Vegetable Beef Soup is lightened up in this version that cooks up nice and slow in the crockpot. Tender veggies and flavorful meat make this recipe a winner.
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Helloooo, friends! Thanks so much for all your kind words from this morning. It certainly sounds like I’m not alone when it comes to some pretty crappy experiences with the doc. Here’s to hoping we all have fabulous doc visits in 2013, haha!
So today has been BUSY. Like, busy to the point where I almost finally realize how some people can say that they “just didn’t get a chance to eat” because they were so busy. Not that I’m going hungry over here or anything, but I definitely did not get a chance to finish my breakfast like I had hoped or even have a chance to sit down for lunch until almost 1pm. Yikes!
But hey, you know what? Today is absolutely flyyyyying by, which I sooo cannot complain about. It’s been a good day so far – much better than yesterday for sure.
So now, let’s get to the real purpose of this post…I’ve got a recipe to share with you all!
As I mentioned earlier, last night’s dinner was DEEE-licious. My favorite quick bread, paired with a new soup recipe which turned out fantastic. Plus, it’s a slow cooker recipe, so really, who doesn’t love a ‘fix it and forget it’ type of meal, right?
I wound up making this recipe after deciding against our original plan on making Cincinnati Chili. We both decided that neither of us were in the mood for it, but I still had a pound of ground beef that needed to be used up quickly…enter, soup.
It’s basically just a vegetable soup made with ground beef. I did brown the beef ahead of time, but I did that the night before (along with chopping the veggies) so in the morning, I literally just had to throw everything into the slow cooker and let it do it’s job.
I’m positive that it would be just as tasty with another type of meat (ground turkey/chicken) or even without it all together. We also decided it’d probably be good with pasta instead of potatoes, too. Definitely lots of variations on this one, my friends!
But for the original recipe, here’s what you’ll need:
Slow Cooker Lean Vegetable Beef Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef I used 93%
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups water
- 4 medium red potatoes cut into 3/4 inch chunks
- 1 can 14.5 oz Italian style diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 can 11.5 oz low-sodium V8 juice
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In a nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
- Stir in salt and pepper.
- Transfer to slow cooker and add remaining ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until vegetables are tender.
- Discard bay leaf before serving. Enjoy!
This recipe made a pretty decent size batch – we both had two good size bowls last night, I had another one this afternoon for lunch, and I’d say there’s probably another 3-4 servings left. Perfect for making and eating throughout the week.
Now, let’s just hope that my afternoon goes by as quickly as my morning did, because I have a fun dinner date planned for tonight after work with my friend, Nicole, which I’m really looking forward to! :)
This is seriously on the menu for tonight, I’m gonna buy the ingredients, prep the veggies and meat, and throw it in the slow cooker before work tomorrow. I’ve had ground turkey in my freezer for awhile and couldn’t think of what to use it for (not in the mood for turkey burgers). This is exactly what I’m in the mood for! Thanks for sharing!
I’m a new owner of a slow cooker and I love that you can just “set it and forget it” and all of a sudden…there’s dinner! I’ve got a ton of recipes waiting to be made with it, and your quick bread WILL be made to compliment them. It just looks too good and easy.
That soup looks warm and comforting. Have a wonderful time with Nicole tonight! It will be nice for some girl time after a crappy appointment yesterday!
That sounds delish! Love crock pot meals. :)
This looks perfect for the chilly weather, and I am a fan of anything that involves the slow cooker!
I love crock pots!!!!
This looks so awesome. My parents just gave me there old slow cooker and I’m so excited to finally use it! It couldn’t have come soon enough clearly!
Cool! Thanks for the recipe. It looks and sounds delicious!
I just got my own crock pot and I’m dying to use it – looks like this recipe is going to make it into my weekly meal plan! Delish!!
Pinning this! I’ve been using my crockpot several times a week lately!
Getting married this year and a slow cooker is for sure going on the registry!
the soup sounds delicious! I love any recipe that i can use my crock pot!
I think this will be on the menu for tomorrow night! What size slow cooker do I need for this? Would I be fine using a 4.5 qt one?
I think it should be fine. I used a larger one, but there was still room.
Yum!! This is my kind of recipe! Love soups in the wintertime.
I’m so glad you posted this. My crockpot hasn’t been put to use in ages!
I wish my husband liked soup more because I would be all over this meal! Maybe I can trick him into liking it by making that yummy looking bread?! ;)
Orrrrr, you just make a big batch for yourself and have it for lunches during the week. Or have half and freeze the rest for another time. ;)
I love days that go by super quick, although I have to admit that if I have too many of them in a row, I really start craving a slower one. And that soup looks amazing! I still don’t have a slow cooker, but I’ve been looking in to getting one for months now – I just need that little boot in the butt to finally go out and buy one!
I’m slightly obsessed with my slow cooker. I’ve made two dinners with it already this week!
I always forget about the crockpot but it is so perfect for weekday meals. I am def going to try this next week :)
the slow cooker is the best thing everrrrr!
That bread looks great!!!!! Carb loverrrrrrrr
I am fairly certain that any recipe that utilizes a slow cooker is a great/perfect recipe! :)
This looks like almost the exact same recipe that my mom used growing up when she made vegetable beef soup, ground beef and all! It actually just brought back some memories (I’m such a sap these days). My mouth is literally watering and I can’t wait to try this!
I love a good vegetable soup!
This looks so good!!
I have GOT to make that Quick Bread! It looks great and seems like it could go with so many meals! :)
This looks amazing.. I totally just pinned it :) Thanks girl!
Yum the soup looks good. I love days that fly by :)
That soup looks soo comforting and delicious – I am recovering from the flu and this looks just about perfect right now.
Courtney–just saw this on your meal plan post and bookmarked it for this week! Did you happen to add peas to your soup? I can’t figure out what the green is (and peas sound like a great addition!). I think even small pasta (like ditalini) would also be great in this. Thanks!
Hey Jenni! It’s the celery! ;) (although I’m sure peas and pasta would also be yummy!)