Hearty Hamburger Soup

This Hearty Hamburger Soup is one I just tried lately and is another one to go in the tried and true folder. I’ve had a lot of hamburger soups but not many in this flavor category. Great soup.

Hearty Hamburger Soup

I like a nice hearty, chunky soup any time of the year.

The recipe is very easy to change according to your families taste, adding whatever veggies you like! I added mushrooms ten minutes before serving.. delish!

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Hearty Hamburger Soup Recipe

Hearty Hamburger Soup
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 white onion peeled and diced
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry basil more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1 1 1/2 ounce envelope onion soup mix
  • 6 cups water more to desired consistency
  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 15 ounce can corn, drained
  • 1 cup celery sliced
  • 1/4 cup celery leaves coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup fresh carrot sliced
  • 1 cup white potato peeled and cut into small cubes
  • garlic salt to taste
  • shredded Parmesan cheese to serve
  • sour cream to serve
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot. Drain if needed. Add the spices and the onion soup mix.
  2. Stir in the water, tomato sauce and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil; then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients up to the potatoes bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer uncovered until the potatoes and carrots are tender about 30 minutes. (Add more water if needed).
  4. Season to taste with garlic salt.

Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese and sour cream.

Tips and Tidbits For Hearty Hamburger Soup

Add a splash of red wine and a splash of Worcestershire sauce for even more depth of flavor.

Substitute beef broth or stock for some of the water. Or instead of adding any water at all, put in 4 cups of beef stock and 2-3 cups of Clamato tomato juice–the juice is the magical ingredient here!

Try adding in 3 cloves of minced garlic, red pepper chili flakes and a bit of cayenne to pack on a little heat!

Enjoy!

More recipes you might like.

Basic Beef Stew
Uncle Jim’s Firehouse Chili
Grandma’s Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Recipe based on one by Engrossed
Photo by Chef

Crock Pot Hungarian Goulash

This Crock Pot Hungarian Goulash is absolutely delicious and a real favorite at my house. It’s easy to put together and the long slow cooking tenderizes the beef and melds all the flavors together.

Now every Hungarian has their own “authentic” goulash recipe. This recipe may or may not come close to what your goulash should be.

That being said, goulash is a “peasant food” and in peasant food anything goes. Basically just getting good food on the table as best you can!

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Crock Pot Hungarian Goulash
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 25 mins
 

I've never had authentic goulash cooked in a Hungarian kitchen but this is good to me!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Hungarian
Keyword: Crock Pot Hungarian Goulash
Servings: 6
Calories: 355 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs beef stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup flour
Instructions
  1. Place the beef stew meat in the crock pot and cover with the onion slices.
  2. Combine the garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, paprika and mustard Stir in the water, mix well, and pour over the meat.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  4. Turn control to high.
  5. Dissolve the flour in a small amount of cold water and stir into meat mixture. Cook on high for 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Serve over noodles or rice.

Up Next:

Crock Pot Pasta Fagioli

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Recipe based on one by Garnet
Photo by Chef Shapeweaver

Basic Beef Stew – Stew Basics Never Change!

Beef stew recipes are a dime a dozen but Basic Beef Stew never changes. Meat and vegetables. Most often beef and root vegetables.

 

Carrots and potatoes lead the root vegetable race.

I’m calling this a basic beef stew. It may not be YOUR basic beef stew! There are so many variations that most people can’t even agree on what’s basic.

This is an excellent stew recipe, however. It can be used as a starting point. Just the basics that you can add to or subtract from based on the tastes of your family.

If you’ve never made a beef stew before I encourage you to follow this recipe exactly before you branch out on your own.

It will warm your heart and soul!

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Basic Beef Stew
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 25 mins
Total Time
1 hr 55 mins
 

This recipe is for basic beef stew. Make it yours by adding things that you like!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Basic Beef Stew
Servings: 6
Calories: 365 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 lbs stewing beef cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves or 1 sprig fresh
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 lb peeled carrot cut in large pieces
  • 3 potatoes diced
  • 1 10 ounce package frozen peas
Cornstarch Slurry
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch mixed in
  • 1/2 cup cold water
Instructions
  1. In a large Dutch oven heat the oil over medium heat. Add the stew beef and brown well. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is transparent.

  2. Add 4 cups of water and the tomato sauce. Add the bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper.

  3. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes.

  4. Add the carrots, potatoes, and peas. Cover and cook 30 minutes on medium-low or until the vegetables are tender.

  5. Add the corn starch slurry if the sauce is too watery. After adding the slurry bring the stew to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute.

Tips and Tidbits

For a much richer stew use beef broth instead of the water. You can also add some red wine after the meat is browned. The wine adds depth of flavor.

If you’re watching the fat in your diet reduce the amount of meat and add some roughly chopped baby Portabello mushrooms. Portabello has a meaty mouthfeel and you won’t even notice the meat reduction.

This dish is ideal for leftover veggies. Almost anything you have in your fridge can be used as an ingredient for beef stew! Very frugal.

Up Next: 

Versatile and Easy Beef Machaca

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Recipe adapted from one by PanNan
Photo by PanNan

Uncle Jim’s Firehouse Chili

When it starts cooling down in the Fall I always make a big pot of my Uncle Jim’s Firehouse Chili even though I eat it year around.

Uncle Jim's Firehouse Chili

It’s a spicy chili but can be toned down easily for sensitive tongues.

This recipe makes excellent chili, however, I confess I never got my Uncle Jim’s recipe so I had to copycat it as best I could. This is, from my memory, extremely close if not spot on.

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Uncle Jim's Firehouse Chili
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 fresh garlic clove minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 8 ounce cans Ro-Tel tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 8 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 16 ounce cans pinto or dark red kidney beans, undrained
Instructions
  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot. Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic; drain well.
  2. Add all the spices along with the Ro-tel tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans and tomato juice. Mix well and bring to a boil.
  3. Simmer 1/2 hour uncovered and 1-1/2 hours covered. (If too thick you can add additional tomato juice or water).

Enjoy!

More recipes you might like.

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Recipe based on one by Anita Harris
Photo by Redsie

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup in a Crock Pot

Prep work for Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli is just browning some ground beef, chopping an onion, some carrots and some celery. The crock pot takes over from there.

Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup in a Crock Pot
Your house is soon filled with smells of a delicious dinner coming up.

This is as close as you can get to the Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli recipe. Some say it tastes exactly the same.

Give the recipe a try and see what you think.

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Copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup in a Crock Pot
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 carrots chopped
  • 4 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 28 ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 16 ounce can red kidney beans, drained
  • 1 16 ounce can white kidney beans, drained
  • 3 10 ounce cans beef stock
  • 3 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 5 teaspoons parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce optional
  • 1 20 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
  • 8 ounces pasta
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain the fat from the beef and add it to crock pot with everything else except the pasta.
  2. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.
  3. Add the pasta during the last 30 minutes. Continue cooking on high or switch to low and cook for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

More recipes you might like.

Crock Pot Taco Soup
Slow Cooker Smoke Sausage Stew
Slow Cooker Bolognese

Adapted from a recipe by Ravensmith
Photo by Breezermom

Crock Pot Taco Soup – Delicious Dinner

This crock pot taco soup is quick and easy to prepare and the combination of seasonings adds great flavor.

It’s made with all off the shelf grocery items and almost any kind of meat. Leftover meats are just fine.

I’ve served this soup to friends and family several times and it’s always a huge hit. They don’t know how easy it is to make and wouldn’t believe it if I told them. It’s just soooo flavorful.

This is also party fare.

Have sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions and tortilla chips available for toppers and you have a winner for any get together.

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Crock Pot Taco Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
2 hrs 15 mins
 

Just a short prep time and then the Crock Pot takes over. Delicious dinner!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Crock Pot Taco Soup
Servings: 6
Calories: 295 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 16 ounce can pinto beans
  • 1 16 ounce can white beans or 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans
  • 1 11 ounce can niblet corn
  • 1 11 ounce can Rotel tomatoes & chilies
  • 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 4 ounce can diced green chilies
  • 1 1 1/4 ounce envelope taco seasoning mix
  • 1 1 ounce envelope Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing and Seasoning Mix
  • 1 lb shredded chicken ground beef or 1 lb any meat
Instructions
  1. If using ground beef cook it until it's no longer pink and drain. If using something other than ground beef, like cooked chicken breasts or leftover pot roast shred the meat.
  2. Along with the meat add all of the other ingredients to the crock pot. Do not drain the cans. Give the pot a stir to mix the ingredients together well.
  3. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Switch the cooker to keep warm or low until serving time.
  4. Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, or tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

Up Next:

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

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Adapted from a recipe by Rubie
Photo by Dine and Dish

Grandma’s Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Grandma's Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Confession: This is not Grandma’s Grandma’s Easy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe! It simulates her recipe. It’s much easier and has the same great flavor. I’m sure she would approve.

This soup is wonderful on a cold day or when feeling the need for comfort food. It is quick and easy to make.

It’s really good with this Grown Up Grilled Cheese.

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Grandma’s Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Grandma's Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
  • 5 cups chicken stock with all visible fat removed or 5 cups low-fat chicken broth
  • 1 large onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced celery
  • 1/2 cup sliced carrot
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • pepper
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
  • 3 ounces wide noodles
Instructions
  1. In a medium sized pot combine the stock, onion, celery, carrots and spices except the parsley. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes.
  2. Add the chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Stir in the parsley.
  3. While the chicken is cooking, cook the noodles in a large pot as per the package directions.
  4. Drain and add to soup. Enjoy!

Serve it up with Grown Up Grilled Cheese and enjoy!

More recipes you might like to try.

Grown Up Grilled Cheese
Wendy’s Copycat Chili Recipe
Bean With Bacon Soup Like Mom’s

Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage Stew

This Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage Stew is out of the ordinary! I love my slow cooker. It’s so nice to come home to the delicious smells coming from my kitchen.

It’s got the usual potatoes and tomatoes but it also includes smoked sausage and cabbage.

I guess it’s really a basic cabbage soup with smoked sausage. But the ease of throwing it in the slow cooker and walking away is still there.

Absolutely souuuperb!

I served this with a side of cornbread and WOW what a meal!

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Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage Stew Recipe

Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage Stew
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 20 mins
 

A super tasting slow cooker stew with smoked sausage.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage Stew
Servings: 6
Calories: 325 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 package kielbasa or other smoked sausage
  • 1 small cabbage shredded
  • 3 medium potatoes diced
  • 1/2 package baby carrots diced
  • 1 can chicken broth can use 2 if needs more juice
  • 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
  • Italian seasoning
Instructions
  1. Slice the smoked sausage and put in the slow cooker. Add the shredded cabbage, potatoes, carrots, chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Add the Italian seasoning.
  2. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. It will cook down and make more juice.

Tips and Tidbits

You can mix and match ingredients in this stew as much as you like. Make it yours!

Add onion and garlic. They’re always good additions to any stew.

Use rotel tomatoes with peppers to kick it up a notch.

Use navy or cannellini beans instead of the potatoes. Increase the amount of broth for a soupier stew.

Adding 1/2 a stick of butter really improves the dish considerably!

Enjoy!

Up Next:

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs

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Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

Many years ago, I found a recipe for Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup. This soup is a favorite of mine whenever I visit Olive Garden and is something I always look forward to.

 

After a few tweaks I think this soup tastes just like the real thing.

Last week I acquired a gorgeous bunch of kale and I knew just what to make. This is the perfect meal for any time of year but I really enjoy it on a cool fall or winter day – sure to warm up your belly!

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Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

This is an excellent copycat of one of my favorite soups.

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
Servings: 6
Calories: 295 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Italian sausage I like mild sausage
  • 2 large russet baking potatoes wash, sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
  • 1 large vidalia onion chopped
  • 4 slices cooked bacon chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Accent seasoning optional
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 garlic cloves minced or 1 tablespoon of minced garlic from jar
  • 2 cups packed in measuring cup kale or 2 cups swiss chard chopped
  • 2 8 ounce cans chicken broth, add i envelope of chicken bouillon for extra flavor
  • 1 quart water
  • 2 teaspoons flour or 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with enough water to make a paste
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream tempered
Instructions
  1. Chop or slice uncooked sausage into small pieces and cook until browned and meat is ground in bottom of your soup pan over med-high heat.
  2. Add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to Sausage and cook until onions are clear and aromatics of the seasonings blend together.
  3. Reduce heat back to medium and place, potatoes, in the pot. and slowly add the Chicken Stock and water and stir. (use Chicken Bouillon envelope for extra flavor is Chicken Stock is weak).
  4. Cook on medium heat until potatoes are done and stir occasionally. Once Potatoes are done, Add flour or cornstarch and simmer for another 15 minutes.
  5. Reduce heat to lowest setting and sprinkle in your kale and cooked bacon and slowly pour cream while stirring.
  6. Check for taste and then serve.

Enjoy!

Up Next: 

Chunky Turkey Barley Soup – Turkey Carcass Soup

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Crock-Pot Pasta Fagioli – Pasta & Beans

This Crock-Pot Pasta Fagioli is an Americanized version since it contains ground beef. But it’s still very frugal and oh soooo good!!!

 

Pasta e Fagioli meaning “pasta and beans”, is a traditional meatless Italian dish. Like many other Italian favorites including pizza and polenta, the dish started as a peasant dish.

Today it can be widely found, even in restaurants that do not specialize in Italian cuisine.

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Crock-Pot Pasta Fagioli
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 20 mins
 

This is an Americanized version of the Italian Classic!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Crock-Pot Pasta Fagioli
Servings: 8
Calories: 365 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 carrots chopped
  • 4 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 16 ounce can red kidney beans, drained
  • 1 16 ounce can white kidney beans, drained
  • 3 10-ounce cans beef stock
  • 3 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 5 teaspoons parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce optional
  • 1 20-ounce jar spaghetti sauce
  • 8 ounces pasta
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet.

  2. Drain the fat from the beef and add to the crockpot with everything except pasta.

  3. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.

  4. During the last 30 min on high or 1 hour on low, add the pasta.

 

Enjoy!

Up Next: 

Italian Sausage Pie – Very Easy Plus Delicious!

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