Get all the flavours of your favourite burger joint in this super-simple, super-tasty hamburger soup. Mix and match the veggies and seasonings to your family's tastes, and don't forget to top it all off with a generous sprinkle of cheddar cheese.
If your kids love nothing more than a juicy burger, this is the soup recipe you need; it's the perfect way to get a hit of summer smack in the middle of winter (or any time of year, really). This hearty hamburger soup recipe captures all the flavours of your favourite burger joint, and it's so easy to mix and match the vegetables and seasonings. Scroll to the bottom for tips on how to give it even more authentic hamburger vibes, as well as how to turn it into bacon cheeseburger soup (seriously, who can say no to that?!).
Ingredients for Hamburger Soup
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium carrots, diced
1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
4 cups beef broth (or water, if preferred)
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp olive oil (for cooking)
½ cup small pasta (macaroni, shells, etc.)
cheddar cheese for garnish
green onion for garnish
salt and pepper
Instructions for Hamburger Soup
1. Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add ground beef and cook until no pink remains, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Once cooked, drain any excess fat.
2. To the same pot, add olive oil, chopped onion and garlic; sauté for 3-4 min, until veggies are softened and fragrant.
3. Add carrots, potatoes, corn, diced tomatoes and can liquid, tomato sauce and beef broth to the pot. Stir to combine.
4. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Bring the soup to a boil.
5. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover and let it simmer for 25-30 min, or until the vegetables are tender. If you’re adding pasta, stir it in during the last 10 min of cooking. (TIP: If you intend to have leftovers, cook the pasta separately and rinse with cool water before adding to the soup; this stops the cooking process and prevents the pasta from soaking up too much broth when it’s stored in the fridge.)
6. Serve soup with a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese and few green onions, and add a slice of crusty buttered bread (or a toasted hamburger bun!) on the side.
NOTES: You can easily adjust the veggies and seasonings in this soup. If you want an authentic burger taste, omit the carrots and corn and stir in spinach or kale during the last five minutes of cooking for a hit of green; you can also add a dollop of mustard for tanginess before simmering, if you want that depth of flavour. For bacon cheeseburger soup, chop a few slices of bacon and add them to the ground beef as it’s cooking. Drain the fat before continuing the recipe. Top with lots of cheese before serving.