Add some beans: Stir in a cup of canned beans for a little more heft in each bite. We suggest red kidney, pinto, great Northern, white or cannellini beans.
Replace the water with stock: Instead of the 2 cups of water, try the same amount of beef, chicken or vegetable stock. Stock will add a ton of flavor, but it will also add salt (unless you use a salt-free version). After adding the stock, taste the stew so you can adjust the seasoning accordingly.
Make your stew in a slow cooker: Follow the steps to cook the ground beef and onions, then transfer these and the other ingredients into the bowl of a large slow cooker. Cover and simmer for four to six hours. Uncover the stew for the last 30 minutes to help it thicken up.
Spice it up: Add other seasonings just before simmering to punch up the flavor, like an Italian spice blend, Montreal steak seasoning, taco seasoning or a little cayenne pepper. A dash or two of Worcestershire sauce is delicious with the tomatoes and beef in this stew. One of our favorite suggestions from readers is to stir in an envelope of onion soup mix!
How to Store Hamburger Stew
Let the leftover hamburger stew cool completely (this will go faster if you portion it into smaller containers). Cover the containers tightly and store them in the fridge for up to four days. The leftovers can be gently reheated in a saucepan on the stove or in short bursts in the microwave.
How to Freeze Hamburger Stew
This is a big-batch stew recipe, which is perfect because it freezes beautifully. Let the stew cool completely, then portion it into freezer containers. Store it in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to have some, partially thaw the stew in the fridge overnight. Heat it through in a saucepan over low heat or in intervals in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Like other freezable stew recipes, you can add a little water if necessary as it reheats.
Hamburger Stew Tips
What can you serve with hamburger stew?
This stew is so hearty and complete—with its meat, veggies and rice—that all you really need on the side is some bread for dipping. Try slices of crusty homemade bread, Parmesan pan rolls or tender potato rolls.
How can you make hamburger stew more flavorful?
Don’t skip the salt called for in the recipe—3 teaspoons may seem like a lot, until you remember that the recipe makes 4 quarts of stew! Taste the stew after it’s done simmering to see if you’d like to add more salt or black pepper. If you haven’t already, check out the hamburger stew variations listed above.
Watch How to Make Favorite Hamburger Stew
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped
4 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes, undrained
8 medium carrots, thinly sliced
4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cups water
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
3 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1
In a Dutch oven, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add the tomatoes, carrots, celery, potatoes, water, rice, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables and rice are tender.
2
Uncover; simmer 20-30 minutes longer or until thickened to desired consistency.
Nutrition Facts
1 cup: 191 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 689mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 12g protein.
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