Description
Mom’s Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup is a hearty and comforting homemade soup featuring tender beef stew meat simmered with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs. This classic American recipe blends savory beef broth with garden vegetables like carrots, celery, and potatoes to create a rich, flavorful stew perfect for chilly days or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Broth
- 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat or chuck roast (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
Vegetables
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 2 celery stalks (sliced)
- 2 potatoes (peeled and diced)
- 1 cup green beans (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
Seasonings and Herbs
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (with juices)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef pieces and brown on all sides, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Once browned, remove the beef from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add the chopped onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Liquids and Vegetables: Return the browned beef to the pot, then pour in the beef broth, water, and diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir to combine. Add sliced carrots, celery, diced potatoes, green beans, corn kernels, dried thyme, dried basil, bay leaf, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper.
- Simmer the Soup: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer gently for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning by adding more salt or pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf and stir in the fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting vegetable beef soup.
Notes
- This soup freezes well and is perfect for reheating throughout the week.
- For deeper flavor, ensure to sear the beef thoroughly before simmering.
- Don’t skip the long simmering time; it allows the beef to become tender and flavors to meld beautifully.
- Consider adding peas or barley for variety if you like.
