Easy Vegetable Beef Soup (with V8 Juice)

This recipe is one of those old-fashioned “gramma” recipes (I’ve also seen it be called “Hamburger Soup”). It was actually inspired by a vegetable beef soup my hubby’s family used to make growing up. I switched it up a bit to make it super quick and easy, yet still have that cooked-all-day flavor! I also kept the secret ingredient….V8 Juice!

Serve up this vegetable beef soup up with THE **BEST** Garlic Bread or Texas Toast or be healthy like that and have a nice, crisp arugula salad!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• It has cooked-all-day flavor but ready in about 30 minutes!
• You can easily customize the veggies in this soup! There’s no wrong way!
• It’s a rare, HEALTHY comfort food!
• Freezer-friendly and the leftovers are perfect for lunch!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious, Easy Vegetable Beef Soup:

INGREDIENT NOTES

Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef (90% lean or more) to keep this soup healthy and so I can skip draining it! HA!

Beef Stock: If you can find Beef Bone Broth, that works so well! If not, beef stock is also great. If you can only find beef BROTH, you can add two beef bullion cubes to deepen the flavor.

V8 Juice: This is a secret weapon for adding tons of flavor! If you like spice, use the spicy V8–so delish!

Veggies: Here is where you can mix and match based on what you like! My personal faves are celery, carrot, corn, green beans and potatoes. Fresh or frozen veggies both work just fine!

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Brown your meat with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

Step 2: Add celery, onion and carrots, stir to combine and cook about 5 minutes until veggies start to soften.

Step 3: Add potatoes and ALL remaining ingredients.

Step 4: Bring to a boil and simmer 15-20 minutes until flavors marry and potatoes are tender.

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS

• I like cutting my green beans into small pieces for easy eating! I use my kitchen shears and cut them up right in the pot while the soup is simmering away!
• If you like like firmer veggies, add the frozen vegetables in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• I like using some frozen veggies because it’s quick and easy. You can use any combo of fresh and frozen veggies you like!
• I always have extra beef stock or V8 juice on hand so when I go to reheat the soup, I can add a few splashes to thin it out.

STORAGE & REHEATING

Leftovers: Leftovers for this vegetable beef soup are so good! Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, just microwave or reheat in a pan on the stove. Adding a little more broth or V8 Juice helps add back in some moisture that the potatoes absorb.

Freezing: This soup also freezes great! When freezing, I like to undercook the soup a bit (cook about 10 minutes instead of 15-20 minutes). Then, cool the soup completely and store flat in freezer bags or an airtight freezer container. Store up to 2 months.

To reheat, thaw in the in fridge overnight (or on the kitchen counter) then reheat in a pan on the stove. Adding a little more broth or V8 Juice helps add back in some moisture that the potatoes absorb.

ADDITIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS

• If you like your soup more meaty, add 2 lbs. of ground beef!
• Lean stew meat (sirloin), beef tips or another tender steak cut into cubes would be perfect for this soup, too. You may have to simmer it a bit longer so the meat gets super tender.
• Mix and match vegetables however you like! You can use fresh, frozen or a combination of the two! Some great additions/swaps are: peas, lima beans, mushrooms and zucchini. There’s really no wrong answer here 🙂
• If you like spice, try V8 Juice in Spicy!
• Want add some carb heartiness?? Add in 1/2 cup of dried pasta while the soup is simmering!
• Although I haven’t tried it (YET), pretty certain Italian sausage would be AMAZING in this!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I make this in the crockpot?Yes, you can! Here are the crockpot instructions:

1) Brown meat, add onions, celery and carrots. Cook for 4-5 minutes then transfer to the the crockpot.

2) Add all remaining ingredients, leaving out the frozen veggies, if using. Give everything a big stir.

3) Cook on LOW 5-6 hours or HIGH 2-3 hours until potatoes are tender. Add frozen veggies (if using) in the last 1/2 hour of cooking.

What else can I add to my vegetable soup for flavor?

I prefer keeping this soup simple, but there are so many flavor additions you can add!

1) Beef Bullion cubes add another layer of depth and flavor to the soup. Add two cubes, crushed, to the soup when you add the beef stock.

2) Additional herbs: Dried or fresh rosemary, fresh garlic, and fresh parsley all add great flavor! When adding spices, start with a small amount, taste, and keep adding to taste.

3) A dash of hot sauce never hurt anyone 🙂