Description
Hearty crock pot hamburger potato soup brings comfort straight from midwestern kitchens, warming souls with rich, creamy goodness. Potato chunks and ground beef mingle in savory broth, offering you a simple, satisfying meal perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
- 4 cups diced potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes)
- 4 cups beef broth
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Creamy and Optional Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup milk (or half-and-half)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium temperature and thoroughly cook ground beef until no pink remains, about 7-8 minutes.
- Drain excess grease from beef and transfer meat to slow cooker, ensuring no fat remains.
- Layer chopped onions, minced garlic, and diced potatoes over the ground beef in the slow cooker.
- Pour beef broth into the slow cooker, coating the ingredients evenly.
- Whisk cream of mushroom soup with milk, incorporating dried thyme, dried parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Pour seasoned soup mixture over ingredients in slow cooker, gently stirring to distribute flavors.
- Cover and cook on low setting for 5-6 hours or high setting for 3-4 hours, until potatoes reach desired tenderness.
- During final 30 minutes of cooking, fold in shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream for enhanced richness.
- Once potatoes are fork-tender and soup has thickened, carefully ladle into serving bowls.
- Optionally garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve piping hot.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier soup base.
- Consider draining beef on paper towels to remove additional grease before adding to crockpot.
- Swap half-and-half with low-fat milk or plant-based alternatives for lighter version.
- Cut potatoes into uniform small cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout soup.
- Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles or diced mushrooms for similar hearty texture.
- Enhance flavor by sautéing onions and garlic before adding to crockpot for deeper, richer taste profile.
- Freeze leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 months, reheating gently to maintain soup’s creamy consistency.
- Add extra vegetables like carrots or celery for increased nutritional value and complexity of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (or 7 hours)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg