I have a confession to make: I don’t know how to cook, but I can fake my way around it if I have a recipe to follow. When I found a basic hamburger vegetable soup recipe, I was able to tweak it over time into what my husband and I call the “perfect” hamburger veggie soup.

The beauty with this soup is that it’s so versatile. You can customize it with your family’s favorite ingredients. Love corn and tomatoes? Add as much as you want! Want to sneak in some greens with celery, okra or green beans? Toss ’em in! Try to stay away from squash and zucchini, as they will get mushy in the soup. Are you on the spicy side? Give your one-pot wonder a kick with red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

Tips: To make this soup thicker, use less broth. To make it more soupy, add more broth. Or, use this recipe to make your own Hamburger Helper by substituting macaroni for the potatoes.

The Perfect Hamburger Veggie Soup

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs of hamburger meat
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves of garlic (or more!), minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 whole carrots, sliced
  • 5 small to medium red potatoes
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow pepper (or red pepper), diced
  • 3-4 cups of beef broth (I used one carton)
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano (or Italian seasoning)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large stock pot, brown the hamburger meat along with the onions and garlic. Drain the fat. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir to combine and bring to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce heat and let simmer until the potatoes are done — about 20 minutes. Serve with crackers or bread.

What is your go-to family recipe? Tell us in the comments below!