Hamburger Minestrone Soup is a hearty, comforting one-pot meal made with ground beef, veggies, pasta and a flavorful tomato broth. It's a family-friendly dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights and tastes even better the next day.

And if you love cozy soups, try my Jerk Chicken Soup or Cajun Potato Soup next!

Everybody loves a cozy bowl of minestrone at the end of a busy day, but what if you made it heartier and tastier with something else everyone loves - ground beef.

That's exactly what this hamburger minestrone soup does, turning a classic veggie-packed soup into a filling, family-friendly dinner with tender pasta and plenty of flavor, plus a few sneaky vegetables along the way.

It's the kind of forgiving, use-what-you-have recipe that works just as well with frozen veggies as fresh, which makes it perfect for real life and busy nights.

And if you want the zero-chopping cousin of this soup, my busy day soup uses a packet of onion soup mix and frozen veggies to skip the cutting board entirely.

Or if you'd rather something creamy than brothy, try this corned beef soup next.

Why you'll love this hamburger minestrone soup

Hearty and filling enough for dinner
Big flavors with very simple ingredients
It reheats beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep!

What you'll need

Leek - I love using leek here instead of onion. It's a bit softer and slightly sweet, which works really nicely with the beef.

Carrot and celery - These build that classic soup base and add a little natural sweetness and texture.

Ground beef - This is what makes the soup filling enough for dinner. I usually use lean ground beef so it doesn't get greasy.

Garlic - Two cloves might not sound like much, but once it cooks with the beef, it really shines.

Italian seasoning - Or any combination of dried oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary you have on hand.

Extra veggies - I like to add zucchini and green beans for a pop of color and texture. This is where you can add any fresh or frozen veggies you like.

Crushed tomatoes - These give the broth its rich, minestrone-like flavor.

Macaroni - Classic and comforting but any small pasta shape works here.

Beef broth - Keeps the soup hearty and savory. Use low-sodium if you want more control over the salt.

Parmesan cheese - Stirred in at the end for extra richness, plus more on top if you like.

Fresh basil - Adds a fresh, bright finish

Pro tip

If you're meal prepping, cook the pasta just until barely tender, or keep it separate and add it to each bowl when serving.

How to make hamburger minestrone soup

This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leek, carrot and celery, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened.

hamburger minestrone soup making instructions

Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns. Drain off any excess grease, then stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook until fragrant.

Add the zucchini, green beans, crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, dry macaroni and beef broth. Bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta is tender.

Remove the bay leaves and stir in the Parmesan and fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then serve warm.

adding stock to a hamburger minestrone soup

Substitutions and variations

You can use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef for a lighter option.
Any small pasta shape works here, so feel free to swap the macaroni for ditalini, small shells or elbows.
Frozen vegetables work just as well as fresh and can be added straight from the freezer with no thawing needed.

Helpful tips

If you like a thicker soup, use a little less broth or let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
Season in layers, starting with the vegetables and beef, not just at the end. This will give the soup so much more flavor!
Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it just until tender so it doesn't soak up too much broth as the soup sits.

What to serve with ground beef minestrone soup

This soup is hearty enough to be dinner on its own, but if you want to make it feel like a full spread, here are some really good pairings.

Your favorite crusty bread
A generous helping of garlic bread
A slice of my Easy Cheesy Cornbread is always a win with soup!

Leftovers and storage

To store: Let the soup cool down, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To reheat: Warm it gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat or microwave in 30 to 60 second bursts, stirring in between. The pasta will soak up broth as it sits, so don't be surprised if it thickens a lot, just add a splash of beef broth or water to loosen it back up.
Freezing: You can freeze this soup, but it freezes best without the pasta. If you know you want to freeze some, scoop out a portion before adding the macaroni, cool it completely, then freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, reheat and cook fresh pasta separately.

More cozy soup recipes

If you've tried this hamburger minestrone soup recipe, please rate it and leave a comment below! I'd love to hear how it turned out.

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