This rich and flavorful vegetable beef soup makes a comforting start to a winter meal and is hearty enough to serve as a filling main course.
It's one of those recipes where the leftovers get better as they rest in the fridge, allowing the flavors to meld.
This delicious soup has distinct European flavors and seasonings, from the mirepoix used as a vegetable base to the grated parmesan added at the end to flavor and thicken the soup.
It is also wonderfully filling and satiating. While it works as an appetizer, it's rich and hearty enough to be served as a main course, much like no-bean chili, chicken chili, or fish chowder.
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Ingredients
Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this vegetable beef soup. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
- Olive oil: This is my favorite oil to cook with. Butter is another tasty option.
- Vegetables: I use onion, garlic, carrots, and celery.
- Lean ground beef: I use an 85/15 mixture. A leaner mixture (90/10) will work, but then you'll need to add more oil or butter to the pan.
- To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, oregano, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and a bay leaf. The rosemary is especially good here.
- Beef broth: Store-bought is fine. I prefer to use regular broth, as I find it more flavorful than a low-sodium broth.
- Pomi chopped tomatoes: These tomatoes are sweeter and less acidic than American canned tomatoes, and they're also diced very finely, which is important for the texture of this soup.
- Grated Parmesan: Make sure you use finely grated cheese, not coarsely shredded. This is an important ingredient - it helps thicken the soup.
Variations
- Use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef. Ground lamb is another option, but personally, I'm not a fan, since it has a strong and distinctive flavor.
- Dried thyme is an excellent addition. Sometimes I add ¼ teaspoon in addition to the other spices.
- A teaspoon of paprika or smoked paprika adds warmth and another layer of flavor to the soup.
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
Cook the onions, carrots, celery, and ground beef in olive oil. Cook until the beef is no longer raw and the vegetables are tender-crisp. Break the meat up as you cook into small chunks. Add the garlic and spices and cook for one more minute.
Stir in the beef broth and tomatoes, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the soup for 20 minutes. This is the stage that allows all the wonderful flavors to meld together. It also slightly thickens the soup.
The last step is to mix in the parmesan and serve the soup.
Expert Tips
- Recommended tomatoes: I use Pomi chopped tomatoes in this recipe. They are sweeter, thicker, and less acidic than American diced tomatoes. Another good Italian brand that is easier to find in regular supermarkets is Cento. Cento Crushed Tomatoes are an acceptable alternative to Pomi chopped tomatoes. Alternatively, you can use one 14-ounce can of American diced tomatoes, undrained, plus one 14-ounce can of canned plain tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes.
- Adjusting the salt: This recipe relies on two packaged products that can greatly vary - tomatoes and broth. So, you should definitely taste the soup before serving and see if you need to adjust anything. I use low-sodium tomatoes (Italian brands are low in sodium) but regular (not reduced-sodium) beef broth. If you use a different combination, you might need to use less or more salt in this recipe. So taste and decide - it's the only way to get it right.
- Cleanup tip: The grated parmesan works well at thickening the soup and flavoring it. It’s messy, though – it will coat your saucepan with a thin, sticky film. It’s not difficult to scrub with warm soapy water, but I just want you to be aware.
Recipe FAQs
This is a chunky soup, similar to the texture of chili (such as this pumpkin chili) or curry (such as this chicken curry).
Yes. Although beef broth is best, you can use chicken broth. I recommend using a salted broth, not a low-sodium one.
Yes, absolutely. My recipe doesn't contain any potatoes (or pasta, for that matter). Although potatoes would help with thickening the soup, I find that it comes out rich and thick, especially when you add grated parmesan.
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve this soup as a main course, with any of the following on the side:
Storing Leftovers
The leftovers keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power, or on low heat on the stovetop.
You can also freeze this soup. I like to freeze it in mugs and then reheat it in the microwave when I feel like having something warm and comforting.
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Recipe Card
Vegetable Beef Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion - large, diced (8 ounces)
- 2 cups carrots - diced (2 large carrots, 8 ounces)
- 2 cups celery - diced (8 ounces)
- 1 pound lean ground beef - (85/15)
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic - minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups beef broth - (not low-sodium)
- 26 ounces Pomi chopped tomatoes - See notes
- 1 dried bay leaf
- ½ cup Parmesan - grated (not shredded)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. Stir in the onions, carrots, celery, and ground beef. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Cook, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat into small chunks, until the vegetables are tender-crisp and the meat is no longer raw (it can still be pink, that's OK), about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, oregano, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, for one more minute.
- Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaf. Turn the heat off and stir in the parmesan. Divide the soup into bowls and serve.
Video
Notes
- Cento Crushed Tomatoes are an acceptable alternative to Pomi chopped tomatoes. If you can't find Pomi or Cento, use one 14-ounce can of petite diced tomatoes (undrained) plus one 14-ounce can of canned tomato puree or canned plain tomato sauce.
- You'll need to adjust the salt in this recipe according to the products you use. I use regular beef broth, but the Italian tomatoes I use are low in sodium. If you use reduced-sodium broth, consider adding more salt, unless the tomatoes you use are high in sodium. In short, taste and decide for yourself. 🙂
- The parmesan is a bit messy - it creates a thin sticky film on the bottom of the saucepan. It's not difficult to scrub with warm soapy water, and the parmesan's thickening effect and amazing flavor are worth it.
- The leftovers keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power, or on low heat on the stovetop. You can also freeze this soup. I like to freeze it in mugs and then reheat it in the microwave when I feel like having something warm and comforting.
Nutrition per Serving
Disclaimers
Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 
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