Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for warming up on a cold day or satisfying a hearty craving any time of year. This rich and flavorful soup combines tender potatoes with savory ground hamburger, all simmered together in a creamy broth that’s sure to please the whole family. With its thick, velvety texture and robust flavor, it’s a dish that feels like a warm hug in a bowl.

One of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity, especially when made in a crockpot. The slow cooker does all the work, allowing the flavors to develop and meld beautifully over time without much hands-on effort. This recipe is a great choice for busy weeknights, when you need a meal that’s easy to throw together. It’s also ideal for meal prepping, as it makes large portions and reheats beautifully throughout the week.

Benefits of Using a Crockpot for Soups

Using a crockpot for soups like this Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup offers several advantages, starting with how it enhances flavors through slow, steady cooking. As the ingredients simmer over several hours, the potatoes absorb the savory notes of the hamburger and spices, creating a well-rounded and deeply satisfying dish. The low, even heat allows the flavors to meld together perfectly, delivering a rich, cohesive taste.

Crockpot cooking also offers incredible convenience, especially for those with busy schedules. You can toss in your ingredients in the morning and come home to a ready-to-eat meal. It’s a great way to make dinner with minimal effort, freeing up your time for other tasks.

Another benefit is that slow cooking in a crockpot helps preserve the nutrients in the ingredients, particularly in vegetables. This gentle method ensures that you’re getting the most out of each ingredient while creating a wholesome, flavorful meal.

Ingredients Breakdown

Key Ingredients for the Soup

The rich, hearty base of this Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup starts with ground hamburger, which brings a savory, meaty flavor that infuses the entire dish. Ground beef works wonderfully because it’s easy to cook, breaks apart evenly, and adds richness to the soup. Its slight fattiness gives depth to the broth, making it more filling and satisfying.

Potatoes are the heart of the soup, providing both body and texture. Russet potatoes are a common choice due to their high starch content, which makes the soup thicker. Alternatively, Yukon gold potatoes can add a creamier texture with a buttery flavor, while red potatoes hold their shape better for a chunkier consistency.

For added nutrition and flavor, vegetables like celery, carrots, and onions are essential. These vegetables provide natural sweetness, a slight crunch, and balance out the richness of the beef and potatoes.

The soup is brought together with a broth, ideally beef broth for a deeper, heartier flavor. Vegetable broth can be used as a lighter, meat-free alternative, but beef broth tends to pair better with the ground hamburger.

To give the soup its signature creaminess, heavy cream is used. It creates a velvety, smooth texture that complements the starchy potatoes and savory beef. Optional additions like garlic, shredded cheese, or bacon crumbles can elevate the richness even further, adding layers of flavor and making the soup even more indulgent.

Choosing the Right Ground Beef

Choosing the right ground beef for your soup is crucial for both flavor and texture. A common choice is 80/20 ground beef (80% lean meat, 20% fat), which provides the perfect balance of flavor and juiciness. The fat helps create a fuller, richer broth without being overly greasy. If you prefer a lighter soup, 90/10 ground beef is a leaner option that still retains flavor, though it may result in a slightly less rich base.

To prevent the soup from becoming greasy, it’s important to drain the excess fat after browning the beef. This step ensures the broth remains flavorful without an oily texture on top.

The quality of the beef can also impact the final taste. Grass-fed beef is known for its slightly stronger, earthier flavor, which can elevate the dish. Regular grain-fed beef is more common and works just as well, offering a classic taste that pairs perfectly with the creamy potato base.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Prepping the Ingredients

To begin, make sure all the ingredients are washed and prepped. Start by washing and chopping the vegetables. Dice the onions, slice the celery thinly, and chop the carrots into small, even pieces to ensure they cook uniformly. For the potatoes, whether you decide to peel them or leave the skins on is a personal choice, but dicing the potatoes into bite-sized cubes is essential for even cooking.

Next, brown the ground beef in a skillet before adding it to the crockpot. Browning helps to release the beef’s fat and adds a deeper flavor through caramelization. While browning adds extra flavor, it’s optional; skipping this step saves time, and the beef will cook fully in the crockpot. If you do brown it, make sure to drain any excess fat to avoid greasiness in the soup.

Step 2: Adding Ingredients to the Crockpot

When adding ingredients to the crockpot, layering is important for optimal cooking. Start by placing the cubed potatoes at the bottom. Potatoes take the longest to cook, and having them at the bottom ensures they are fully submerged in the liquid and cook through evenly. On top of the potatoes, add the chopped celery, carrots, and onions. These vegetables will add flavor and sweetness to the base of the soup as they cook.

Next, add the browned (or raw, if skipping the browning step) ground beef on top of the vegetables. This layering helps the beef juices blend with the vegetables and potatoes as they cook.

Pour in the broth—either beef or vegetable—over the top, making sure it covers the ingredients. For seasoning, add salt, pepper, garlic powder, or other herbs like thyme or rosemary. Finally, stir in the heavy cream to give the soup its rich, creamy texture. Make sure not to fill the crockpot to the brim, as the soup will expand slightly as it cooks.

Step 3: Cooking Time and Temperature

For this recipe, you can choose between two different cooking settings on your crockpot: high or low. If you’re short on time, set the crockpot to high and let the soup cook for about 4 hours. If you have more time, a low setting for 6-8 hours allows the flavors to meld even more deeply, and the potatoes will be incredibly tender.

Once the crockpot is set, you can leave it to cook with minimal interference. There’s no need to stir during the cooking process; stirring can disrupt the layering of ingredients. However, if you want to check for doneness, use a fork to poke the potatoes. They should be soft and easy to mash when the soup is ready.

Step 4: Thickening the Soup

If you prefer a thicker soup, there are a couple of options. You can use cornstarch or flour as thickening agents. To do this, mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with a small amount of cold water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the soup during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow it to thicken.

Another alternative is to mash some of the potatoes directly in the crockpot. Using a potato masher or the back of a spoon, mash a portion of the cooked potatoes, which will naturally thicken the soup without needing any additional ingredients.

To adjust the creaminess of the soup, you can always add more heavy cream or even some shredded cheese during the final cooking phase, depending on your preference for a thicker or richer consistency.

Variations and Customizations

Healthy Alternatives and Substitutions

If you’re looking for lighter or healthier alternatives, consider using ground turkey or chicken in place of ground beef. Both turkey and chicken provide a leaner protein option while still delivering a hearty flavor to the soup. Ground turkey, in particular, has a mild flavor that pairs well with the creamy broth and vegetables, and it’s lower in fat than beef, making it a great choice for a lighter meal.

For a dairy-free version, you can substitute the heavy cream with milk or plant-based alternatives like almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk. Almond milk adds a light, nutty flavor, while coconut milk gives a richer, slightly sweet twist. These plant-based alternatives can help keep the soup creamy while reducing fat content.

To boost the nutritional value, consider adding sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes. Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, adding a touch of sweetness and a vibrant color to the soup. This substitution can make the dish more nutrient-dense without compromising on taste or texture.

Adding Extra Flavor: Seasoning and Toppings

To elevate the flavors in your Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup, try incorporating herbs and spices such as thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, or bay leaves. Thyme and rosemary add earthy, aromatic notes that complement the richness of the soup, while garlic powder enhances the savory flavors. For an extra burst of flavor, you can also add paprika or cayenne pepper for a subtle kick of heat.

To add even more depth, sautéing onions before adding them to the crockpot can bring out their sweetness and add caramelized flavor to the soup. Similarly, using roasted garlic instead of raw garlic infuses a rich, mellow flavor that pairs wonderfully with the creamy texture.

For toppings, options like shredded cheese, green onions, bacon bits, or sour cream can add another layer of taste and texture. Shredded cheddar or gouda brings a sharp, tangy flavor that melts beautifully into the soup. Crispy bacon crumbles add a crunchy, salty contrast to the creaminess, while a dollop of sour cream provides a tangy note that brightens up each spoonful. Finally, chopped green onions give a fresh, peppery bite, balancing the richness of the dish.

Serving Suggestions and Storage

Serving Ideas and Pairings

Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup is best served with a side of crusty bread for dipping, such as a rustic baguette or sourdough. The bread’s crisp texture pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy soup. Alternatively, you can serve it with simple biscuits, which offer a soft, buttery complement to the hearty soup. For a lighter accompaniment, a fresh side salad with a tangy vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the soup.

This soup is perfect for various occasions, from family dinners to potlucks where you want to serve something filling and comforting. It’s also a fantastic choice for make-ahead lunches, as it reheats easily and remains flavorful. When serving, adjust portion sizes based on the occasion—smaller bowls for a light lunch or larger portions for a more hearty dinner.

Storing Leftovers

To store leftovers, allow the soup to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate the soup for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the soup for up to 3 months. When freezing, it’s best to store the soup in individual portions to make reheating easier.

To reheat, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally to maintain its creamy texture. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but make sure to stir the soup every minute or so to prevent uneven heating. Avoid overheating, as this could cause the cream to separate and curdle.

Freezing Tips

For the best results, when freezing Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup, avoid adding the cream before freezing. Instead, add the cream when reheating to preserve the soup’s creamy consistency. This helps prevent the cream from separating or curdling during thawing and reheating.

When reheating from frozen, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat on the stovetop over low heat. Stir frequently to maintain smoothness, and add a little extra cream or broth to restore the desired texture. Avoid rapidly heating the soup, as this could cause curdling or a grainy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use pre-cooked potatoes in the soup?

Yes, you can use pre-cooked potatoes, but it will affect the texture and cooking time. Pre-cooked potatoes will soften quickly in the crockpot, potentially becoming mushy if cooked too long. If you’re using pre-cooked potatoes, it’s best to add them in the last 30 minutes of cooking to avoid overcooking. This allows them to warm through without falling apart, ensuring the soup maintains its texture and consistency.

What’s the best type of cream to use for the soup?

Heavy cream is the best choice for this soup as it provides a rich, velvety texture and doesn’t curdle easily under slow-cooking heat. For a lighter option, you can use half-and-half, which is a blend of cream and milk, though the soup may be slightly less creamy. For a dairy-free alternative, coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk works well, but keep in mind that they will slightly change the flavor profile.

Can I make this recipe without a crockpot?

Yes, you can make this soup on the stovetop or in the oven. On the stovetop, simmer the ingredients over medium heat for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are tender. For the oven, cook the soup in a Dutch oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 1.5 hours, checking for doneness at the 1-hour mark.

How do I prevent the soup from being too greasy?

To prevent greasiness, it’s important to drain the fat from the ground beef after browning it. Using a leaner ground beef (such as 90/10 or 85/15 fat content) also helps reduce excess fat. Additionally, skimming any fat that rises to the surface during cooking can keep the soup from feeling oily.

What can I add to make the soup spicier?

If you prefer a spicy kick, you can add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the soup while cooking. For a bolder flavor, consider adding spicy sausage or chorizo instead of ground beef. Jalapeños or hot sauce can also be added for extra heat, allowing you to customize the spiciness to your liking.

Conclusion

Final Thoughts and Encouragement to Try the Recipe

Creamy Potato & Hamburger Soup is a simple, versatile recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights or leisurely weekends. With the convenience of the crockpot, it requires minimal effort, allowing the ingredients to meld together into a rich, comforting dish. Whether you’re looking for an easy dinner or a make-ahead meal for the week, this soup delivers on flavor, warmth, and heartiness.

The best part of this recipe is how adaptable it is. You can easily customize it to suit your preferences—swap out ingredients, adjust the seasoning, or try different toppings. Whether you prefer a spicier version or a lighter one, the recipe can be tailored to fit your taste.

This comforting, crowd-pleasing soup is perfect to share with family and friends. It’s the kind of meal that brings people together, whether around the dinner table or during a cozy gathering. Try it, and share the joy of this delicious dish!