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Cozy Slow Cooker Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup (Easy Recipe)

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A hearty, hands-off slow cooker soup made with ground beef and a medley of vegetables. Perfect for busy weeknights or snowy days, this forgiving recipe delivers rich flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (Yukon Gold or Russet)
  • 1 cup frozen green beans
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • Optional: 1 cup chopped cabbage
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Optional: Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart, until browned and no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon for flavor.
  2. Add diced onion to the skillet with the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Deglaze the pan by pouring about 1/2 cup of beef broth into the hot skillet and scraping up browned bits. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker.
  4. Layer the ingredients: Add diced carrots, celery, potatoes, and frozen green beans to the slow cooker. Place the beef and onion mixture on top. Add diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, dried thyme, oregano, bay leaf, and remaining beef broth. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until vegetables are tender.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in frozen corn and frozen peas.
  7. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Stir in optional red pepper flakes or smoked paprika if desired.
  8. Turn off slow cooker and let soup rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  9. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or thyme if desired. Serve with crusty bread or a simple side salad.

Notes

Browning the beef is key for deep flavor. Don’t skip deglazing the pan. For meal prep, store soup without peas and corn; add fresh when reheating. Soup thickens as it sits; add broth when reheating if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, ground beef soup, vegetable soup, easy soup recipe, comfort food, winter soup, meal prep

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