Don’t be deceived by the name – this is a family favourite and a breeze for entertaining. This recipe makes 18 soup ladles and freezes very well. There’s also a slow cooker version of the recipe you can find here: Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup
Serves 10
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef 750 G
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 – 28 oz. can tomatoes 796 mL
- 2 cups water 500 mL
- 3 – 10 oz. cans consommé 284 mL
- 1 – 10 oz. can tomato soup 284 mL
- 4 carrots, finely chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 sticks celery, finely chopped
- parsley
- ½ TSP thyme 2mL
- pepper to taste
- ½ cup pot barley 125 mL
Instructions
- Brown meat and onions. Drain well. Combine all ingredients in large pot. Simmer covered, at least 2 hours.
The Best of Bridge https://www.bestofbridge.com/
You missed the 1/2 tsp of thyme from the original recipe in the red Best Of Bridge cookbook.
Oops – thanks for the catch!
Have you ever tried making this in a slow cooker?
Hi Kate, You bet we have…it’s in our new book, Best of Bridge The Family Slow Cooker. Keep checking back with us because we plan to post the recipe very soon or just pick up a copy of our book.
I have loved this soup since I was a child when the First Edition of Best of Bridge was published, perhaps 40 – 45 years ago. I am so lucky to have found this recipe online as I never owned a copy of the Red B of B. When my father passed a couple of years ago, this was a favorite for friends and family to bring to my Mom’s for my family to enjoy during our grieving. What a GREAT comfort food.
I also add either fresh cut mushrooms I have fried with the onions or a can of sliced mushrooms. Beef and mushrooms go so well together!
Ooh, great idea!
My mom always grated the carrots instead of chopping. I do it the same way. Taste of my childhood 🙂
Thanks for saving me tonight. I learned that a friend had just had an operation and wanted to make this soup for them but didn’t want to go home after work for the recipe then back to the grocery store for the ingredients and then prep and cook to take over tomorrow. Was hoping someone had it online so I could do my grocery shop and found this. I really appreciate the convenience and I’m sure she will like the soup better than the meat pies I was going to pickup as my quick and easy go to second choice.
Thanks for the share! I love this recipe and use it on a regular basis, it’s a great healthy kid friendly soup for those cold days when the perfect dinner is some hot soup and warm fresh dinner rolls 🙂 MMM MMM!
been making your (this) recipe for years….. thank you!
I wanted to mention (couldn’t edit earlier comment) I do add mushrooms and fresh tomatoes of any colour. Especially this time of the year when we have loads of green tomatoes lol.
So good. freezes very well.
So glad it’s a classic at your dinner table!
Would there be a substitution for the 3 cans of consomme soup? Thanks.
Hi Shelley, you can use 3 cans of condensed chicken stock in place of the consomme. Enjoy!
Hi, what about bone broth instead of the consomme? I have that on hand but not consomme. Thank you.
Hi Shelley, yes, bone broth would work, too.
I add a can of corn, a can of whole white potatoes cut in quarters and substitute half the ground beef with mild Italian sausage.
Your variation sounds delicious!
I thought I had a version without the canned soup (family is celiac and canned tomato soup always has wheat flour). What can I replace with? Some tomato paste?
There is a Best of Bridge Hamburger Soup Slow Cooker version but you would need to use gluten free soy sauce and swap out the barley for a gluten-free seed or grain. It will still be fantastic.
I wanted to make a vegetarian version of this soup. I used a cup of red lentils and small cubes of sweet potatoe. My family LOVED it!
Very happy to find recently that you have a website with recipes. I love this recipe. I have a number of your cookbooks. One correction – 3 – 10 oz. cans consommé is not 9284 mL
Thank you! Not sure how that 9 slipped there… we’ve corrected it.