Authentic Amish Vegetable Beef Soup Recipe for Comforting Meals

This Amish Vegetable Beef Soup is a warm, hearty dish that’s quick and easy to prepare — a simple way to make homemade vegetable soup with beef when nights are busy.

We love this easy vegetable soup because it’s straightforward and packed with flavor. Each bowl has a generous serving of vegetables, making it a nutritious, family-friendly meal. It’s perfect for chilly days when you want something satisfying, comforting, and delicious.

Why You’ll Love This Amish Vegetable Beef Soup

This vegetable beef soup is simple enough for weeknights and comforting enough to become a family favorite. Highlights include:

  • Classic comfort food. An old-fashioned vegetable soup that warms and feeds a crowd.
  • Quick to make. Ground beef and frozen vegetables keep prep time low.
  • Hearty and complete. Beef, potatoes, pasta, and vegetables combine for a one-pot meal.
  • Flexible. Swap vegetables, adjust seasonings, or use different beef cuts based on what you have.
  • Great leftovers. Flavors improve after a day, so it’s ideal for meal prep.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef – Provides savory flavor and protein. (You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or a plant-based alternative. For chunkier beef, see stew meat or roast instructions below.)
  • Butter or oil – For sautéing onion and garlic and adding richness.
  • Fresh garlic & onion – Build the aromatic base of the soup.
  • Beef broth – Forms a savory, rich soup base. (Vegetable broth works too.)
  • Frozen mixed vegetables – Convenient and nutritious. (Fresh vegetables may be used in their place.)
  • Petite diced tomatoes – Add acidity to balance the flavors. (Crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, or fresh tomatoes also work.)
  • Bay leaves – Add subtle depth during simmering.
  • Seasonings – Seasoned salt or Tony’s Creole seasoning, thyme, rosemary, black pepper, and paprika bring the soup together. Use Tony’s for a bit of heat or seasoned salt for milder flavor. Fresh thyme or rosemary is excellent if available.
  • Alphabet pasta – Makes the soup hearty and kid-friendly. Any small pasta like ditalini or orzo works; use rice for a gluten-free option.
  • Potatoes – Add heartiness and help make this a complete one-pot meal.

Adjust amounts and ingredients to suit your family’s preferences and create your favorite version of homemade vegetable soup.

Ingredients: Ground beef, beef broth, mixed vegetables, onion, garlic clove, potatoes, butter, diced tomatoes, alphabet pasta, and seasonings.

How to Make Homemade Vegetable Soup

1: Prepare the Ground Beef

  • In a medium pan, crumble and brown the ground beef over medium heat.
  • Drain any excess fat and set the beef aside.

2: Sauté Garlic and Onion

  • In a large pot, melt the butter or heat the oil over medium heat.
  • Add minced garlic and chopped onion. Sauté until soft and fragrant.

3: Add Broth, Tomatoes, Vegetables, and Beef

  • Add diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, frozen mixed vegetables, the browned ground beef, bay leaves, and seasonings. Stir to combine.

4: Bring to a Boil and Cook

  • Bring the pot to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes so the vegetables begin to tenderize.

5: Add Pasta and Potatoes

  • After 15 minutes, add the pasta and cubed potatoes. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 10–15 minutes until pasta and potatoes are tender.

6: Finish and Serve

  • Remove bay leaves. Serve the soup hot with your favorite bread, biscuits, rolls, or cornbread.

7: Store Leftovers

  • Allow leftovers to cool, refrigerate in an airtight container, and reheat on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth if needed.
cooking onion and garlic with butter in a large pot, and another pot with ground beef.
cooking the vegetables and broth in a large pot, and beef on the side.

Can I Use Stew Meat or a Beef Roast Instead of Ground Beef?

Yes. Swap ground beef for stew meat or a roast if you prefer chunks of beef. Keep in mind that larger cuts require longer cooking to become tender. Options:

Using stew meat

  1. Brown stew meat in a medium pot with a little oil until all sides are browned.
  2. Add enough broth or water to cover the meat, simmer, cover, and cook on low for about 1½ hours or until tender.

Using a roast

  1. Sear the roast in a hot pot until browned on all sides.
  2. Transfer to a slow cooker with enough broth to reach halfway up the roast and cook on LOW for about 8 hours, or until easily shredded.

Once the meat is tender, add it to the soup with the vegetables and seasonings and proceed as directed.

a large pot of vegetable soup.

Variations

  • Add beans. Chickpeas, kidney beans, or black beans add texture and protein.
  • Use fresh herbs. Fresh rosemary and thyme brighten the soup; use three times the fresh herb amount compared to dried.
  • Customize the vegetables. Use 6 cups of your favorite fresh veggies in place of frozen if you prefer. Stir in spinach at the end for extra greens, or swap sweet potatoes for russet potatoes.
  • Adjust consistency. Add more broth or water if the soup is too thick, or use V-8 juice for a flavor boost.
  • Make it creamy. Stir in milk or heavy cream at the end for a richer texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze vegetable beef soup?

Yes. Cool completely, then freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of broth if the soup has thickened.

Can I make this soup without pasta?

Yes. Omit the pasta or replace it with rice, extra potatoes, or more vegetables.

More Amish Soup Recipes

  • Cheesy Chicken Chowder
  • Beef Barley Soup
  • Hearty Hamburger Soup
  • Potato Soup
  • Chicken Corn Noodle Soup
  • Chili

More Amish Recipes Using Ground Beef

  • Stuffed Peppers
  • Tater Tot Casserole
  • Macaroni & Tomato (Amish-style Goulash)
  • Little Cheddar Meatloaves

My family enjoys this hearty vegetable beef soup — it’s a simple, comforting meal packed with vegetables and flavor. It’s versatile, so you can adapt it to what your family likes.

I hope you love this Amish-style vegetable beef soup. If you try it, please leave a comment and rating — thanks!

Visit my shop to purchase my cookbook

Check out my YouTube channel at MyAmishHeritage

📖 Recipe Card

a large pot of vegetable soup and a small crock full.

Amish Vegetable Beef Soup Recipe

A comforting, hearty vegetable beef soup loaded with browned beef, veggies, and rich flavor. Perfect for chilly or rainy days.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 40 mins

Ingredients

  • 1–2 pounds ground beef, browned, crumbled, and drained
  • 2 tablespoons butter or oil
  • 1–2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups petite diced tomatoes (14.5 oz can)
  • 4 cups beef broth (32 oz)
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen mixed vegetables (about 6 cups of peas, carrots, green beans, and corn)
  • 2 large dry bay leaves
  • ½ teaspoon salt (add more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (or Tony’s Creole seasoning)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried, crushed rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼–⅓ cup alphabet pasta
  • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed into bite-size pieces

Instructions

  • In a medium pan, crumble and brown the ground beef. Drain and set aside.
  • Melt the butter in a large pot. Add the garlic and onion, stirring and sautéing until softened.
  • Add diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, frozen mixed vegetables, the browned ground beef, bay leaves, and seasonings. Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook about 15 minutes so the vegetables begin to tenderize.
  • Add pasta and cubed potatoes. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 10–15 minutes until pasta and potatoes are tender.
  • Remove bay leaves and serve hot with bread.
  • Cool, refrigerate, and reheat leftovers as needed.

Notes

Adjust seasonings to taste. Use fresh herbs if available (use about three times the amount of fresh herbs to replace dried). Frozen mixed vegetables are convenient, but fresh vegetables work well too.

If you prefer a thinner soup, add more broth or V-8 juice. To make it creamy, stir in milk or heavy cream at the end.

*Nutrition is approximate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving
Calories: 354 kcal
Carbohydrates: 26 g
Protein: 19 g
Fat: 20 g
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American, Amish
Servings 6 servings
Calories 354 kcal
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!