Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup

When I want a hearty dinner that’s healthy, inexpensive and practically cooks itself, this Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup is one of my favorites.

Made with lean ground beef, potatoes, tomatoes and lots of vegetables simmered in a flavorful beef broth, it’s thick, satisfying and wonderfully adaptable. It’s the kind of old-fashioned soup that makes good use of simple ingredients you probably already have.

After browning the beef and onion, everything goes into the slow cooker and dinner takes care of itself. Serve it with crackers, crusty bread or a simple salad for an easy meal the whole family can enjoy.

And because it’s loaded with vegetables and made with extra-lean ground beef, it also happens to be a great choice for anyone following WeightWatchers.

Why You’ll Love This Hamburger Soup

• Easy and mostly hands-off — Brown the beef, add everything to the slow cooker and let it simmer.
• Made with everyday ingredients — Ground beef, potatoes, canned tomatoes and frozen vegetables keep it simple and affordable.
• Hearty without being heavy — You get plenty of beef and potatoes along with lots of vegetables in every bowl.
• Easy to customize — Change the vegetables and seasonings according to what you like and what you have.
• Great for meal prep — It tastes even better the next day and freezes beautifully.
• WW friendly — Extra-lean beef and plenty of vegetables keep calories and Points low.

Ingredients and Easy Substitutions

Here’s what you’ll need along with some easy ways to make this hamburger soup your own.

Extra-Lean Ground Beef — Gives the soup its classic hamburger flavor while keeping it lighter. Ground turkey or chicken can also be used.

Onion — Adds lots of flavor to the broth. Frozen chopped onion is a perfectly good shortcut.

Potatoes — Make the soup hearty and satisfying. Russet, Yukon Gold or red potatoes all work. Cut them into relatively small pieces so they’ll become tender along with the other vegetables.

Frozen Mixed Vegetables — One of my favorite shortcuts. A traditional mixture of carrots, peas, corn and green beans is perfect, but use whatever combination you like.

Frozen Corn — Adds a little sweetness and color. You can leave it out or substitute another vegetable.

Diced Tomatoes — Add flavor, acidity and body to the broth. Fire-roasted tomatoes are another tasty option.

Tomato Sauce — Gives the broth a richer tomato flavor and slightly thicker consistency.

Beef Broth — Forms the base of the soup. Chicken or vegetable broth (affiliate link) will work in a pinch.

Seasonings — I keep things simple with Montreal Steak Seasoning, but there are lots of ways to change the flavor. You’ll find some of my favorites below.

How to Make Crock Pot Hamburger Soup Step-by-Step

Step 1: Assemble and prep your ingredients.

Step 2: Cook the ground beef and onions.

Cook the ground beef and onions until the beef is browned. Drain and add to the crock pot.

Step 3: Add remaining ingredients and cook.

Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

Martha’s Tips

Cut the potatoes small. They take longer to cook than most of the other vegetables, so smaller pieces work best.

Don’t skip browning the beef. Browning adds flavor and allows you to drain away excess fat before adding the meat to the slow cooker.

Frozen vegetables make this incredibly easy. There’s no need to thaw them first.

Make it your own. Hamburger soup is one of those wonderfully forgiving recipes where exact vegetables aren’t terribly important. It’s a great opportunity to clean out the vegetable drawer or freezer.

Adjust the broth to your preference. For a thicker, stew-like soup, use a little less broth. If you like a soupier consistency, simply add more.

Easy Hamburger Soup Variations

This basic recipe is easy to take in all kinds of different directions.

• Italian Hamburger Soup: Add garlic, basil, oregano or Italian seasoning.
• Taco Hamburger Soup: Add chili powder and cumin or your favorite taco seasoning. Black beans would be good here too.
• Beefier Hamburger Soup: Add a tablespoon or two of Worcestershire sauce.
• Spicy Hamburger Soup: Add crushed red pepper, hot sauce or chopped jalapeños.
• Extra-Tomatoey: Stir in a couple tablespoons of tomato paste or substitute some V8 juice for the broth.
• More Vegetables: Try cabbage, celery, zucchini, cauliflower, bell pepper or extra green beans and carrots.
• Sweet Potato Hamburger Soup: Substitute diced sweet potato for some or all of the white potato.
• Shortcut Hamburger Soup: Frozen diced hash brown potatoes eliminate another bit of chopping.

What to Serve with Hamburger Soup

This is really a meal in a bowl, so I usually keep the sides simple.

A few of my favorites are:

• Saltine crackers, Melba toast or crunchy breadsticks
• Crusty bread or whole-grain toast
• Warm cornbread
• A simple tossed green salad
• Cucumber salad
• Shredded Carrot and Apple Salad
• A little low-fat cheese and a few pickles

Sometimes a bowl of hearty soup and a handful of crackers is all I need.

Storage and Leftovers

This hamburger soup makes great leftovers and actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld.

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Portion into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave (affiliate link). If the soup has thickened, add a splash of broth or water when reheating.

Can You Make Hamburger Soup on the Stovetop?

Yes. If you don’t have time for the slow cooker, this soup can easily be made on the stovetop.

Brown the beef and onion in a large soup pot or Dutch oven and drain any excess fat. Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and gently simmer until the potatoes and vegetables are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.

It’s a nice option for those days when you forget to start the slow cooker in the morning. (We’ve all been there!)

How to Store and Freeze Hamburger Soup

Hamburger soup is one of those recipes that often tastes even better the next day.

Refrigerator: Store leftover soup in a covered airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Portion cooled soup into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that potatoes can become slightly softer after freezing and thawing, but I’ve never found that to be much of a problem in soup.

To reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave (affiliate link) until hot. Add a splash of broth or water if the soup has thickened while sitting.

WW Points and Nutrition

According to my calculations, each serving has about:

• Calories: 178
• WW Points: 0
  To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
  (You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
• Old WW Points: 4 PointsPlus

If you’ve made this Hamburger Soup / Stew, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Source: adapted from The Crockin Girls Slow Cookin Companion: Yummy Recipes from Family, Friends, and Our Crockin Community (affiliate link) by Nicole Sparks and Jenna Marwitz.

More Easy Slow Cooker Soups

• Weight Watchers Taco Soup (Slow Cooker or Stovetop) – A zesty, crowd-pleasing soup loaded with beans, corn, and ground turkey or beef. Perfect for busy weeknights.
• Instant Pot Turkey Taco Soup – All the flavors of taco night in a fast and easy pressure cooker soup that’s hearty, protein-packed, and WW-friendly.
• Slow Cooker 3-Bean Turkey Sausage Chili – A cozy, fiber-rich chili that combines lean turkey sausage with three kinds of beans for maximum flavor and satisfaction.
• Crock Pot Tomato Beef Macaroni Soup – A family favorite that tastes like a lighter version of goulash, cooked low and slow until perfectly tender.
• More Easy WW Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Fall – Discover a roundup of simple, cozy Crock Pot recipes designed to keep dinner stress-free and points in check all season long.

Discover More WW-Friendly Recipes

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