Potato Soup with Hamburger: Classic Recipe Guide

Potato soup with hamburger is a hearty American comfort food dish made by combining ground beef (hamburger) with potatoes, vegetables, and broth to create a thick, satisfying soup. This one-pot meal typically features browned ground beef, diced potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, and seasonings simmered together for a flavorful, budget-friendly dinner ready in under an hour.

Potato soup with hamburger represents the essence of practical American home cooking—transforming simple, affordable ingredients into a nourishing meal that satisfies hunger and warms the soul. This dish emerged from resourceful kitchen traditions where cooks combined ground beef with readily available potatoes and vegetables to create substantial meals without breaking the bank.

What makes this recipe particularly valuable for modern home cooks is its versatility and efficiency. Unlike traditional potato soup recipes that rely solely on vegetables, the addition of hamburger provides complete protein, making it a balanced one-pot meal that requires no additional side dishes. The ground beef adds richness and depth of flavor that elevates this from a simple side dish to a satisfying main course.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Potato Soup

The magic of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the quality of basic ingredients. You'll need:

Ingredient	Quantity	Preparation Notes
Ground beef (hamburger)	1 pound	80% lean for best flavor
Yukon Gold potatoes	2 pounds	Diced into 1/2-inch cubes
Yellow onion	1 large	Finely chopped
Carrots	2 medium	Diced small
Celery	2 stalks	Finely chopped
Chicken or beef broth	4 cups	Low-sodium preferred
Heavy cream or milk	1 cup	Added at the end

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Follow these straightforward steps to create a restaurant-quality potato soup with hamburger in your own kitchen:

1. Brown the hamburger: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until nicely browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess fat but retain about 1 tablespoon for flavor.
2. Sauté vegetables: Add onions, carrots, and celery to the pot with the beef. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
3. Add potatoes and liquid: Stir in the diced potatoes, broth, salt, pepper, and any desired seasonings (thyme works particularly well). Bring to a boil.
4. Simmer until tender: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender.
5. Finish with cream: Remove from heat and stir in cream or milk. For a thicker soup, mash some potatoes against the side of the pot.
6. Adjust seasoning: Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed before serving.

Pro Tips for the Best Hamburger Potato Soup

Elevate your potato soup with hamburger with these professional kitchen insights:

• Potato selection matters: Yukon Gold potatoes maintain their structure better than Russets while still providing creaminess. Their thin skins don't need peeling, saving preparation time.
• Don't skip the fond: After browning the hamburger, deglaze the pot with a splash of broth, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom. This builds tremendous flavor.
• Texture control: For creamier soup without dairy, remove 1-2 cups of cooked potatoes and vegetables, blend until smooth, then return to the pot.
• Make ahead advantage: This soup tastes even better the next day as flavors continue to meld. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Delicious Variations to Try

Once you've mastered the basic recipe, experiment with these popular adaptations of potato soup with hamburger:

• Southwest style: Add black beans, corn, diced green chilies, and cumin to the basic recipe, then top with shredded cheddar and cilantro.
• Bacon enhancement: Cook 4-6 slices of bacon first, then use the bacon fat to brown your hamburger for added smoky depth.
• Loaded baked potato version: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and chopped cooked bacon at the end, then serve topped with sour cream and chives.
• Vegetable-packed option: Add diced bell peppers, peas, or green beans for extra nutrition and color.

Serving Suggestions and Storage

This hearty potato soup with hamburger stands well on its own as a complete meal, but pairs beautifully with:

• Crusty bread or garlic bread for dipping
• Simple green salad with vinaigrette dressing
• Grilled cheese sandwiches for the ultimate comfort food combination

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, add a splash of broth or milk as the soup will thicken when chilled. This soup also freezes well for up to 3 months—just omit the dairy before freezing and add it when reheating.

Can I make potato soup with hamburger in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can easily adapt this recipe for a slow cooker. Brown the hamburger and sauté vegetables on the stove first, then transfer everything to your slow cooker with potatoes and broth. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Add cream during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

What's the best way to prevent potatoes from becoming mushy in potato soup?

To prevent mushy potatoes, cut them to uniform 1/2-inch cubes, add them to cold broth rather than boiling liquid, and avoid overcooking. Yukon Gold potatoes hold their shape better than Russets. For creamier texture without mushiness, remove some cooked potatoes, mash them, then return to the pot.

Can I use leftover cooked hamburger in potato soup?

Absolutely. Leftover cooked hamburger works perfectly in potato soup. Simply add it when you would normally add the broth. You'll want to supplement with additional fat (like butter or oil) since you won't have the rendered fat from cooking raw hamburger, which contributes to flavor development.

How can I make potato soup with hamburger healthier?

For a healthier version, use lean ground turkey instead of hamburger, reduce the cream or substitute with evaporated milk, increase vegetable content with extra carrots, celery, and peas, and use low-sodium broth. You can also leave out the cream entirely for a broth-based version that's still satisfying.

Why does my potato soup with hamburger turn out watery?

Watery potato soup usually results from too much liquid or not enough potato starch to thicken the broth. To fix this, try mashing some cooked potatoes against the pot wall, simmer uncovered to reduce liquid, or create a slurry with cornstarch and cold water (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water per cup of soup).