Ground Beef
$1.80per plate
Prep
15 min
Ground Beef · Hamburger Soup
Hamburger Soup
Hamburger Soup is the brothy, tomato-based answer to a cold night: browned ground beef simmered with potatoes and a pile of vegetables in a light, savory broth, no cream or cheese in sight. Where our cheeseburger soup goes rich and cheesy, this one stays lighter and vegetable-forward, so it feels like a full meal without weighing you down. It is one of the cheapest ways to stretch a single pound of beef across the whole table, and it only gets better as leftovers. Find it with the rest of our soup recipes, and our other ground beef recipes, every one costed per plate.
$1.74per plate
Estimated recipe total
$10.43 · serves 6
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Serves
6
Recipe from Budget Plates · https://www.budgetplates.com/hamburger-soup
Equipment
- Large pot
Variations
- Use lean ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter, cheaper soup.
- Use any vegetables you have, like frozen mixed vegetables, peas, zucchini, or cabbage.
- Stir in a handful of small pasta or a half cup of rice with the broth for a heartier bowl.
- Use a couple of chopped fresh tomatoes plus a little extra broth in place of the can when tomatoes are in season.
1 How to make it
1
Brown the beef
In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up, until no pink remains, about 6 minutes. Spoon off most of the fat, leaving a little for flavor.
2
Soften the vegetables
Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot with the beef and cook for about 5 minutes until softened, then stir in the garlic for another minute. This is the savory base of the soup.
3
Build the broth
Add the potatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and Italian seasoning. Stir, bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
4
Add the green vegetables
Stir in the frozen green beans and corn and simmer another 5 minutes, just until heated through and tender. Adding them near the end keeps them bright instead of mushy.
5
Season and serve
Taste and adjust the salt and pepper - a brothy soup usually needs a little more than you think. Serve hot, with crusty bread or crackers for dipping.
2 Cheaper ingredient swaps
- Ground turkey for the beef. Lean ground turkey makes a lighter, cheaper soup. Brown it in a little oil since it renders less fat than beef, and season a bit more generously.
- Any vegetables you have. Frozen mixed vegetables, peas, zucchini, or cabbage all work. This is a great soup for using up odds and ends from the crisper drawer and freezer.
- Add pasta or rice. Stir in a handful of small pasta or a half cup of rice with the broth for an even heartier bowl. Add a little extra broth since they soak it up.
- Fresh tomatoes in season. When tomatoes are cheap and ripe, use a couple of chopped fresh ones plus a little extra broth in place of the can.
3 Budget tips
- A single pound of ground beef stretches across six big bowls once you add potatoes and vegetables, which is what keeps this so cheap.
- Frozen and canned vegetables cost a fraction of fresh out of season and work perfectly in a simmered soup, so lean on them here.
- A can of diced tomatoes and a small can of tomato sauce build a whole pot of flavorful broth for under a dollar and a half.
- This soup freezes and reheats well, so a big batch is two cheap dinners with almost no extra work.
- See more recipes priced per serving in the Budget Plates Index.
4 Storage, freezing & reheating
Fridge
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The flavor deepens overnight, so it is often even better the next day.
Freezer
This soup freezes very well since there is no dairy to separate. Cool completely, then freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop.
Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until piping hot, adding a splash of broth or water if it has thickened in the fridge.
5 Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
280
Protein
18g
Fat
13g
Carbs
24g
Estimates per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not a substitute for medical advice.
6 Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hamburger soup and cheeseburger soup?
Hamburger soup is a light, brothy tomato-and-vegetable soup with ground beef and no dairy. Cheeseburger soup is thick and creamy, built on milk, a roux, and melted cheddar. Both start with ground beef, but this one is lean and vegetable-forward rather than rich and cheesy.
Can I make hamburger soup in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef first, then add everything except the frozen green beans and corn to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Stir in the frozen vegetables in the last 30 minutes so they do not overcook.
How do I make it heartier?
Stir in cooked small pasta, rice, or a can of drained beans near the end, or add more potatoes. Each one bulks up the soup for pennies and soaks up the tomato broth.
How is $1.74 a plate figured?
The whole pot is about $10.43 for six servings, so roughly $1.74 each. One pound of ground beef plus cheap potatoes, canned tomatoes, and frozen vegetables is what keeps it low.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
As an Amazon Associate, Budget Plates may earn from qualifying purchases.
- 12-inch nonstick skillet. A wide nonstick skillet browns ground meat, fries rice, and builds a one-pan sauce with less oil and easier cleanup. Best for everyday stovetop dinners like skillet meals, fried rice, pasta sauces, and patties.
- Cast iron skillet. Cast iron holds heat for a deep sear and moves from stovetop to oven, and it lasts for decades with basic care. Best for searing chops and chicken, and recipes that start on the stove and finish in the oven.
- Chef's knife. One sharp chef's knife handles almost all the chopping, from onions to chicken, and replaces a drawer of gadgets. Best for all-purpose prep in essentially every recipe on the site.
- Cutting board. A large, stable cutting board makes prep faster and safer, which matters when you cook most nights. Best for everyday chopping of onion, garlic, and vegetables across nearly every recipe.
Feeding a crowd tonight? This one is also part of our Easy Family Dinner Recipes collection.
Cook next
All recipes Related recipes
From other tables
All recipes 
