Ground Beef Soup

This ground beef soup is a hearty, one-pot meal of browned ground beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, and tomatoes simmered together in a savory beef broth. It comes together in about 45 minutes, serves six, and reheats beautifully, which makes it one of the easiest ground beef soup recipes to keep in a weekly dinner rotation.

Why This Ground Beef Soup Works for Busy Weeknights

Ground beef soup earns its place as a go-to weeknight dinner because everything cooks in a single pot and the ingredient list leans on pantry staples. Browning the beef first builds a deep base flavor, and simmering the vegetables in the same pot means fewer dishes and more time for the broth to absorb all that flavor. If you're looking for more ways to use this versatile protein, our collection of weeknight beef dinners has plenty of other ideas.

Ingredient Swaps and Add-Ins

This soup is forgiving, so you can adjust it based on what's in your fridge. Swap the potatoes for a cup of small pasta shapes or cooked rice stirred in during the last few minutes of cooking. Frozen mixed vegetables work well in place of individual fresh carrots, celery, and green beans when you're short on prep time. Shredded cabbage or diced zucchini can replace or supplement the potatoes for a lighter, lower-starch version. If you don't have beef broth on hand, a good-quality vegetable broth will still produce a satisfying soup with ground beef, just slightly less rich.

How to Keep Ground Beef Soup from Tasting Greasy or Flat

Two common complaints with any ground beef soup recipe are excess grease and flat flavor, and both are easy to avoid. After browning the beef, drain off excess fat before adding the vegetables so the broth doesn't turn oily. Cook the tomato paste with the aromatics for a minute before adding liquid; this step deepens the tomato flavor instead of leaving it tasting raw. Season in layers by adding a little salt early and adjusting again at the end, and finish with fresh parsley for brightness. Keep the simmer gentle rather than a hard boil so the potatoes cook through without falling apart.

Storing and Freezing Ground Beef Soup

Cooled soup keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, this soup freezes for up to 3 months, though potatoes can turn slightly grainy after thawing, so some cooks prefer to add fresh potatoes after reheating a frozen batch rather than freezing them in the soup. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat until it reaches 165°F (74°C), adding a splash of broth or water if the soup has thickened in the fridge.

What to Serve with Ground Beef Soup

Serve this easy ground beef soup with crusty bread, a side salad, or warm cornbread for a complete meal. A sprinkle of shredded cheese, a handful of extra fresh parsley, or a dash of hot sauce on top lets everyone customize their own bowl. If you would rather bake the same beef-and-potato combination, our hamburger potato casserole is the casserole version.

Safe internal temperatures in this recipe follow the FoodSafety.gov safe minimum internal temperature chart.