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  • My Hamburger Soup Recipe Is Hearty, Healthy, And Ready Fast
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Hamburger Soup
  • My Recipe Tips
  • Hamburger Soup Recipe card
  • More Hamburger Soup Recipes
  • Recipe Reviews

My Hamburger Soup Recipe Is Hearty, Healthy, And Ready Fast

Maya in the kitchen. - 1

I made this easy hamburger soup recipe on a busy weeknight when I wanted something cozy, simple, and needed to use up some hamburger and veggies before they went bad. It reminds me of a cross between my veggie soup and beef soup , but with hamburger meat instead. It’s hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own without needing any sides. Here’s why you need to add this hamburger vegetable soup for chilly days:

  • Rich, savory flavor – Browning the beef first adds depth, and simmering it with garlic, onions, and Italian seasoning gives the broth that homemade, slow-cooked taste, but without actually taking all day. Even the kids love this one.
  • Chunky beef and veggies in every bite – Every spoonful has tender ground beef, crisp-tender green beans, and colorful veggies. It’s so hearty hubby doesn’t even miss the pasta, rice or potatoes (though you could add them 😉).
  • On the table fast – It all comes together in one pot with simple ingredients you probably already have, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes. I like to double the recipe for easy lunches all week.

All you need is a salad and some crusty bread on the side. Make it with me!

Maya's signature. - 2 Ladling hot hamburger vegetable soup straight from the Dutch oven. - 3

“We LOVED this soup! It’s perfect for using up leftover veggies in the fridge and is so hearty and comforting. Definitely adding to my rotation!” –Taylor

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my easy hamburger soup recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

  • Ground Beef – I like using 85/15 grass-fed beef for the best flavor and a little extra nutrition, but lean ground beef works too. You can also swap in ground turkey, chicken, pork, or even Italian sausage if that’s what you have. I’ve made versions of this hamburger vegetable soup with all of them.
  • Olive Oil – I usually use olive or avocado oil, but any oil that handles high heat will do the job.
  • Aromatics – I used white onion and fresh garlic, but yellow or red onion works too. If you’re short on time, the jarred minced garlic is totally fine.
  • Veggies – I went with bell peppers, celery, and green beans, but feel free to mix it up. Red potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, kale, or spinach are all great additions. Just add sturdier veggies earlier and toss in the delicate ones near the end.
  • Tomatoes – I used canned diced tomatoes , but roasted adds a nice smoky flavor. If you have fresh tomatoes, use those. Want a richer broth? Stir in a little tomato paste.
  • Spices – I kept it simple with Italian seasoning , sea salt & black pepper.
  • Broth – Beef broth gives it the classic flavor, but chicken or veggie broth will still work if that’s what you’ve got. Bone broth makes it extra rich. I usually go for reduced sodium so I can adjust the salt myself.
Labeled recipe ingredients: Hamburger, bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, celery, garlic, broth, onion, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. - 4

How To Make Hamburger Soup

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

  1. Saute. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, bell peppers, and celery. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent.
  2. Brown . Add the beef and break it up with a spatula. Cook until it’s no longer pink.
  3. Simmer. Stir in the tomatoes, green beans, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer the hamburger soup until the green beans are tender.
Sauteed veggies in a Dutch oven. - 5 Browned hamburger and veggies in a Dutch oven. - 6 Finished hamburger soup recipe. - 7 My Recipe Tips - 8

My Recipe Tips

  • Cut the green beans to a size you like. I usually trim and cut them in half if they’re too long so they’re easier to eat and mix in better throughout the soup.
  • I don’t have to drain the fat from my ground beef since I use 85/15 grass-fed beef, which adds great flavor without being overly greasy. If you’re using fattier beef, like 80/20 or regular ground chuck, you can drain some of the fat after browning for a leaner soup.
  • Want to cook this soup in the Crock Pot instead? Brown the ground beef and saute the veggies or skip that step to keep it simple. Add everything except the green beans to the slow cooker and stir. Cook on Low for 7-8 hours or High for 3.5-4, adding the green beans during the last 2 hours.
  • Taste and adjust before serving. Broths can vary, so I like to taste at the end and add a little more salt or even a splash of lemon juice if it needs a boost.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
  • 1/2 cup White onion (chopped) ▢
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
  • 1/2 cup Bell peppers (chopped) ▢
  • 2 stalks Celery (chopped) ▢
  • 1 lb Ground beef ▢
  • 1 15-oz can Diced tomatoes ▢
  • 1 cup Green beans (trimmed, cut in half if too large) ▢
  • 1 tsp Sea salt ▢
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper ▢
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning ▢
  • 6 cups Beef broth ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. In a dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped bell peppers, and celery. Saute for 5 minutes , until the onion is translucent and the bell peppers have softened.
  2. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spatula. Saute for 5 more minutes , until the beef is no longer pink.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes, green beans, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and the beef broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes , until the green beans are cooked.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor, prevent mushy veggies, and make this soup turn out just right every time.
  • Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Meal prep: This hamburger soup is great for meal prep. I like to make a double batch and stash some away for later.
  • Reheat: Warm on the stove or in the microwave until hot. Thaw first if frozen, or heat straight from frozen.
  • Freeze: Keep in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months.
  • Note on nutrition info: Serving size is large enough to be a meal. If you want this hamburger soup as a starter, the serving size can be 1 cup, and the recipe will make 6 servings.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Hamburger Soup

More Hamburger Soup Recipes

If you loved this hamburger vegetable soup, here are a few more hamburger soup recipes to try next:

Hamburger soup recipe pin. - 9

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • The Basic Keto Meal Formula
  • Understanding Macros
  • Keto Food Swaps
  • Keto Food List
  • Electrolyte Basics
  • Keto Diet Types
  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 10

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A ProteinPick A VeggieAdd Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder VenisonCauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama CeleryButter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…Eat This
PancakesAlmond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
OatmealKeto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rollsFathead cinnamon rolls
CerealKeto nut granola
MuffinsAlmond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
DonutsAlmond flour donuts
SconesAlmond flour scones
High-sugar smoothiesSmoothie with berries or avocado
Hash brownsCauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casseroleBreakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whitesWhole eggs
Turkey baconBacon
WafflesChaffles
Keto food swaps - breakfast - 11

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…Eat This
BagelsFathead bagels
English muffinAlmond flour English muffin
White breadKeto white bread
Multigrain breadCoconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wrapsCoconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shellsCheddar cheese taco shells
Burger bunsOopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
BreadsticksCauliflower breadsticks
BiscuitsAlmond flour biscuits
CornbreadAlmond flour cornbread
CroutonsParmesan crisps
RiceCauliflower rice , konjac rice
Keto food swaps - bread and grains - 12

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…Eat This
Breaded wingsCrispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultryHigh-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoesMashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoesRoasted or fried radishes
TacosTaco salad
PizzaFathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
LasagnaEggplant lasagna
Potato saladCauliflower “potato” salad
French friesJicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater totsCauliflower tots
WrapsLettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
SushiNaruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fishBreaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
SpaghettiZoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles
Keto food swaps - meals and sides - 13

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…Eat This
NachosCheese crisps
High-sugar fruitBerries & other keto fruits
CrackersAlmond flour crackers
HummusCauliflower hummus
Soft pretzelsFathead pretzels
PopcornPuffed cheese
Granola barsGrain-free granola bars
JamSugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurtFull-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressingRanch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
KetchupMustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauceSugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butterNatural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayoAvocado oil mayo
Maple syrupSugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chipsZucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds
Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 14

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…Eat This
SugarMonk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugarPowdered monk fruit or allulose
White flourAlmond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewyXanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
BreadcrumbsPork rinds or almond flour
MargarineButter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oilOlive or avocado oil
BananasBanana extract
Chocolate chipsSugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour rouxXanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrupDissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat
Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 15

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…Eat This
LemonadeWater with lemon
SodaFlavored sparkling water
MilkAlmond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
LatteButter coffee
Coffee creamerHeavy cream
Sweet wineDry wine
BeerUltra light beer
Mixed drinksHard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto food swaps - drinks - 16

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 17

Foods To Eat On Keto

  • Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
  • Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
  • Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
  • Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
  • Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
  • Avocados
  • Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
  • Almond flour and coconut flour
  • Eggs
  • Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

  • White flour & sugar
  • Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
  • Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
  • Cereal
  • Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
  • Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
  • Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
  • Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
  • Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
  • Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 18

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

SodiumMagnesiumPotassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts PicklesSeaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greensPotassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

  • Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
  • Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
  • Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
  • Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 19

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Hamburger Soup

Hamburger soup in a bowl. - 20

This easy hamburger vegetable soup recipe makes a hearty, comforting meal in just 30 minutes. Perfect for busy nights or meal prep.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/hamburger-soup/

Hamburger Soup - 21 Hamburger Soup - 22 Hamburger Soup - 23 Hamburger Soup - 24

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1/2 cup White onion (chopped)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1/2 cup Bell peppers (chopped)
  • 2 stalks Celery (chopped)
  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 1 15-oz can Diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup Green beans (trimmed, cut in half if too large)
  • 1 tsp Sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 6 cups Beef broth

Instructions

  1. In a dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped bell peppers, and celery. Saute for 5 minutes , until the onion is translucent and the bell peppers have softened.
  2. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spatula. Saute for 5 more minutes , until the beef is no longer pink.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes, green beans, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and the beef broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes , until the green beans are cooked.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best flavor, prevent mushy veggies, and make this soup turn out just right every time.
  • Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  • Meal prep: This hamburger soup is great for meal prep. I like to make a double batch and stash some away for later.
  • Reheat: Warm on the stove or in the microwave until hot. Thaw first if frozen, or heat straight from frozen.
  • Freeze: Keep in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months.
  • Note on nutrition info: Serving size is large enough to be a meal. If you want this hamburger soup as a starter, the serving size can be 1 cup, and the recipe will make 6 servings.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)