Need a filling, healthy meal that’s versatile and comes together in just a few simple steps? This Easy Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup pairs lean ground beef with plenty of vegetables and a savory broth for a comforting dish the whole family will enjoy. It’s flexible — swap ingredients based on what you have and let it simmer until dinner.
What’s to Love About This Recipe
This is one of my favorite family-friendly recipes: simple to prepare, customizable, and great for using what’s already in the freezer.
Hamburger soup is ideal for the slow cooker because:
- It requires only a few steps and minimal advance planning — you can brown the meat beforehand or keep cooked meat in the freezer for fast assembly.
- It’s an easy way to add a variety of vegetables to your meal.
- You can adapt it for many diets — low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free, or dairy-free.
- It’s budget-friendly and stretches simple ingredients into a satisfying, nutritious meal.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground beef — Use lean ground beef and drain excess fat after browning.
- Onion — One small onion, diced, for flavor.
- Frozen mixed vegetables — A convenient, colorful mix adds texture and nutrition.
- Frozen cubed sweet potatoes — These save prep time and add sweetness and heartiness.
- Petite diced tomatoes — One can adds acidity to balance the meat.
- Homemade Italian dressing mix — A versatile blend of herbs and spices; use your favorite seasoning if you don’t have this on hand.
- Chicken broth — A flavorful base; bone broth is a great option for extra nutrition.
How to Make Easy Hamburger Soup in the Slow Cooker
- Cook the ground beef in a skillet until browned, then drain off any excess grease.
- Add the browned beef to the slow cooker along with the diced onion, frozen mixed vegetables, frozen cubed sweet potatoes, petite diced tomatoes, Italian dressing mix, and chicken broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the potatoes are tender and flavors are blended.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
This soup is a flexible base for many swaps — try any of these to suit your tastes or pantry:
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef.
- Use any frozen vegetable mix you have — green beans, peas, corn, and carrots work well.
- Replace frozen sweet potatoes with fresh sweet potatoes or regular potatoes; dice into 1-inch cubes and leave the skin on or peel, as preferred.
- Use fire-roasted tomatoes for a smoky note.
- Swap Italian dressing mix for burger or steak seasoning if you prefer.
- To bulk up the soup, stir in precooked rice after cooking or add cooked pasta to individual bowls.
What to Serve With Hamburger Soup
Serve a bowl of hamburger soup with garlic bread or warm cornbread. Top with shredded Parmesan or cheddar cheese if desired. A simple garden salad pairs nicely; use your favorite dressing to finish the meal.
Storing and Reheating
This soup is great for meal prep and freezing. To freeze as a dump-and-go meal: brown the ground beef, let it cool, and place the beef and remaining dry/frozen ingredients (except the broth) in a freezer-safe bag. When ready to cook, thaw the bag and add contents to the slow cooker with the broth.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days or freeze individual portions for up to 3 months in airtight containers. Thaw and reheat on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.
Easy Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup
Jennifer Draper
Pin Recipe
Save
Equipment
-
Skillet
-
Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 12 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 1/2 cups frozen cubed sweet potatoes
- 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Homemade Italian Dressing Mix
- 2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
-
Cook ground beef in a skillet until browned, and drain off any excess grease.
-
Add ground beef to slow cooker with remaining ingredients.
-
Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months in airtight containers.
- Reheat after thawing in the microwave or on the stove.
- Use any frozen vegetable combination you prefer.
- After cooking, stir in cooked rice or add cooked pasta to individual bowls for a heartier meal.
Nutrition
Important nutritional disclaimer
Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup FAQs
- Can you use frozen vegetables for hamburger soup? Yes — this recipe is designed to work with frozen vegetables for convenience.
- Can you put raw hamburger in the slow cooker? While some slow cooker recipes use raw ground meat, this soup benefits from browning the meat first for flavor and to remove excess fat.
- Can this recipe be made into a stew? To thicken it into a stew, stir in tomato paste (4–6 ounces) or add a cornstarch slurry (1–2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with equal parts water) near the end of cooking.
- Can hamburger soup be made on the stovetop? Yes — brown the meat, sauté the onion until translucent, add the remaining ingredients to a large pot, bring to a low boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender.
More Slow Cooker Soup Recipes
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
- Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder
- Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana
- Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Creamy Meatball Soup in the Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup