Description

This Old-Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup is a hearty, comforting dish featuring tender beef chuck stew meat, smoky turkey bacon, and a colorful array of fresh vegetables simmered in a rich beef broth with vegetarian Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar. Perfect for cozy meals, it delivers rich, savory flavors and nourishing ingredients that create a satisfying and wholesome experience for any time of year.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein

1.5 pounds beef chuck stew meat, cut into bite-sized cubes
4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cut into small strips

Vegetables

2 medium carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 medium russet potatoes, diced
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (natural)

Liquids and Seasonings

6 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 bay leaves
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Ingredients: Cut beef into bite-sized cubes if not pre-cut. Dice carrots, celery, potatoes, and onion into uniform pieces for even cooking. Mince garlic cloves and cut smoked turkey bacon into small strips.
Brown the Beef and Bacon: In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crisp and fragrant, then set aside. Using the rendered fat, brown the beef pieces until caramelized on all sides, locking in that rich flavor.
Sauté the Aromatics: Add onions, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until softened and aromatic, approximately 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
Build the Soup Base: Return the bacon to the pot and pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes. Stir in vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, black pepper, and bay leaves. Bring everything to a gentle boil.
Simmer to Perfection: Add potatoes and green beans, then reduce heat to low and cover. Let the soup simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked but still firm.
Final Seasoning and Serving: Remove bay leaves, taste the soup, and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, enjoying the comforting blend of flavors in every spoonful.

Notes

Brown beef properly to develop deeper, richer flavors from caramelization.
Do not overcook vegetables; keep them tender but firm for best texture contrast.
Add fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme near the end to refresh the flavor profile.
Cook low and slow to make beef melt-in-your-mouth tender and allow full flavor melding.
Skim excess fat from the surface before serving to keep the soup light.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Category: Soup
Method: Simmering
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 320
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 650mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 75mg

Keywords: vegetable beef soup, comfort food, hearty soup, beef stew, smoked turkey bacon, vegetable soup