My Cozy Kitchen Helper
My slow cooker is my best friend on busy days. I just add things in the morning. By evening, my house smells like a warm hug. That smell means dinner is ready with no fuss.
This slow cooker beef and vegetable soup is perfect for that. You brown the beef in a pan first. Then everything simmers together all day long. It becomes a hearty vegetable soup that feeds everyone.
A Story About Soup
My grandson once called this “grandma’s soup recipe.” He said it tasted like my kitchen. I still laugh at that. He loved finding the different veggies in his bowl.
That’s why this matters. Food is more than eating. It’s about the feeling of home. This homemade vegetable beef soup is pure comfort food soup. It builds happy memories around the table.
Why This Soup Works
This is an easy slow cooker soup. The slow cooker does the hard work. You get to do the easy part. Browning the meat first gives it great flavor.
Using ground beef makes it simple and affordable. This ground beef vegetable soup is a full meal in one pot. That makes it a perfect family dinner soup. What is your favorite vegetable to find in a soup?
A Handy Tip for You
This is a great make-ahead slow cooker meal. You can chop all your veggies the night before. Keep them in a bowl in the fridge. In the morning, you just toss them in.
*Fun fact: The bay leaves in this soup are a secret. They add a special, gentle flavor. But remember to take them out before serving! No one likes to bite into a leaf.
Making It Your Own
All crockpot beef soup recipes can change. Don’t have peas? Use more corn. Love potatoes? Add an extra one. This soup is very forgiving. That’s the beauty of cooking at home.
This matters because cooking should be fun, not scary. Your family will love it because you made it. Do you have a special ingredient you’d add? Tell me about it! I love trying new ideas.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beef broth | 1 (32 fluid ounce) container | or more if needed |
| Carrots | 3 | cut into bite-size pieces |
| Celery stalk | 1 large | cut into bite-size pieces |
| Fresh parsley | 1 ½ tablespoons | chopped |
| Celery seed | ½ teaspoon | |
| Bay leaves | 2 | |
| Lean ground beef | 1 pound | |
| Onion | 1 | chopped |
| Garlic | 1 clove | minced, or to taste |
| Stewed tomatoes | 1 (14.5 ounce) can | |
| Potatoes | 2 | peeled and cut into bite-size pieces |
| Whole kernel corn | 1 (15.25 ounce) can | drained |
| Green beans | 1 (15 ounce) can | drained |
| Peas | 1 (15 ounce) can | drained |
Instructions
Step 1: First, let’s start our slow cooker beef and vegetable soup. Put the broth, carrots, celery, parsley, celery seed, and bay leaves in your slow cooker. Set it on High and cover it. Let those veggies get tender for about two hours. Doesn’t that smell amazing already? This is the base of grandma’s soup recipe.
Step 2: Now, brown your ground beef with the onion and garlic in a skillet. Break the meat into little pieces as it cooks. Drain the fat when it’s no longer pink. (This makes your ground beef vegetable soup less greasy). Stir in the can of stewed tomatoes and let them bubble. Do you drain your canned veggies? Share below!
Step 3: Your kitchen must be so warm now. Add the potatoes, corn, green beans, and peas to the slow cooker. Pour in the beef and tomato mixture too. Give everything a good, hearty stir. Put the lid back on and cook on High for four more hours. This easy slow cooker soup becomes a full meal.
Creative Twists
Swap the ground beef for little meatballs. Kids love finding them! Add a big spoonful of pesto at the end. It makes the flavor pop. Try sweet potatoes instead of regular ones. They add a cozy sweetness. Which one would you try first? Comment below!
Serving & Pairing Ideas
This homemade vegetable beef soup is a whole dinner. I love it with thick, buttered bread for dipping. A simple green salad on the side is perfect too. For fun, let everyone add their own grated cheese on top. This comfort food soup makes everyone happy. Which would you choose tonight?
Making Soup Last: Fridge, Freezer, and Reheating Tips
This soup keeps well. Let it cool first. Then put it in the fridge. It will stay good for about four days. You can also freeze it for later. Use a freezer-safe container. Leave some space at the top. The soup will expand as it freezes.
I remember my first big batch. I filled my freezer with jars. It felt like having a treasure chest. Knowing dinner was ready made busy days so much easier. Batch cooking matters. It gives you more time with your family. It turns a cooking day into many easy nights.
Reheating is simple. Thaw frozen soup in the fridge overnight. Warm it on the stove over medium heat. Stir it now and then. Add a splash of broth if it seems too thick. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!
Three Common Soup Problems and Easy Fixes
Is your soup too watery? Let it cook uncovered for the last hour. The extra liquid will steam away. Soup tasting a bit flat? Add a pinch more salt. I once forgot the salt entirely. The flavor was very shy until I added some.
Are the vegetables too soft? Add delicate veggies, like peas, at the end. They only need a little heat. Fixing these small issues matters. It builds your cooking confidence. It also makes sure every bowl tastes just right. Which of these problems have you run into before?
Your Quick Questions, Answered
What are the best vegetables for slow cooker beef soup?
Hard vegetables work best. Think carrots, potatoes, and celery. They hold their shape during long cooking. This makes your homemade vegetable beef soup hearty. You can also add corn or green beans from a can. Put those in near the end so they stay bright.
Can I use stew meat for beef vegetable soup in a slow cooker?
Yes, you can use stew meat. It makes a wonderful crockpot beef soup. Brown the meat in a pan first for more flavor. Then let the slow cooker make it tender. This turns it into a true comfort food soup for family dinner.
How long should you cook beef vegetable soup in a slow cooker?
Cook it on high for about 4-6 hours. Or cook it on low for 8 hours. The long, slow heat makes the flavors blend beautifully. This easy slow cooker soup recipe is very forgiving. The soup is done when the vegetables are soft.
Can you put raw beef in a slow cooker for soup?
You can put raw ground beef in. For stew meat, I like to brown it first. Browning adds a deeper flavor to your grandma’s soup recipe. But for this ground beef vegetable soup, browning the beef in a skillet is a good first step.
How do you thicken beef and vegetable slow cooker soup?
Make a simple slurry. Mix two tablespoons of cornstarch with cold water. Stir this into your hot soup near the end of cooking. Let it cook for 15 more minutes. Your hearty vegetable soup will become nicely thick and rich.
What red wine is best for beef vegetable soup?
A dry red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon is good. Add just a small splash when browning the meat. The alcohol cooks off. It leaves behind a wonderful rich taste. This little trick makes your family dinner soup taste extra special.
*Fun fact: A slow cooker uses less electricity than a standard light bulb!* Which tip will you try first?
A Note From My Kitchen to Yours
I hope you love this make-ahead slow cooker meal. It is one of my favorite recipes to share. The smell fills the whole house with warmth. It tells everyone that a good, simple dinner is ready.
I would love to hear from you. Have you tried this recipe? Did your family enjoy it? Please tell me all about it in the comments below. Your stories are my favorite thing to read.
Happy cooking!
—Elena Rutherford
Hearty Beef and Vegetable Slow Cooker Soup
Description
Grandma’s Slow Cooker Beef and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
- Stir beef broth, carrots, celery, parsley, celery seed, and bay leaves into a slow cooker set on High, cover, and cook until vegetables are tender, about 2 hours.
- Place ground beef, onion, and garlic into a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently to break the beef into small pieces, until onion is translucent and beef is browned and no longer shows pink areas, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain off fat, and stir stewed tomatoes into the beef mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes are broken up into small pieces.
- Stir potatoes, corn, green beans, and peas into soup in slow cooker, and add beef mixture. Stir everything together, cover, and set slow cooker on High. Cook for 4 hours.
Notes
- Nutrition per serving: Calories 375, Fat 11g, Saturated Fat 4g, Cholesterol 67mg, Sodium 1084mg, Total Carbohydrate 41g, Dietary Fiber 7g, Total Sugars 8g, Protein 30g, Vitamin C 23mg, Calcium 100mg, Iron 6mg, Potassium 1224mg.