Instant Pot Hamburger Soup

This Instant Pot hamburger soup is a quick and hearty meal that’s simply bursting with flavor. Packed with juicy beef and fresh veggies, this wholesome meal is sure to secure a spot in your weekly dinner rotation.

This hamburger soup recipe is the epitome of comfort food. It's loaded with ground beef, tender veggies, and a savory broth, making it the ultimate cozy, feel-good meal.

Each spoonful warms you up from the inside out, making it a must-have for cold nights or whenever you're in need of some proper comfort food.

Thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot, this ground beef soup comes together with minimal effort and in record time.

Why you’ll love this Instant Pot hamburger soup

• Deliciously comforting — This soup brims with warmth, delivering a cozy, satisfying meal that's perfect for any chilly day.
• Speedy and budget-friendly — Thanks to the Instant Pot, this easy, one-pot recipe is an ideal choice for busy weeknights. It also uses staple ingredients to keep things budget-friendly.
• Super easy to make your own — This is an excellent recipe for using up whatever ingredients you have on hand, reducing food waste while still delivering on flavor.

What goes into hamburger soup

Olive oil — You’ll need a splash of olive oil base for sautéing the vegetables and beef. If you don't have olive oil on hand, any neutral cooking oil, like canola or vegetable oil, will work well too.

Onion, carrot and celery — The holy trinity of soup bases, these veggies add a depth of flavor to the soup.

If you're short on time, you can use frozen mirepoix mix (a combination of these three ingredients) available at most grocery stores.

Ground beef — Lean ground beef is a great choice for a healthier soup, but you can use regular ground beef if you like.

Garlic — Fresh garlic cloves add a punch of flavor. Garlic powder can be used in a pinch, but fresh is best.

Bell peppers — They add color and a subtle sweetness to the soup. Any color bell pepper will work, or for a bit of a kick, you could substitute a small amount of jalapeno or other hot pepper.

Herbs — The recipe calls for dried oregano, basil, and thyme. If you don't have these specific herbs, an Italian seasoning blend could also work.

Diced tomatoes — I used finely diced tomatoes in this soup but feel free to use your favorite. You can also add some tomato paste for extra flavor.

Potatoes — This recipe uses regular white or yellow potatoes, but sweet potatoes could also be a delicious substitute for a slightly sweeter and more nutritious version.

If you're looking for a low-carb option, you could use turnips or cauliflower.

Beef stock — Low-sodium beef broth helps control the salt level of your soup. If you only have chicken or vegetable stock on hand, either will work as a substitute.

How to make hamburger soup in the Instant Pot

Set your Instant Pot to the "Sauté" mode and add the olive oil.

Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion, carrot, and celery ribs. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, which should take about 5 minutes.

Add the lean ground beef to the pot and break it up with a spoon. Cook until it's browned and no longer pink.

Stir in the garlic and diced bell peppers, and continue sautéing for another minute until the garlic is fragrant.

Now, add the dried oregano, dried basil, red chili flakes, and dried thyme to the pot and stir well.

Pour in the diced tomatoes and cubed potatoes. Stir everything together to make sure the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Add the low-sodium beef stock to the pot, ensuring that it covers the ingredients.

Close the Instant Pot lid, and set the valve to "Sealing". Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes.

Once the cooking time is done, perform a quick release.

Open the lid carefully, and stir in the finely chopped fresh parsley.

Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste and serve hot.

Make it vegan

To make this hamburger potato soup vegan, swap the ground beef for lentils or a plant-based meat substitute and use vegetable broth.

Make it in the slow cooker

Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, then transfer it to your slow cooker.

Add the olive oil, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bell peppers, herbs, diced tomatoes, and potatoes directly into the slow cooker.

Pour in the beef stock, ensuring that it covers the ingredients, then give everything a good stir. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the flavors are well combined.

Before serving, stir in the fresh parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Leftovers and storage

• Let the soup cool completely, then store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Perfect for meal prep!
• Warm up your soup on the stove over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, use the microwave for faster reheating.
• Once cooled, portion the soup into freezer-safe containers or bags. It will keep well frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Recipe notes and tips

• This soup is wonderfully hearty on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a side of crusty bread or a green salad.
• You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version of this soup.
• Feel free to add more vegetables of your choice to make the soup even heartier - think green beans, peas, or corn.
• Experiment with different spices to add more flavor profiles. A bit of smoked paprika or cumin could add a lovely depth of flavor.

If you liked this Instant Pot hamburger soup, you might also like some of my other easy Instant Pot soups:

• Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup
• Chicken and Rice Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana

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