Simple Stovetop Hamburger Stew

Simple Stovetop Hamburger Stew made with ground beef, and hearty vegetables including potatoes, carrots, green beans, and mushrooms. So flavorful with onions, garlic, tomato sauce, beef broth, and basil, this quick, easy dinner idea is a much loved recipe!

Quick and easy hamburger recipes are always a hit in a busy household! My aunt in Illinois sent me this recipe during what felt like one of the busiest times in my life. At the time I received this recipe, I had a 9 year old, 8 year old, 5 year old, 3 year old and new born baby! We were homeschooling grades 3, 4 and kindergarten and this is the year that my oldest daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I can truly tell you that this easy beef stew recipe was a hit and used often during those years. We still love it so much to this day and I make this quick and easy hamburger stew year round.

Simple hamburger stew is made on the stovetop and only takes 40 minutes from start to finish. Using ingredients that are common and nutritious, you can make this easy recipe often. Who doesn't love an easy dinner idea that includes so much tasty meat and veggies. Hamburger stew can be eaten alone or with bread for a complete meal.

For a super quick and easy dinner idea, this hamburger stew recipe can be prepped ahead of time and cooked in a slow cooker throughout the day. I always use the stovetop because I usually don't think ahead enough to use the slow cooker. And truly this stew recipe with ground beef takes only 40 minutes of prep and cooking.

I get the ground beef, onions and garlic cooking in the skillet. While this is happening, I will peel the potatoes, and carrots and cut them into bite sized pieces. Throw the peeled potatoes into a bowl of cold water to prevent browning. Then, slice the mushrooms while you start cooking the potatoes and carrots in the beef broth and tomato sauce. You simmer everything for the stew recipe, except the cooked ground beef/onion/garlic mixture for about 20-30 minutes, until the carrots are cooked. Lastly, mix in the ground beef and your easy hamburger stew is done!

variations to try

• Peas instead of beans
• Can simmer a bay leaf or 2 in the hamburger stew.
• Could use other types of ground meat.
• Celery slices would be a great addition to any beef stew recipe.
• You can double the garlic amount.

History of Beef Stew

Stew has been around for so many centuries! The ancient humans learned that if they boiled their vegetables and meat it made it tender and so much more flavorful. So, basically as soon as these intelligent creatures learned to boil water, they began throwing food into the boiling water and taste testing it! Beef stew has of course been around since the first cow was butchered...The first mention of goulash, which is a type of stew, was in the 9th century.

What is the difference between soup and stew?

Basically, the difference between soup and stew is that soup is a very broad term used to describe ingredients cooked in a liquid or pureed. Soup can be served warm or cold and can be thick or thin. Stew is a much more definite composition of a thick, hearty and warm meal, and usually takes longer to make, except in this recipe for easy beef stew using ground beef!

hamburger stew aKA Poor man's stew

Ground beef stew recipe is also known as poor man's stew, since using hamburger meat is so much less expensive than roasts or even stewing meat. This filling and hearty meal with ground beef is super economical! Hamburger stew is so hearty and tasty though, that you won't even realize how much money you're saving by making this instead of a traditional beef stew. 😉

ingredients for easy stovetop hamburger stew

• Lean Ground beef, or any other type of ground meat that you prefer. You may have to drain the fat if your meat isn't lean enough.
• Yellow onion, use 2 small or one medium onion, chopped finely.
• Garlic, I use 2 cloves but you can use double or more if you prefer your hamburger stew to be extra garlicky.
• Beef Broth, either store bought or homemade beef stock is fine. I do love the Better than Bouillon brand. Just mix the recommended amount with hot water.
• Tomato Sauce, whichever brand and kind you like will work fine.
• Potatoes, I usually use russet potatoes, peeled and diced bite size. Red potatoes are nice as well, and you can leave the skin on for extra color and vitamins.
• Carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces.
• Green beans, which can be fresh or frozen.
• Mushrooms, which do add a deep hearty flavor to the hamburger stew.
• Salt, pepper and basil

how to make Simple stovetop hamburger stew

1.Brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic in a large skillet. When completely cooked, drain any excess fat and set aside.

2. While the meat is cooking, peel and cut the potatoes and carrots into bite sized pieces and place in a large saucepan.

3. Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, green beans, mushrooms, salt, pepper and basil.

4. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the carrots are tender.

5. Add the gound beef mixture. Warm completely and serve.

What to serve with Simple stovetop hamburger stew!

Garlic Cheese Bread

Easy Sourdough Bread for Beginners

Tasty Garlic Cheese Buns

Buttermilk Graham Cornbread

Light and Fluffy Homemade Honey Buns

Almost Whole Wheat Bread

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items you may find useful when making this recipe 🤗

• Large stainless steel saucepan with a lid.
• Cutting board
• Food processor for chopping onions and garlic.
• Wooden Spoons
• Chef's knife for all the cutting.