This Vegetable Beef Soup is packed with veggies, tender beef, potatoes, herbs, and spices in a rich tomato beef broth. It’s hearty, packed with flavor and so comforting.
We love cozy and satisfying soups like Beef Stew, or Chicken and Rice Soup, and of course this Vegetable Beef Soup. Pair it with Soft Dinner Rolls and dinner is made!
What is Vegetable Beef Soup?
Vegetable beef soup is a hearty soup with a combination of vegetables, potatoes, and beef stew meat. It is essentially a Vegetable Soup with tender chunks of beef that are infused with flavor from the veggies, herbs, and spices in the broth.
This soup is ready in about an hour and a half, but make it once and enjoy it for lunch or dinner throughout the week. Similar to our Slow Cooker Beef Stew, this just gets better as the flavors meld together.
Ingredients
This vegetable beef soup recipe uses simple ingredients that may already be in your pantry and refrigerator. Isn’t it great when you don’t need to run to the store for special ingredients? Here’s what you’ll need (scroll down for exact measurements in the print-friendly recipe card below).
- Oil: Olive oil (or avocado oil) is used to saute the beef and aromatics.
- Beef stew meat: Use beef stew cuts with fatty marbling. The more marbling, the more tender and juicy the beef.
- Veggies: There are loads of vegetables in this soup including yellow onion, green onions, canned diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, and green beans (see substitution ideas below).
- Beef broth: Use a low-sodium beef broth to limit the amount of salt in the soup. However, you can also replace it with Chicken Stock.
- Potatoes: The potatoes make the soup extra-filling. Use red or russet potatoes for the best results.
- Herbs: Bay leaves and fresh parsley add important flavor to the soup. Instead of parsley, feel free to use dill.
- Spices: Season the soup to taste with classic salt and pepper seasoning. For even more flavor, add thyme or oregano.
How to Make Vegetable Beef Soup
Vegetable beef soup is easy to make and it all comes together in one pot (hooray for fewer dishes!). Add the ingredients in the correct order so they cook through properly.
- Saute the beef: Preheat a heavy soup pot with oil on medium-high heat, then saute beef until browned on all sides.
- Cook the onions: Add the onions to the beef and cook until the onions are soft and golden.
- Pour in liquid ingredients: Add beef broth, canned tomatoes, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Stir to mix. Boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the beef is tender, about 50-60 minutes.
- Add hard vegetables: Add potatoes, carrots, and celery and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add soft vegetables: Add green beans and green onions, then simmer for 10 additional minutes.
- Serve: Add parsley and serve with extra herbs if preferred.
Tips for the Best Soup
This recipe is easy and straightforward but there are ways to make your soup taste it’s best. Follow these tips for the most flavorful results.
- Brown beef in small portions: If your pot is not large enough, brown the beef in small portions. It’s important to get a good sear on the meat which flavor to the soup and also prevents the beef from steam cooking and becoming tough and chewy.
- Scrape the pot: After browning the meat and adding in the liquid ingredients, scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze and release the delicious brown bits into the soup. This is why it’s best to make the soup all in one pot.
- Cut ingredients into even pieces: For even cooking and a better texture, cut all ingredients into bite-sized pieces.
- Adjust the seasoning: Depending on the brand of canned tomatoes and the type of broth used, adjust the salt and pepper seasoning to taste. Some canned tomatoes and broths are saltier so wait until the end to add more seasonings to taste if needed.
- Remove bay leaves: Bay leaves are vital for flavor while the soup is cooking, but remove them after the soup is ready.
- Add herbs: For more freshness, add the parsley to the soup pot at the end and garnish with more freshly chopped parsley to serve.
How to Serve Vegetable Beef Soup
Vegetable beef soup is filling and wonderful on its own, but like most soups, it’s perfect with bread. Try our Cloverleaf Rolls, Focaccia Bread, or pair it with a slice of Crusty French Bread.
The soup is best served warm, but if you want to pair it with a cool and crisp side dish, make a fresh Chickpea Salad, or a classic Caesar Salad.
Common Questions
The best way to ensure a flavorful soup is to brown the beef and onions in the beginning. If the soup tastes bland at the end of cooking, add more spices and herbs. After adding, allow the soup to cook a little longer so the flavors to meld together.
You can change up the vegetables depending on what you have on hand. For even more variety, add fresh garlic, canned corn, frozen peas, and asparagus. Just be sure to add soft vegetables towards the end when you would add the green beans.
This vegetable beef soup can be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months. However, due to the potatoes, the consistency may change and get mushy after thawing.
Stew meat is the easiest option because it doesn’t require any additional prep. Chuck roast or another well-marbled steak are good alternatives if you prefer to cut your own chunks of beef into 1-inch cubes.
Make-Ahead
- To Store Soup – Once the vegetable beef soup has cooled to room temperature, store the soup in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating Soup – You can reheat a large portion of leftovers in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat, or reheat a smaller portion in a saucepan, or in the microwave until hot.
