Healthy 30 Minute Hamburger Soup

This hearty hamburger soup is easy, healthy, and ready in just 30 minutes! It’s a simple meal loaded with ground beef or turkey, potatoes, and vegetables in a delicious beef broth.

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2017 and has been republished with all new photos.

This Healthy 30 Minute Hamburger Soup is a hearty and rustic dish that warms you from the inside out. It’s a complete meal that’s a great option for a chilly day, a cold night, or really any busy weeknight. I can’t imagine a more perfect comfort food.

I love a comforting soup that’s ready in 30 minutes. Let’s be honest, I love any and all meals with a short cook time. I have things to do and standing in the kitchen for two hours making dinner isn’t one of them. A hearty soup has a special place in my heart since it’s so cozy. Some people may tell you that the most delicious soup should be simmered low and slow but I’m here to tell you it’s just not true. You can achieve a rich flavor in far less time than you think. Some of my favorites are my 30 Minute Chicken Taco Soup, No Bean 30 Minute Chili, 30 Minute Tomato Soup, and 30 Minute Dairy Free Potato Soup.

Plus this soup is filled with good for you inexpensive ingredients you’ll be proud to feed your family.

Ground beef. Potatoes. Fresh vegetables. We’re using fresh vegetables instead of canned. While I have no issue with canned veggies, going with fresh in this particular soup makes such a difference! You’ll taste each individual vegetable and they’ll hold on to a bit of their crispness. Easy ingredients work together beautifully to create the most delicious flavor in this family favorite soup. So let’s celebrate soup season together, shall we?

Healthy 30 Minute Hamburger Soup Ingredients:

• Lean ground beef or turkey: I use 93% lean ground beef in this hamburger soup. You can also use ground turkey if you like.
• Onion: White onion or yellow onion both work well.
• Beef stock or beef broth: Both beef stock and beef broth can be used in this soup. Stock is typically made by simmering the bones for hours. Broth is made by simmering the meat instead of only the bones.
• Potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes, russet potatoes, baby potatoes, fingerling potatoes, or red potatoes are great options. Yukon golds are my personal favorite. You can even use sweet potatoes for a different flavor.
• Carrots: We’re dicing the carrots into small pieces so you get some in every bite.
• Fresh or frozen green beans: I recommend fresh green beans in this soup because they’ll hold on to their crispness better than frozen or canned. If you don’t have fresh green beans, frozen would be my second choice and canned green beans would be my third.
• Canned diced tomatoes: I recommend fire-roasted canned tomatoes if it’s available in your grocery store.
• Tomato paste: Tomato paste packs a lot of concentrated tomato flavor.
• Minced garlic: You can mince your own garlic or use a jarred variety.
• Dried herbs and spices: We’re using plenty of spices to beautifully flavor this easy hamburger soup recipe. This seasoning blend gives each bite the very best flavor. The seasonings include dried thyme, dried oregano, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

How to Make Healthy 30 Minute Hamburger Soup

I start with lean ground beef (or ground turkey) and diced onion. They go in the same large pot I’ll use for the soup. (If using a very lean ground meat add a tablespoon of olive oil too to prevent sticking in the bottom of the pot. That’s typically not necessary for beef.) You can totally use a sauté pan but I see no point in dirtying a pan when the pot works just as well, right? I’m always in favor of less dishes to wash.

Brown beef or turkey and then drain any excess fat. If you use a lean ground meat like I do you likely won’t have anything to drain. Then all remaining ingredients go in the soup pot too.

In order to cook your soup quickly and avoid it being too much like a stew it’s important to cut your potatoes pretty small. Large chunks will take longer to cook and overpower each bite. My diced potatoes are no bigger than an inch in diameter. I cut the green beans into thirds or fourths. The carrots are cut into small circles and then each circle is cut again.

Let it all simmer on medium-high heat for 20 minutes. That’s it! You’re ready to serve. How painless was that? Top with chopped fresh parsley and a side of garlic bread if you want to make each bowl extra special.

The final product is a crowd pleaser even if your crowd includes a three year old and a seven year old. I should know.

Can You Use Ground Turkey Instead of Beef?

Absolutely. Ground beef or ground turkey are both yummy in this dish. Ground chicken is another option but because it has so little fat I recommend beef or turkey.

What Kind of Potatoes are Best in This Soup?

Yukon gold potatoes, russet potatoes, baby potatoes, fingerling potatoes, or red potatoes work well. Yukon golds are my personal favorite. You can even use sweet potatoes for a different flavor.

Want to Skip the Potatoes?

If you’re looking to avoid potatoes just swap them out for cauliflower rice. They’ll lighten up this soup but add more substance than you’d have if you just omitted the potatoes. Since cauliflower rice cooks quickly add it to toward the end of your cooking time so it has a few minutes to soften.

Another option if you want to skip the potatoes is to add cooked pasta or white beans instead. Both will keep this soup filling. If using a pasta I’d recommend a small shell pasta or elbow noodles.

Can You Use Canned or Frozen vegetables?

You can always use canned or frozen veggies but I do recommend fresh for this recipe. I am not anti-canned veggies. No, ma’am. However, using fresh here means that your veggies won’t end up completely mushy. They hold on to a bit of their crispness! Their flavors also don’t get all muddled together and I enjoy being able to taste each individual vegetable.

If you don’t have the necessary fresh veggies, frozen mixed vegetables would be my second choice. Canned veggies are my third. I’m always in support of making recipes work for you so if that’s what you have, go for it!

How to Make Hamburger Soup in the Slow Cooker

Simply brown your ground meat and onion on the stovetop. Then add all your ingredients to your slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours.

Can You Freeze Hamburger Soup?

This homemade soup freezes, thaws, and reheats beautifully. In fact it’s a great soup for meal prep! Let the soup cool and then store in a freezer safe container. I like freezer bags because then the soup can lay flat to occupy less space in the freezer. To reheat, just add it to a pot on the stove over low to medium-low heat, stirring frequently. You can also reheat in the microwave after thawing. Feel free to double this recipe so you have plenty to freeze.

How to Store Leftovers

Want to enjoy this easy soup the next day or later in the week? Leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop on low to medium-low heat until warmed through.

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