Hearty Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup with Tender Potatoes in a Rich Tomato-Beef Broth
Welcome back to Momz Daily Scoops! Today, we're making a comforting, old-fashioned favorite that is perfect for family dinners, chilly evenings, or anytime you're craving a warm bowl of homemade goodness.
This Hearty Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup is filled with savory ground beef, tender potatoes, colorful vegetables, and a rich tomato-beef broth that brings everything together. Every spoonful is packed with delicious flavor, making this the kind of meal that warms you from the inside out.
One of the things I love about homemade soup is how simple ingredients can come together to create something so satisfying. The ground beef adds a hearty, savory flavor, the potatoes soak up the delicious broth, and the vegetables bring color, texture, and sweetness to every bite.
Best of all, this recipe is easy to prepare in one pot, making cleanup a breeze. It's a wonderful meal to serve with crusty bread, buttery crackers, or a grilled cheese sandwich!
Why You'll Love This Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup
Hearty and filling: Ground beef and tender potatoes make this soup satisfying enough for dinner.
Packed with vegetables: Carrots, celery, green beans, corn, and peas add color and flavor.
Rich tomato-beef broth: Crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and seasonings create a delicious base.
Easy one-pot cooking: Everything simmers together in one pot, allowing the flavors to blend beautifully.
Great for leftovers: The flavors become even more developed as the soup rests, making leftovers wonderful for lunch the next day.
Ingredients You'll Need
This recipe makes approximately 6–8 servings.
1 pound lean ground beef
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
6 cups beef broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
A little kitchen tip: You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. Corn, peas, green beans, carrots, and potatoes are wonderful together, but zucchini or chopped cabbage would also make tasty additions.
How to Make Hearty Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup
Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef
Place a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add the ground beef and cook for about 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it browns. Continue cooking until no pink remains.
If there is a lot of excess grease, carefully drain it before continuing.
Browning the beef first adds a deep, savory flavor to the soup. Those browned bits left in the bottom of the pot also help build a delicious broth.
Step 2: Add the Onion, Carrots, Celery, and Garlic
Add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, and celery to the pot with the beef.
If the pot seems dry, add a small amount of olive oil. Cook for about 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Your kitchen should already be smelling wonderful!
Step 3: Build the Tomato-Beef Broth
Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, thyme, and bay leaf.
Mix everything together, scraping up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.
The combination of tomatoes and beef broth creates a rich, savory base, while the herbs add warmth and depth.
Step 4: Add the Potatoes and Green Beans
Stir in the diced potatoes and green beans.
Cover the pot partially and let the soup simmer gently for approximately 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The potatoes will begin to soften and absorb some of the tomato-beef flavor, while the green beans become tender without losing all their texture.
Avoid boiling the soup too vigorously, as this can cause the potatoes to break apart.
Step 5: Add the Corn and Peas
Stir in the corn and peas.
Continue simmering for another 5–10 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender and all the vegetables are cooked to your liking.
Remove the bay leaf and taste the broth.
Add salt and black pepper as needed. If you'd like a little more richness, you can add a splash of beef broth. For a stronger tomato flavor, stir in another spoonful of tomato sauce.
Step 6: Let the Flavors Come Together
Turn off the heat and allow the soup to rest for about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top before serving.
Ladle the soup into large bowls, making sure everyone gets plenty of ground beef, potatoes, colorful vegetables, and that delicious tomato-beef broth.
Serve hot and enjoy!
What Makes This Soup So Delicious?
The secret is letting the ingredients work together.
The ground beef provides a savory foundation, while the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic add layers of flavor. Tomatoes give the broth a pleasant richness and gentle tang, while the beef broth brings everything together.
The potatoes are especially wonderful because they become tender as they simmer and soak up the surrounding flavors. Meanwhile, the corn and peas contribute little bursts of sweetness that balance the savory broth.
It's a simple, wholesome combination that tastes like a meal made with love.
What Goes Great with Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup?
A hearty bowl of soup is delicious on its own, but adding a side dish makes dinner even better!
Crusty French bread: Perfect for dipping into the rich tomato-beef broth.
Homemade cornbread: Slightly sweet cornbread pairs wonderfully with the savory beef and vegetables.
Grilled cheese sandwiches: A family-friendly favorite that turns soup night into a comforting meal.
Buttery crackers: An easy option for crumbling into the soup or enjoying on the side.
Garlic bread: The garlic and buttery flavor complement the tomato-based broth beautifully.
Simple garden salad: Fresh lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a light dressing provide a refreshing contrast.
Cheddar biscuits: Soft, cheesy biscuits are wonderful for soaking up every last drop of broth.
For a cozy family dinner, I would serve this soup with warm cornbread or crusty bread and a little butter on the side.
Tips for the Best Homemade Beef and Vegetable Soup
Brown the beef well. This creates a deeper flavor than simply boiling the meat in the broth.
Cut the potatoes evenly. Similar-sized pieces cook at about the same rate.
Choose potatoes that hold their shape. Yukon Gold or red potatoes work particularly well. Russet potatoes can also be used but may break down more during simmering.
Add quick-cooking vegetables later. Frozen peas and corn need less cooking time than potatoes and carrots, so adding them toward the end helps preserve their texture.
Season gradually. Beef broth and canned tomatoes can already contain salt. Taste the soup near the end and adjust the seasoning.
Want a thicker soup? Mash a few cooked potato pieces against the side of the pot and stir them back into the broth. This naturally thickens the soup without requiring flour.
Need more broth? Add an extra cup of beef broth if you prefer a thinner, more soup-like consistency.
Easy Variations to Try
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize!
Add pasta: Stir in small pasta shapes during the final cooking stage, adding extra broth as needed.
Make it spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a little cayenne pepper.
Add more vegetables: Chopped zucchini, cabbage, spinach, or bell peppers are delicious additions.
Use ground turkey: Substitute ground turkey for the beef if you'd prefer a lighter-tasting soup.
Add beans: A drained can of kidney beans or cannellini beans makes the soup even heartier.
Boost the herbs: Add fresh rosemary or extra thyme for a deeper, earthy flavor.
You can also use a frozen mixed-vegetable blend to save preparation time on busy evenings.
Can You Make This Soup Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! This soup is a wonderful make-ahead meal.
Prepare the soup according to the recipe, allow it to cool promptly, and refrigerate it in covered, shallow containers within two hours of cooking.
Store it in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Reheat on the stovetop until steaming hot throughout, stirring occasionally.
You can also freeze the soup in freezer-safe containers for approximately 2–3 months for best quality. Keep in mind that potatoes may become a little softer after freezing and thawing.
If you're planning to freeze a batch specifically for later, you can slightly undercook the potatoes so they don't become too soft when reheated.
Recipe Card: Hearty Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35–45 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 50–60 minutes
Servings: 6–8
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
4 medium potatoes, diced
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup green beans
1 cup corn
1 cup peas
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces)
6 cups beef broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
Brown the ground beef in a large soup pot, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 4–5 minutes, then stir in the garlic.
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, thyme, and bay leaf.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat.
Add the potatoes and green beans. Simmer for 15–20 minutes.
Add the corn and peas and simmer for another 5–10 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with your favorite bread.
Final Thoughts from Momz Daily Scoops
There is something so comforting about a big pot of homemade soup simmering on the stove. This Hearty Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup brings together savory beef, tender potatoes, colorful vegetables, and a rich tomato-beef broth to create a meal the whole family can enjoy.
I especially love that this recipe is flexible. You can use up vegetables in your refrigerator, adjust the seasonings to your family's taste, and make enough for leftovers the next day.
Serve it with warm bread, gather everyone around the table, and enjoy a simple homemade meal that feels comforting with every spoonful.
Whether you're preparing dinner on a chilly evening or looking for an easy one-pot recipe for your weekly menu, this soup is one you'll want to keep in your recipe collection.
From my kitchen to yours, happy cooking!
Let's chat in the comments! Do you like your ground beef vegetable soup with extra potatoes, more vegetables, or a little pasta stirred in? I'd love to hear how you make this comforting classic your own!
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