Hamburger Soup With or Without Noodles
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The BEST Hamburger Soup Recipe
My Grandma used to make hamburger soup, and I always loved it! I guess I have always been a huge fan of soups in general, and always LOVED my veggies!
Hamburger Soup Recipe like Campbell’s Noodles & Ground Beef
When my Grandma always made her hamburger soup, she never added noodles. I loved it that way, but when I was missing my favorite Campbell’s soup one day, I thought that maybe I could come close to my old favorite if I added noodles.
So I added egg noodles, and I was super excited at just how similar it was! It wasn’t exact, by no means, I am not calling this a “Copy Cat Recipe” or anything, but it helps when I have a hankering for my discontinued friend.
Cherished Recipes from my Grandma
Ingredients in Grandma’s Hamburger Noodle Soup
These basic ingredients come together quickly to make this classic hamburger noodle soup: lean ground beef, carrots, celery, onions, fresh parsley, canned tomatoes, barley, beef bouillon, ketchup, dried basil and egg noodles.
How to Make Hamburger Soup
This recipe for hamburger soup turns out great in a slow cooker or on the stovetop.
Begin by browning your ground beef with onion and salt and pepper. Drain any grease and return to pot. (or add all ingredients to crockpot at this stage)
Next add in all of the ingredients, with the exception of the noodles, to the pot, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 90 minutes.
If you are adding noodles, prepare them and add them right before you serve the soup.
find the full printable recipe at the bottom of this post
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What kind of noodles to use for Ground Beef Noodle Soup
The first time I discovered adding noodles to the vegetable beef soup was so fabulous, I used Kluski noodles that I purchased in the dry pasta section of the grocery store. Many people use macaroni or other pastas in their Hamburger Noodle Soup Recipes. It’s really about what you like.
Last year, I got the urge to make homemade egg noodles like I always did with my grandma and my mom back when I was a kid. I haven’t turned back to the ones in the freezer section yet. Don’t get me wrong, those are great when you are in a rush. But now, when I plan to make something with egg noodles, I always allot myself a little extra time to make egg noodles from scratch.
Another alternative to hamburger soup with noodles, would be hamburger soup with rice. Rice would make a great addition to the soup.
Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
Easy Hamburger Soup with Barley
Do you cook with barley much? I absolutely love adding it to my soups and stews! It gives it a whole new level of heartiness in my opinion. Check out this Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup recipe. Done in no time and tasted like it cooked all day! It’s full of yummy barley.
Even though my Mother in law’s Mulligan Stew recipe doesn’t call for barley, if I have it on hand, I always add it.
Check out ALL of my Soup Recipes!
Fun fact about this ground beef soup recipe? It was featured on the Today Show Food website a few years back. How cool it was to have one of my Grandma’s recipes on such a popular food website!
Let’s get this comforting soup recipe! 
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Hamburger Soup With or Without Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 5 cups of water
- 1 - 16 ounce canned tomatoes
- 2 small onions chopped
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 stalks of celery sliced
- 1/2 Tablespoon parsley
- 1/4 cup barley I use a little more, we love it!
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 Tablespoon instant beef bouillon
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Egg Noodles optional
Instructions
- In a large pot, salt and pepper ground beef to taste, and brown it with your onions.
- Drain. Place back in the pot. *at this point you could add ingredients to your crockpot or continue on the stove*
- Add the rest of your ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce and Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
- Add your prepared noodles before serving if desired.
- If you make it in your crockpot, just cook it on low all day.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on January 7, 2014. It was updated to improve user experience and shared again on December 1, 2020.
Great recipe for a hearty soup. But I especially love the way this recipe connects you to your grandmother. When they talk about “food is love”, this is what they mean.
Thank you for posting this recipe. Like you, I took soup to school in my thermos, and Noodles & Ground Beef was my fave! I’ve been looking for it for ages, and then looked for a copycat recipes when I found out Campbell’s had discontinued making it. I can’t wait to make your version. Love and gratitude to you and your Grandmother.
I grew up in Texas with a similar hearty soup…my mother’s recipe was never written since you threw in everything in the kitchen, which in Texas was chili powder and fresh garden veggies.
Today, I have adapted the soup by adding garlic, small amount of corn, either V8 juice or consommé, changed from green beans to lima beans, canned sliced carrots, and the soup is ready in 20 minutes. (Occasionally, I add roasted cumin, chipotle, Rotel tomatoes, and cheese with Doritos for thickening. Keep the corn and substitute black beans, and it becomes tortilla soup.
I also use 2 cups of diced potatoes, a small head of cabbage and a can of drained corn. I have never tried barley but I also use the kluski noodles.
Which type of barley do you use? Quick cooking or not??
I use the quick barley. 🙂
Can I substitute anything for the barley? I’m not real fond of it. Or, just leave it out?
You really don’t need to — just leave it out — maybe add potatoes if you like?
This sounds like the perfect comfort food for the colder months! It is so delicious!
What a great way to warm up on the chilly fall days. I would love to make this and save some for lunch the next day. I would definitely have to add noodles!
This looks delicious!! I think my nanny when I was a kid made something similar that we brought along in thermoses for picnics!
Mmm what a hearty and delicious soup! There is something so nostalgic about soup too…I’d love to cozy up with a bowl of this. Sounds wonderful!
Looks so nourishing and comforting, there is no better food than grandma’s food.
This looks so yummy! Soup season is always my favorite! Can’t wait to try it!
Comfort food at its finest!! This soup looks amazing!
This hamburger noodle soup is so cozy looking, I am saving this recipe for this weekend. Can’t wait to try it!
Oh yum. This looks like a big bowl of comfort food. I can’t wait to try it.
This soup looks like an amzing meal in itself! Definitely need this for the cold days ahead.