Grandma’s Hamburger Soup is a timeless classic that brings comfort and warmth to any meal, whether you prefer it hearty with noodles or light without. This deeply satisfying soup, packed with perfectly seasoned lean ground beef, a colorful array of fresh vegetables, and wholesome barley, offers a truly “stick-to-your-ribs” experience. Versatile enough to be prepared on your stovetop for a quick weeknight dinner or simmered gently in a slow cooker for a fuss-free meal, it has been a cherished family favorite for generations and promises to become one of yours too.
The Ultimate Comfort: Grandma’s Easy Hamburger Soup Recipe
There’s something uniquely comforting about a bowl of homemade soup, especially one that evokes cherished memories. For me, that’s my Grandma’s Hamburger Soup. From my earliest days, I was always a devoted fan of soup, and perhaps unusually for a child, I absolutely adored my vegetables! This particular recipe, passed down through the family, holds a special place in my heart, embodying warmth, flavor, and the simple joy of a home-cooked meal.
Crafting the Perfect Hamburger Soup: A Homage to a Childhood Favorite
My Grandma’s original hamburger soup recipe never included noodles. I loved it just as it was – a rich, beefy, and vegetable-laden broth that warmed you from the inside out. But as an adult, missing that nostalgic Campbell’s soup, I wondered if I could adapt Grandma’s recipe to bring back those flavors. What if I added noodles?
So, I experimented with egg noodles, and the result was incredibly exciting! While it wasn’t an exact “copycat” of the discontinued canned soup – I wouldn’t go that far – it captured a similar essence and texture that satisfied my craving. It truly helped bridge the gap left by my old favorite, offering a hearty, comforting alternative with the homemade goodness I cherished.
The Enduring Legacy of Cherished Family Recipes
Essential Ingredients for Grandma’s Hearty Hamburger Soup
This classic hamburger soup recipe relies on a few basic, wholesome ingredients that come together to create its rich, comforting flavor. You’ll need lean ground beef for a healthier base, vibrant carrots, crisp celery, and pungent onions to build the aromatic foundation. Fresh parsley adds a bright, herbaceous note, while canned tomatoes contribute a touch of acidity and depth. Hearty barley makes it truly filling, complemented by beef bouillon for intense beefy flavor, a hint of ketchup for sweetness and tang, and fragrant dried basil. And, of course, if you choose to include them, tender egg noodles complete the experience.
Ingredient Spotlight: What Makes This Soup So Good?
Each ingredient in Grandma’s Hamburger Soup plays a vital role in its delicious outcome. Lean ground beef provides the savory foundation without excessive grease, ensuring a cleaner, richer broth. The triumvirate of carrots, celery, and onions, often known as mirepoix, creates a deep, aromatic base that infuses the entire soup with flavor. Canned tomatoes break down during cooking, adding a subtle tang and contributing to the soup’s robust body. Barley, a humble grain, swells and softens beautifully, adding a fantastic chewy texture and making the soup incredibly satisfying. Beef bouillon amplifies the savory notes, while a touch of ketchup introduces a balanced sweetness and umami that truly sets this recipe apart. Dried basil contributes an earthy, slightly peppery aroma that ties all the flavors together, making every spoonful a delight.
Simple Steps to Prepare Your Delicious Hamburger Soup
One of the best features of this hamburger soup recipe is its adaptability. It yields fantastic results whether you opt for the classic stovetop method for a quicker cook or the low-and-slow approach of a slow cooker for maximum convenience and flavor development. Here’s how you can make this comforting dish:
To begin, brown your lean ground beef in a large pot, seasoning generously with salt and pepper to taste. Add the chopped onions during this stage, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic flavors alongside the beef. Once the beef is thoroughly browned, make sure to drain any excess grease to keep the soup lighter and cleaner. Return the browned beef and softened onions to the pot. (Alternatively, if you’re using a slow cooker, you can transfer the browned beef and onions, along with all subsequent ingredients, directly into your crockpot at this point).
Next, add all the remaining ingredients to the pot, with the sole exception of the egg noodles. Stir everything together thoroughly to combine, ensuring the barley, vegetables, tomatoes, and seasonings are well distributed in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a robust boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and allow the soup to cook for approximately 90 minutes. This simmering time allows the flavors to meld beautifully, the vegetables to tenderize, and the barley to become perfectly soft and chewy.
If you choose to incorporate noodles into your hamburger soup, prepare them separately according to package instructions. For best results and to prevent them from becoming too soft or mushy, add the cooked noodles directly to individual bowls or to the main pot just before serving. This ensures they retain their ideal texture.
You’ll find the complete printable recipe with precise measurements and detailed instructions at the bottom of this post.
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Don’t let this incredible Hamburger Noodle Soup recipe slip away! Make sure to save it for future meal planning. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you leave, so it’s always easy to find when you’re craving a comforting bowl of homemade goodness.
Choosing the Best Noodles for Your Ground Beef Noodle Soup
The decision to add noodles to this vegetable beef soup was a delightful revelation. The first time I tried it, I used Kluski noodles, which I found in the dry pasta section of my local grocery store. Their thick, chewy texture was a perfect match for the hearty soup. Many people also enjoy using elbow macaroni or other small pasta shapes in their hamburger noodle soup recipes, and that’s perfectly fine! The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility, allowing you to choose the type of noodle that best suits your preference.
However, for a truly special touch, I highly recommend making homemade egg noodles. Last year, a wave of nostalgia swept over me, and I decided to revive the tradition of making egg noodles from scratch, just like I used to with my grandma and mom when I was a child. Since then, I haven’t looked back at the freezer section varieties. While store-bought noodles are certainly convenient when you’re pressed for time, there’s an incomparable tenderness and rich flavor in homemade egg noodles. Now, whenever I plan to make a dish calling for them, I happily set aside a little extra time to prepare them from scratch. They elevate the soup to an entirely new level.
Beyond noodles, another fantastic alternative for hamburger soup is to incorporate rice. Adding rice transforms the soup into a different, yet equally delicious and filling, meal, offering a gluten-free option or simply a change of pace from pasta.
Embracing the Wholesome Goodness of Barley in Soup
Do you often cook with barley? If not, you’re missing out on a wonderful ingredient! I absolutely adore adding it to my soups and stews. In my opinion, it elevates the dish to a whole new level of heartiness and provides a delightful chewiness that’s incredibly satisfying. If you’re looking for another recipe to try with this versatile grain, check out this Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup. It cooks up in no time but tastes like it’s been simmering all day, and it’s absolutely packed with yummy barley!
Even though my Mother-in-law’s classic Mulligan Stew recipe doesn’t traditionally call for barley, I often add it when I have it on hand. It simply enhances the stew’s texture and makes it even more substantial. The robust nature of barley makes it a perfect complement to rich, savory broths, absorbing the flavors beautifully and adding a nutritious boost to any meal.
Explore Our Full Collection of Comforting Soup Recipes!
A fun fact about this very ground beef soup recipe? It was once featured on the Today Show Food website a few years back! It was such an incredible honor to see one of my Grandma’s cherished recipes highlighted on such a popular and respected food platform. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal and universal comfort that a simple, well-made bowl of soup can bring.
Now, let’s get to preparing this incredibly comforting and heartwarming soup! Enjoy every spoonful. 
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Print Recipe
Hamburger Soup With or Without Noodles
Equipment
- AmazonBasics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Blue
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 5 cups of water
- 1 – 16 ounce canned tomatoes
- 2 small onions chopped
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 stalks of celery sliced
- 1/2 Tablespoon parsley
- 1/4 cup barley I use a little more, we love it!
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 Tablespoon instant beef bouillon
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Egg Noodles optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, season ground beef with salt and pepper to taste, and brown it with your chopped onions.
- Drain any excess grease. Return the beef and onions to the pot. *At this stage, you can transfer these ingredients to your crockpot, or continue cooking on the stovetop.*
- Add all the remaining ingredients (except the egg noodles) to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours until vegetables are tender and barley is cooked.
- If desired, add your separately prepared egg noodles just before serving.
- If cooking in a crockpot, simply combine all ingredients (except noodles) and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until beef is cooked and vegetables are tender.
Notes
**I always double this recipe when I make it – it’s perfect for leftovers and freezes exceptionally well!**
Nutrition
This comforting recipe was originally published on January 7, 2014. It was thoughtfully updated and revised on December 1, 2020, to enhance user experience, clarify instructions, and add more valuable tips and information.