Description
This Easy Vegetable Beef Soup is a hearty, comforting dish perfect for a nutritious meal. Made with tender ground beef or stew beef, a medley of fresh and frozen vegetables, and simmered in a flavorful broth with herbs, this soup is simple to prepare and deliciously satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oil
- 1 lb ground beef (or stew beef, cut into small cubes)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Vegetables
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
Liquids and Seasonings
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef or stew beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat to keep the soup leaner.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the pot with the browned beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and the onions become translucent, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Add the broth and vegetables: Stir in beef broth, water, diced potatoes, carrots, frozen peas, frozen corn, diced tomatoes with their juice, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Include the bay leaf if desired for extra flavor depth.
- Simmer the soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Let the soup simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the flavors blend beautifully.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remember to remove the bay leaf before serving to avoid any bitterness.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and enjoy immediately, perfect for a warming, nutritious meal.
Notes
- For a thicker soup, mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot during simmering.
- You can swap ground beef for stew beef or even ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Frozen vegetables are convenient and nutritious but feel free to use fresh vegetables as well.
- Adjust herbs according to taste – fresh thyme and rosemary can be used instead of dried.
- To make this soup gluten-free, ensure your beef broth is labeled gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
