Description

A hearty and comforting slow cooker soup made with ground beef, potatoes, and simple seasonings. Ready in 6 hours with minimal effort, perfect for busy days or cozy meals.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1.5 pounds)
1 large yellow onion, diced (about 7 ounces)
2 medium carrots, diced (about 4 ounces)
2 celery stalks, diced (about 3.5 ounces)
4 cups beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup milk or heavy cream
Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink. Drain most of the fat, leaving about a tablespoon for richness.
While the beef is browning, dice the potatoes, onion, carrots, celery, and mince the garlic.
Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker. Add diced potatoes, onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Pour in the beef broth and stir to combine.
Set the slow cooker to low and cook for about 6 hours, until potatoes are tender and flavors meld.
About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the milk or heavy cream. Mash a few potato chunks if you want a thicker soup. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Brown the beef first for better flavor. Use russet potatoes for natural thickening without mushiness. Add Worcestershire sauce for depth. Stir cream in last to avoid curdling. Season gradually to avoid over-salting. Optional additions include frozen peas, corn, or green beans in the last hour.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
Calories: 350
Sodium: 450
Fat: 15
Saturated Fat: 6
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 3
Protein: 22

Keywords: slow cooker soup, hamburger soup, potato soup, comfort food, easy dinner, ground beef soup, crockpot recipe