Hearty Homemade Hamburger Soup Recipe for Cozy Weeknights

Here’s a flavorful and nourishing Hamburger Soup recipe that’s budget-friendly and flexible—perfect for using pantry staples and ingredients you already have on hand.

Budget-Friendly Hamburger Soup

With grocery prices on the rise, it’s helpful to have go-to recipes that are both economical and nutritious. Ground beef is an affordable, protein-rich choice that adds flavor and nutrients without breaking the bank.

This recipe uses 85/15 ground beef—85% lean and 15% fat—which is often more affordable than leaner blends. The fat adds flavor and nutritional value; it contains beneficial fats like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). To avoid a greasy soup, a simple cook’s tip is to sauté potatoes with the meat so they absorb some of the rendered fat and release starch, improving texture and flavor.

Make Your Ingredients for Hamburger Soup

The ingredients for this soup are pantry staples you likely already have. If you prefer to make items from scratch, consider preparing your own Italian seasoning or marinara sauce and canning tomatoes when they’re in season—these steps save money and boost flavor.

Homemade Beef Bone Broth for Hamburger Soup

You can use water, stock, or broth for this soup. Using homemade beef bone broth adds depth and nutrition. Bone broth is easy to make—choose Instant Pot, slow cooker, or stovetop methods depending on your schedule.

Make Your Ingredients for Hamburger Soup Croutons

Hamburger Bun Croutons are optional but add a satisfying crunch. They’re easy to make from homemade hamburger buns or stale bread. Toast cubes in fat with a bit of salt and Italian seasoning until golden.

Use Nutrient-Dense Animal Fats to Make Croutons

Make croutons in lard, tallow, schmaltz (chicken fat), duck fat, goose fat, butter, or olive oil to add flavor and nutrients. Homemade animal fats retain vitamins and minerals that store-bought croutons usually lack.

Using a Cuisinart Countertop Burner

A portable countertop burner is useful when you need an extra cooking surface. It’s handy for recipe videos and for cooking when your main stove is occupied.

More Hamburger Recipes

If you enjoy recipes that use ground beef, try other economical favorites like homemade sloppy joes and an old-fashioned hamburger casserole.

More Budget-Friendly Recipes

For more wallet-friendly meals, consider dishes like Fried Cabbage with Kielbasa—big on flavor and light on cost.

Looking for Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished Ground Beef?

If local options are limited, specialty suppliers offer grass-fed and grass-finished ground beef, including blends that incorporate organ meats for added nutrition. These mixes can be an easy way to boost nutrient density in everyday meals.

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The Modern Pioneer Pantry

Simple ingredients and traditional techniques make it easy to preserve food and turn pantry staples into nourishing meals. Discover over 100 recipes and tips to build a well-stocked, modern pantry.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For a comprehensive list of traditional foods to make and keep on hand, download the free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. It includes links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more to help you stock a practical pantry.

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Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes—over 85 from-scratch recipes that show how simple ingredients can make wholesome meals.

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• How to Boost Your Immunity – Part 3 – Including Beef Tonics

Hamburger Soup Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 25 mins

Total: 30 mins

Yield: 8 servings

Author: Mary Bryant Shrader

A tasty, flexible Hamburger Soup with optional Hamburger Bun Croutons—an easy one-pot meal that stretches your grocery budget.

Equipment

• 1 Large Soup Pot

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef (85% lean / 15% fat recommended)
• 1/2 tsp Baking soda
• 1 tbsp Butter (or butter + olive oil mix; ghee, tallow, or lard also work)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 Onion, chopped (large)
• 2 large Potatoes, cubed (Yukon Gold or similar)
• 2 cloves Garlic, chopped
• 8 cups Liquid (beef broth, stock, bone broth, or water)
• 28 ounce Canned diced tomatoes (or crushed whole tomatoes)
• 1 tbsp Tomato paste
• 16 ounces Chopped frozen spinach, defrosted and drained
• 16 ounces Frozen mixed vegetables, defrosted

Instructions

1. Place ground beef in a bowl and sprinkle with baking soda. Mix and set aside.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in a large soup pot. When sizzling, add the ground beef and brown, about 5–7 minutes.
3. Season with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine.
4. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 1–2 minutes.
5. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
6. Add potatoes and sauté briefly so they absorb some of the fat and start releasing starch, about 2 minutes.
7. Add liquid and bay leaves. Bring to a medium simmer and cook until potatoes are almost tender, about 10 minutes depending on size.
8. Stir in diced tomatoes and tomato paste until incorporated.
9. Add spinach and mixed vegetables; stir to combine.
10. Simmer until tomatoes, spinach, and vegetables are warmed through.
11. Serve topped with optional Hamburger Bun Croutons.
12. Store refrigerated for 3–4 days or frozen for 2–3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Video

Notes

Adding fresh vegetables: Add fresh vegetables after the potatoes, timing additions based on their cooking times.

Hamburger Bun Croutons: Cut 4 hamburger buns into bite-sized cubes. Warm 2 tbsp fat (butter, olive oil, lard, or tallow) in a skillet until sizzling. Add bun cubes, toss, and season with salt and Italian seasoning. Toast until golden, about 5–10 minutes. Use to top the soup for crunch.

Store and reuse leftovers as noted above.

Copyright © 2022 Mary’s Nest, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Americana

Keyword: Hamburger Soup, Soup

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Favorite Kitchen Supplies

• Favorite Aprons
• Cuisinart Portable Burner
• 10-Piece Glass Bowl Set
• Large Enameled Dutch Oven
• Stainless Steel Soup Pot

Recommended Reading

• The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
• The Modern Pioneer Pantry
• Nourishing Traditions