Hamburger and Sausage Soup brings together savory ground beef, flavorful sausage, tender egg noodles, and a comforting broth in one hearty bowl. It is the kind of cozy, no-fuss meal that feels right at home on a chilly fall or winter day, but it is easy enough to enjoy any time you want a filling family dinner. The combination of two meats adds extra depth, while the noodles make every serving satisfying. Best of all, this soup is flexible: you can adjust the seasonings, add vegetables you already have on hand, or serve it with your favorite bread for a complete meal.
Can you put raw ground beef in soup?
If you cook it enough in the liquid, yes. However, I would recommend to brown it first.
Browning ground beef and sausage before they go into the soup creates better flavor and gives you a chance to drain excess grease. Cook the meat until no pink remains, break it into bite-size crumbles, and then add it to the pot with the other ingredients. If your sausage is especially rich, draining it well keeps the broth hearty without becoming oily.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Soup
- Brown the meats in batches if needed. Crowding the pan traps steam. A little extra space helps the beef and sausage develop flavorful browned edges.
- Season in layers. Add a modest amount of seasoning while browning the meat, taste the broth after it simmers, and make final adjustments near the end.
- Watch the salt. Sausage and packaged broth can both be salty, so wait until the flavors combine before adding much extra salt.
- Add noodles at the right time. Egg noodles cook quickly and continue to soften in hot broth. Add them near the end and stop cooking when they are just tender.
- Keep the noodles separate for planned leftovers. Cook them in a separate pot and add them to individual bowls. This helps prevent them from soaking up too much broth overnight.
- Adjust the consistency. If the soup becomes thicker than you like, stir in a splash of broth or water. For a fuller broth, let the soup simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes before adding the noodles.
- Use what you have. Diced onion, carrots, celery, tomatoes, green beans, corn, spinach, or peas can all help stretch the soup and add color. Add firm vegetables earlier and quick-cooking greens near the end.
What can you make with hamburger meat?
Obviously, this Hamburger and Sausage Soup is one of them. But here are a few more ideas…
- Bowtie Pasta Meal (made with the instant pot)
- Sloppy Joes then make Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
- Bacon Cheeseburger Toast (Appetizer)
- Hamburger Steaks
- Southern Salisbury Steaks
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Meatloaf
- Bacon Fried Onion Cheeseburger
Fun Facts About Hamburger and Sausage Soup
Despite the name, “hamburger” in a soup usually refers to ground beef rather than a finished burger. Ground meat is especially useful in soups because it cooks quickly, spreads throughout the pot, and makes it easy to get a little meat in every spoonful.
Using both ground beef and sausage gives the soup a layered flavor: beef provides a rich, familiar base, while sausage contributes its own blend of herbs and spices. Egg noodles are a classic comfort-food partner because their broad, tender shape catches bits of meat and vegetables. Like many one-pot soups, this dish is also easy to customize, which makes it a practical clean-out-the-fridge meal.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Hamburger and Sausage Soup hot with crusty bread, garlic toast, cornbread, or warm dinner rolls for dipping. A simple green salad or a tray of roasted vegetables adds a fresh contrast to the rich soup. For toppings, try a sprinkle of grated Parmesan or cheddar, chopped parsley, sliced green onions, cracked black pepper, or a few red pepper flakes. Set out several options and let everyone finish their own bowl.
This soup works well for a casual weeknight dinner, game-day gathering, or make-ahead lunch. Serve smaller portions as a starter, or fill larger bowls for the main course. If you are feeding a group, keep the soup warm over low heat and offer the noodles separately so guests can add as much as they like. When serving children, let the soup cool slightly and make sure the meat and vegetables are broken into manageable pieces.
How long is hamburger soup good for?
Store leftover Hamburger and Sausage Soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let it cool briefly, then refrigerate it promptly rather than leaving it at room temperature for an extended period. Dividing a large batch among shallow containers can help it cool more evenly.
To reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each one, or reheat the soup gently in a saucepan on the stovetop. Add a little broth or water if the noodles have absorbed liquid during storage, and heat until the soup is steaming hot throughout.
To freeze: For the best texture, freeze the soup without the egg noodles and prepare fresh noodles when you reheat it. Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers, leave a little room for expansion, label with the date, and freeze in practical portions. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. If the noodles are already mixed in, the soup can still be frozen, but the noodles may be softer after thawing.
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Hamburger and Sausage Soup
Equipment
- 4-6 Quart Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 10 oz Beef Sausage, Link. Sliced 1 Pkg
- 1 Cup Onions, Chopped
- 8 Cups Water
- 2 Tbsp Beef Bouillon Base "Better than Bouillon"
- 1/8 Tsp Pepper
- 2 Cups Egg Noodles, Uncooked
- 1/4 Cup Flour
- 2 Cups Milk
Instructions
- Brown ground beef and onions in a frying pan. Add pepper while frying.
- Add sliced sausage and heat until warm.
- Remove from pan and drain.
- With remaining grease in pan, slowly add flour while whisking to form a roux.
- After your roux is formed…slowly whisk in milk.
- Bring to a boil…then simmer until thickened.
- Add meat/onion mixture and gravy to a 4-6 quart pot.
- Mix the bouillon base and the 8 cups of water together. Pour water mixture into the pot with the meat/gravy.
- Bring to a boil.
- Once your water is at a boil, add your noodles/pasta. Stir. Let boil for 15 minutes. Occasionally stirring. Then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Cover and Simmer for 2 hours. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
