Slow Cooker Beef Vegetable Soup

This Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup is a simple, comforting and delicious Midwestern classic. A hearty meat and potatoes dinner in a bowl, this soup simmers to perfection while you’re at work!

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Juicy And Tender Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

This Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup recipe has been in my Midwest family for generations. It’s the most comforting soup for anybody who is sick, just had a baby, or is just looking for a warm soothing meal to come home to on a cold day.

While for some reason my family refers to this as just “vegetable soup,” the star of this dish is actually beef short ribs. They add meaty flavor and make a luscious broth.

As my mom says about this recipe: “years of perfection!“. I hope your loved ones will love it as much as we do.

Vegetable Beef Soup Slow Cooker Ingredients

A full recipe card, including exact ingredient amounts, appears at the bottom of this post.

• bone-in beef short ribs – these provide robust flavor and so much meaty goodness in the soup. More info about other options below!
• canned whole tomatoes and the juice from the can AND canned diced tomatoes and the juice from the can – this recipe is unique because my family uses one large can of whole tomatoes that we chop up ourselves, rather than using only canned chopped tomatoes. I know it’s weird, but my mom insists: “Trust me, it works best this way, instead of BOTH cans being diced. Years of perfection!”
• beef consomme – we use Campbell’s brand beef consomme, which is a concentrated beef broth.
• onion – this adds a savory base flavor to this vegetable soup crock pot recipe.
• carrots – these add sweetness and vibrant color to the soup.
• celery – if we already have onions and carrots, we might as well complete the mirepoix, right?
• potato – one pound of Russet potatoes (about 1 large potato) acts as a thickening agent for the soup and makes it heartier.
• bay leaves – these infuse the soup with earthy aroma and flavor.
• garlic – an essential ingredient to any well-balanced savory soup.
• salt and pepper – to season the slow cooker vegetable beef soup to perfection.

What Is The Best Cut Of Beef For This Vegetable Soup Crock Pot Recipe?

There are a few different cuts of beef that will work for this soup, but my family prefers bone-in short ribs. Primarily because the bones add a LOT of flavor to the soup while it slowly cooks. So, a boneless cut of beef would result in a less flavorful soup. You also get lots of tender chunks of beef.

Other cuts of beef that work well for this soup are top chuck, chuck shoulder or chuck roast.

How To Make Mom’s Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

1. BROWN. Sear the short ribs in a skillet on the stove until they are browned on all sides.

2. CHOP. While the meat is browning, chop the whole tomatoes.

3. ADD. Add the tomatoes and their juices, the seared short ribs, and all of the remaining ingredients to the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

4. PULL MEAT. Remove the short ribs. Discard the bones and coarsely chop the meat and stir it back into the soup. Cook on high for 5 minutes or so until the meat is warmed back up.

5. SERVE. Garnish the soup with parsley, if desired, and serve hot.

Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup Variations

Want to add more or different veggies? Consider the following in addition to or in place of the vegetables listed in the recipe card:

• chopped green beans
• corn
• frozen peas

Serving Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup

This recipe makes 6 servings if you’re serving it with a bread option like sliced baguette, quick yeast rolls, focaccia bread or our garlic bread recipe. Or, you can serve it as 4 larger portions.

Sometimes, Jeff will put a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top of the soup when he serves it, and I must admit that it’s pretty tasty that way.

Prep Ingredients For This Vegetable Beef Soup Crock Pot Recipe Ahead Of Time!

I tested this slow cooker beef vegetable soup with completely prepping everything (browning the ribs, chopping all the veggies, and stirring all of the ingredients together in the crockpot bowl) the night before, and it turned out great!

So feel free to prep everything and stir it together in the crockpot bowl, refrigerate it, and then transfer it to your crockpot appliance and turn it on to cook before you leave for work in the morning.

Storing Vegetable Beef Soup (Slow Cooker Recipe)

If you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and place them in the fridge uncovered for a few hours until they are fully chilled, then cover them with the lid and keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days. 

Does Slow Cooker Beef Vegetable Soup Freeze Well?

Yes, this crock pot vegetable beef soup recipe freezes well! Prepare and cook the recipe as written, then transfer it to one large or several smaller freezer-safe containers and place it in the fridge uncovered for a few hours until it is fully chilled, then cover it with the lid(s), and transfer to the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stove top or in the microwave to serve.