Crockpot Hamburger Soup Recipe (Freezer Friendly) (2024)

Filled with tender ground beef, flavorful veggies, and just-right seasonings, this Crockpot Hamburger Soup recipe is a hearty, healthy meal you’ll want to add to your menu! This is an easy make-ahead, freezer-to-slow cooker recipe that’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and a Whole30 hamburger vegetable soup that thousands have loved.

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Hamburger Soup Recipe packed with veggies

This easy crockpot hamburger soup features a variety of starchy and non-starchy veggies. Add in broth, seasonings, and tender chunks of ground beef and you’ve got a hearty, thick, and healthy slow cooker hamburger soup to share. Thousands have loved this recipe for its great taste and good nutrition. Each serving provides an incredible 3-4 servings of vegetables, 7 grams of fiber, and 24 grams of protein. See below for the complete nutritional information and calories per serving.

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Ingredients to Make Crockpot Hamburger Soup

This is a versatile crockpot hamburger vegetable soup recipe. Feel free to change up the veggies with what you have on hand.

  • Lean ground beef – look for 90-93% lean ground beef. Learn how to choose quality meat. You can substitute ground bison, ground turkey, or ground chicken
  • Sweet potato and Yukon gold potatoes – we really like the combination of sweet and Yukon potatoes, but if you wish to use only one, that is just fine
  • Yellow onion – a white onion will also work
  • Green bell pepper – use any color of sweet bell pepper
  • Garlic clove
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes– while the fire-roasted diced tomatoes add more flavor, you can certainly use regular (crushed, petite, diced) canned tomatoes, if that’s what you have on hand
  • Tomato paste– this helps make the soup nice and thick
  • Beef broth– you could also use chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth
  • Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh green beans– frozen green beans could also work; add them to the slow cooker at the end of cooking
  • Kale –an optional ingredient, but we love the texture it adds to this hamburger soup recipe; you could also use spinach

This easy crock pot recipe is so versatile, so feel free to throw in any other veggies you have on hand, such as peas, corn, or russet potatoes. Or seasoning with your favorite spices, such as dried basil, oregano, or parsley. You could even stir in a favorite pasta at the end, if you’d like, such as macaroni or penne.

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How to make Healthy Hamburger Soup

This is a simple, comforting food, crock pot hamburger soup that cooks away while you go on with your busy day. To make it, simply brown the beef with the onion, green pepper, and garlicin a skillet on the stove top. Chop the remainder of the the veggies and add everything except to the slow cooker, except for the green beans and kale. Set the slow cooker to the low setting and cook for 8 hours (or set on the high heat setting and cook for 4 hours). When you have one hour of cooking time left, stir in the kale and green beans. Top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and serve with crackers or crusty bread, or just the way it is, hearty and warm!

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A must-have kitchen appliance

A trusty slow cooker is one of our team’s most used and loved kitchen appliances! Imagine having a recipe simmering slowly, like this one, and you don’t need to do a thing while it cooks. Pretty nice, huh? We have a ton of tested and perfected slow cooker recipes to try.

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Can I make This Hamburger Soup in the Instant Pot?

You can! Here are the easy steps to make this Crockpot Hamburger Soup in an Instant Pot instead of a slow cooker. We suggest halving all of the ingredients in this recipe if you are using a 6-quart multicooker otherwise it will exceed the ‘Max’ fill line.

  1. Select ‘Sauté’ on the Instant Pot and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add ground beef, garlic, onions, and bell pepper, sauté for 5-7 minutes or until meat is cooked and no longer pink.
  2. Add the remaining of the ingredients, except for the kale. Lock the lid into place and flip valve to sealing position.
  3. Select high pressure cooking and set to 12 minutes. When the cook time is up, allow for 5-7 minutes of natural pressure release before flipping the valve to the venting position to release any remaining pressure.
  4. Remove the lid. Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté function and stir in the kale. Continue to cook until kale is tender, 3-5 minutes more.
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Healthy Hamburger Soup is Meal prep and freezer-friendly

Here at The Real Food Dietitians, we love recipes that can be prepped ahead and even frozen to make later when you really need it. And we know you love this kind of recipe, too! This Crockpot Hamburger Soup recipe is one that you can made ahead of time in several ways:

  • Make-ahead and freeze: If you want to have an easy thaw-and-reheat soup on hand for the weeks or months to come, simply prepare this hamburger soup recipe from start to finish. Pour it into one or two 9×13-inch baking dishes and place in the refrigerator overnight to cool. Then, transfer into a large freezer-safe bag or divide individual portions into small freezer-safe bags. Freezer for up to
  • Freezer-to-slow cooker method: Cook the ground beef, onions, green pepper, and garlic as instructed in Step 1; let cool slightly then transfer to a large freezer-safe bag. Add the remaining ingredients to the bag (except for the broth, green beans, and kale). Seal and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, let the bag thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Dump the contents of the bag into a slow cooker and add the broth; cook as directed, adding the green beans and kale near the end of cooking time.
  • Prep ingredients to cook later: If you want to make this recipe in the next few days, you can set yourself up for mealtime success by prepping many of the ingredients ahead of time. Star by browning the ground beef, onion, green pepper, and garlic. Let this mixture cool and store in a covered container in the fridge. Separately, you can chop the potatoes, carrots, and celery and store those in a different container in the fridge. Finally, prep the green beans and kale, and store those in another container in the fridge. When it comes time to make the recipe, add the ground beef mixture, potatoes, carrots, celery, broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and seasonings. Complete the recipe as written, adding the green beans and kale during the last hour of cooking.
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How Crockpot Hamburger Soup Fits in Special Diets

Not only is this soup hearty and delicious, but it is also a great choice when feeding people who have food allergies or certain dietary restrictions.

Gluten Free

This soup contains no wheat flour thickeners or ingredients that contain gluten, so it is a naturally gluten-free and grain-free hamburger soup

Dairy Free

Our crockpot hamburger soup doesn’t contain any butter, cheese, or milk, and is naturally dairy free

Soy Free

We don’t use any soy-containing flavorings in the soup, so it is a soy-free soup recipe

Paleo

This hamburger soup is Paleo friendly

Without any grains or added sugars, this is a Whole30 hamburger and vegetable soup recipe

This soup does not contain any nuts

How to reheat Hamburger Soup from frozen

Follow these basic steps to thaw and reheat your frozen Hamburger Soup recipe.

  1. Thaw the container of frozen soup a warm water bath in the sink. Once it starts to soften, transfer the soup to a pot on the stovetop or a microwave-safe bowl.
  2. On the stovetop, heat the hamburger soup over low to medium heat. Stir occasionally, bring to a boil, then remove from heat and serve.
  3. In the microwave, set microwave on low setting and microwave the soup for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, microwave in 1-minute increments until the soup is hot.

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The Best Way to Freeze Leftovers

We love how easy it is to freeze leftovers with these silicone trays. We love these in 1-cup traysand 2-cup Souper Cube trays for keeping an organized freezer while reducing food waste in the kitchen.

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More 5-Star Crockpot Soups

Slow Cooker Beef and Bean ChiliSlow Cooker Beef Stew with Root Vegetables (Easy and Healthy)Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chicken CurrySlow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde Stew

Nutritious ingredients in Crockpot Hamburger Soup

This slow cooker hamburger soup recipe is chock full of nutritious ingredients that provide high quality protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Look for these nutrition all-stars:

  • ground beef – a budget-friendly ingredient that provides high-quality protein in every bite. Find more ground beef recipes in our 20 Healthy Ground Beef Recipes post.
  • sweet potato – a great source of vitamins and fiber, and also helps promote gut health
  • carrots – a good source of fiber and nutrients that support bones and eyes
  • fire-roasted tomatoes – fire-roasting increases the lycopene content in tomatoes, a powerful antioxidant that can support everything from skin health to acute pain
  • green beans – a great source of folate and vitamin K to support pregnancy, as well as bone health and mental health
  • kale – an extremely nutrient-dense veggie with fiber to support gut health

This nutritious soup is perfect for making and sharing with someone who could use a good, comforting, home-cooked meal. Think of new parents, a sick friend, a family member in a tough season of life, or a grandparent who needs an easy meal. Prep the ingredients for them so they can add to a slow cooker later, or make the entire recipe, start-to-finish. However you share this crockpot hamburger soup, it will be appreciated and nourish someone you love from the inside out.

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Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 47 reviews

Crock Pot Healthy Hamburger Soup

This soup delivers nourishment and great taste in every bite. Combine a variety of delicious veggies with ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, broth, and perfect seasonings for a healthy comfort soup that has been loved by thousands.

Prep: 20 minsCook: 8 hoursTotal: 8 hours 20 minutes

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Servings: 10 1/2 cups total (68 servings) 1x

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (~2 cups)
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced (~1 cup)
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 10 oz. (1 large) sweet potato, peeled and cubed (~2 cups)
  • 10 oz. (2-3) Yukon gold potatoes, cubed (~2 cups)
  • 2 medium carrots, diced (~1 cup)
  • 2 ribs celery, diced (~1 cup)
  • 2 (14-oz.) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
  • 1 quart (4 cups) low-sodium beef broth + additional if needed
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (plus more to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 oz fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces (can also use frozen green beans)
  • 2 cups chopped and packed kale, tough stems removed (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat add the ground beef, onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir until the ground beef is no longer pink.
  2. Drain the ground beef mixture and transfer it to a large slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients, except for the green beans and kale.
  3. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 5-6 hours.
  4. When there is about 1 hour of cooking time remaining, open the lid on the slow cooker and stir in the green beans and kale. If you prefer your soup to be thinner, feel free to add additional broth at this time. Replace the lid and continue to cook for 1 hour, or until the green beans are tender. If using frozen green beans, wait to add them until just 30 minutes of cooking time remains.
  5. Taste and season as desired before serving.

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Notes

Instant Pot Directions: (Use half the amount of every ingredient if making this recipe in the Instant Pot.)

  1. Select ‘Saute’ on the Instant Pot and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add ground beef, garlic, onions, and bell pepper, sauté for 5-7 minutes or until meat is cooked and no longer pink.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredient, except for the kale. If using frozen green beans, don’t add them yet. If using fresh green beans, add them at this step. Add just 2 cups of broth instead of 4 cups. Lock the lid into place and flip valve to sealing position.
  3. Cook on high pressure for 9 minutes. After the cooking time is up, allow for 5-7 minutes of natural pressure release before flipping value to venting position to release any remaining pressure.
  4. Remove the lid. Turn to the Sauté function and stir in the kale (and green beans, if using frozen). Continue to cook until the kale is tender, 3-5 minutes more.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1 3/4 cups (1/6 of recipe)
  • Calories: 340
  • Fat: 6 g
  • (Sat Fat: 2 g)
  • Sodium: 870 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 48 g
  • (Fiber: 8 g
  • Sugar: 13 g)
  • Protein: 24 g
  • Cholesterol: 45 mg

Dietary

Dairy-FreeEgg-FreeGluten-freeGrain-FreeNut-freePaleoWhole30

© The Real Food Dietitians

Recipe By: Stacie Hassing

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Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter.

For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog postabove. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians.Thank you!

Crockpot Hamburger Soup Recipe (Freezer Friendly) (2024)

FAQs

Does hamburger soup freeze well? ›

TO REHEAT: Reheat leftover soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. TO FREEZE: Freeze the soup in an airtight freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.

Can you make hamburger soup in a slow cooker? ›

This easy crockpot hamburger soup features a variety of starchy and non-starchy veggies. Add in broth, seasonings, and tender chunks of ground beef and you've got a hearty, thick, and healthy slow cooker hamburger soup to share. Thousands have loved this recipe for its great taste and good nutrition.

Can I put frozen soup in the crockpot? ›

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

How long will hamburger soup keep in the fridge? ›

How to Store and Freeze Hamburger Soup. Leftover soup will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, let the soup cool completely and then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags, pressing out as much air as possible.

What soups are not good to freeze? ›

Soups with a creamy consistency, like potato or chowders, might not taste good after freezing because it affects the texture and makes potatoes mushy. Rice, beans, and noodle soups might also taste different or become mushy. Typically, broth-based soups will freeze well.

Is it safe to put raw hamburger in crockpot? ›

You don't HAVE to precook your ground meat before putting in a crock-pot. But if the crock-pot doesn't get hot enough within an hour or so the meat could be unsafe to eat. So I would just precook it in a skillet anyway just to be on the safe side.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Can you overcook soup in a slow cooker? ›

"When a slow cooker is too full, it may not heat the food evenly," explains Leal. As a result, some parts of the dish may overcook, while others remain undercooked. "This can also increase the risk of foodborne illness, because the food might not reach a safe temperature throughout," she says.

Do you have to thaw frozen soup before cooking? ›

However, it's not necessary to thaw your soup before reheating it, and you may choose to reheat your soup from frozen. To thaw your soup, we recommend putting it in the refrigerator overnight or placing it in a bowl or pot on the counter for an hour.

Should frozen soup be thawed before cooking? ›

How you reheat soup has a lot to do with how well frozen soup turns out. It's best to thaw the soup prior to heating, ideally overnight in the fridge, then gently reheat in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently to ensure nothing sticks or burns. The stovetop gives you greater heat control for more even cooking.

Can you cook frozen soup directly from the freezer? ›

However it is possible to reheat the soup direct from frozen and this is best done, at least partially, with a microwave. Transfer the frozen soup into a microwave-safe container, partially cover and microwave on low heat in 2 minute blasts until the soup has become slushy.

How can I thicken my hamburger soup? ›

Cornstarch is a great option as it is a natural thickening agent, but you'll want to be careful about how much you use. Start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch whisked together with cold water to create a slurry. Then, gradually add the slurry to the soup, letting it boil for one to two minutes before adding more.

Can I freeze soup with potatoes in it? ›

Experts say potato soup doesn't freeze well. Freezing soups with potatoes can become dry, because potatoes will sponge up moisture, and have a tendency to become grainy when defrosted. Plus, dairy-based soups can separate and lose their creamy consistency. All in all, potato soup is one to enjoy immediately.

Can I eat soup that has been in the fridge for a week? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.

Can you freeze soup that has meat in it? ›

Just like some foods freeze better than others, some soup recipes are better suited for preserving. Broth-based soups tend to freeze better than creamy soups. Most brothy soups filled with chopped vegetables and diced or shredded meat freeze well.

Can you freeze soup with meat in it? ›

So, if your soup contains chicken, beef, pork, or any other type of meat, you need to get that batch in the freezer within three days of preparing the soup. If it's a vegetable soup, you may get away with an extra day or two—but why risk it? We recommend freezing your soup the same day you cook it.

Can you freeze homemade beef soup? ›

Turn your big batch of soup into convenient grab-and-go meals by freezing it in individual servings. Quart-size freezer bags (or 4-cup freezer-safe plastic or glass containers) will accommodate a single serving while giving the soup room to expand as it freezes, plus when frozen flat, they stack easily.

Does homemade vegetable beef soup freeze well? ›

If you need to keep it longer, I would suggest freezing it in portion-sized containers which you can thaw and use as needed. Mine will usually make it about 2 weeks before it starts getting off tasting. Usually I freeze half of it the day after I made it when it's cool.

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