I love preparing soups in my crock pot because it is great to come home from a hectic work day to a hot meal that is ready to eat. Beef and broccoli soup is a healthy and delicious one pot meal that is very easy to prepare in a slow cooker.

There are many different ways to make tasty and hearty beef and broccoli soup in a crock pot. The recipes presented below are two of my favorites, and they can simmer away in your slow cooker all day while you are at the office.

Ground Beef and Broccoli Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 4 cups of chopped broccoli (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup of cup chopped mushrooms (canned or fresh)
• ¼ cup of chopped celery
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, diced
• 6 cups of tomato juice
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon of basil
• 1/2 teaspoon of oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Drain any excess fat from the meat. Place the meat and all other ingredients in your slow cooker. Cover, and cook on low for 7-10 hours.

Variation: Add a bag of frozen mixed vegetables if you would like more veggies in your soup. You can also add a can of drained garbanzo beans just before serving for additional protein.

Tomato Soup With Beef and Broccoli

• 3 pounds of stew beef
• 3 cups chopped broccoli (fresh or frozen)
• 4 cans of diced tomatoes (15 ½ ounces each)
• 1 can of beef broth (15 ½ ounces)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of basil
• 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Brown the stew beef in a skillet. Place the meat in your slow cooker. Add all other ingredients to the appliance. Cover and simmer on low for 7-10 hours.

Variation: If you prefer a tomato base rather than a beef base, substitute an equivalent amount of tomato juice for the beef broth. For added protein, add a can of drained chickpeas or kidney beans to the recipe just before serving.

Serving Suggestion:

No matter which beef and broccoli recipe you prepare, you can serve small cups of the soup as a first course for just about any meal. However, big bowls of steaming beef and broccoli soup makes a perfect one pot main dish meal. On a cold evening, nothing tastes better than a big bowl of homemade soup served with hearty multi grain crackers or a big slice of crusty bread.