Some recipes stick around because they are fancy, and some stick around because they show up at exactly the right moment. This one always takes me back to chilly Halloween evenings, boots by the door, and everyone trying to grab a warm bowl before heading out for the hayride. It is the kind of dependable, low-effort dinner that busy weeknights were made for, built from freezer and pantry staples you can toss together without much planning.
This cozy bowl is great on its own, but I love serving it with saltine crackers, buttered bread, cornbread, or simple grilled cheese sandwiches for an easy family meal. If you are feeding a crowd, set out shredded cheddar, sour cream, sliced green onions, or oyster crackers so everyone can dress up their bowl, and a crisp green salad makes a nice fresh side to round things out.
Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Hamburger Soup
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef, browned
1 (20 oz) bag frozen diced potatoes
1 (16 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
Directions
1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks, then drain off any excess grease.
2. Add the browned beef to the slow cooker, then pour in the frozen diced potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, diced tomatoes, and beef broth.
3. Stir everything together, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the potatoes are tender and the flavors have blended.
4. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Make it heartier: If you want to stretch this for bigger appetites, serve it with grilled cheese or cornbread, or add a second bag of potatoes if your slow cooker has room.
Boost the flavor: Since this recipe keeps things simple, a little salt, black pepper, garlic powder, or Italian seasoning can be added at the end if you want a more seasoned broth.
Meal prep tip: Brown the beef the night before and keep it in the fridge, so in the morning you can dump everything into the slow cooker and get on with the day.
Storage tip: Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat nicely for lunch. The broth may thicken a bit as it sits, so just stir in a splash of extra broth or water when warming it up.