste directly against the hot pot for 2 minutes before adding liquid: this transforms its flavor from sharp to sweet and savory.
  • Add green beans in the last 8 to 10 minutes only: they become mushy and grey if cooked from the start with the other vegetables.
  • The soup improves significantly overnight in the refrigerator: make it a day ahead when possible.