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Cozy Slow Cooker Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup

cozy slow cooker ground beef and vegetable soup - featured image
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A hearty, forgiving slow cooker soup made with ground beef and simple vegetables. It’s the kind of meal that handles itself, filling your kitchen with a savory aroma while you go about your day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 2 ribs celery, sliced
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 cup frozen green beans
  • 14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Optional garnish: fresh parsley, chopped, and grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Drain excess fat and transfer beef to the slow cooker.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan and transfer to the slow cooker.
  3. Add vegetables and seasonings: To the slow cooker, add sliced carrots, celery, cubed potatoes, frozen green beans, undrained diced tomatoes, dried thyme, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and the bay leaf.
  4. Stir in tomato paste and broth: Add the tomato paste and pour in the beef broth. Stir until the tomato paste is mostly dissolved.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until potatoes and carrots are tender.
  6. Finish and adjust seasoning: About 15 minutes before serving, remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Stir in fresh parsley if using.
  7. Serve hot: Ladle into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For best flavor, don’t skip browning the beef. Layer denser vegetables like carrots and potatoes at the bottom of the slow cooker. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking. Season in stages—start with 1 teaspoon salt and adjust at the end. If soup is too thin, mash some potatoes against the side of the slow cooker or stir in a cornstarch slurry. This soup freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, ground beef soup, vegetable soup, cozy soup, easy dinner, comfort food, meal prep

Find it online: https://blingbite.com/cozy-slow-cooker-ground-beef-and-vegetable-soup/