Easy Beef and Mushroom Soup made in a Slow Cooker

Sneak Preview: Easy Beef and Mushroom Soup made in a Slow Cooker combines round beef steak with mushrooms and a creamy broth. This recipe creates a quick-to-assemble soup you can put in a slow cooker and forget about until dinner.

beef and mushroom soup in a bowlPin

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Is your freezer a black hole like mine? I recently found a package of round steak at the bottom of my freezer. It was still safe to eat, but it had a little freezer burn – slightly past its prime. Evidently, it fell down the black hole in my freezer.

Consequently, I started thinking about making soup with the steak using a crockpot or slow cooker. The result is this tasty recipe for Easy Beef and Mushroom Soup made in a Slow Cooker.

Recipe Inspiration

The original idea originated with the prime rib soup at Harrigan’s restaurant (sadly, long gone in our area).  It was one of my favorites on their menu, along with New Orleans potatoes and Cheesy Yeast Rolls.

I don’t use prime rib in this recipe because I normally don’t have such elegant leftovers. But round steak is delicious, especially when cooked in a slow cooker. 


Ingredients and Substitutions

ingredients needed for beef and mushroom soupPin
  • BACON: You could use thick or thin-slice bacon, but I prefer the latter. Other substitutes include pre-cooked bacon crumbles (like the ones sold at Costco) and turkey bacon.
  • ROUND STEAK: Any cut of round steak is good. Chuck steak, cube steaks, or sirloin can substitute for the round steak since they are fine when cooked for a long period with moist heat. Even leftover roast beef can be used.
  • ONIONS: Even though I usually use frozen onions to save time, fresh onions are equally delicious.
  • MUSHROOMS: Use the most common white button mushrooms sold in all (American) grocery stores. In a pinch, substitute canned sliced mushrooms.
  • BEEF BOUILLON CONCENTRATE: I like the paste form shown above the best. Bouillon cubes or canned broth are also options.
  • KITCHEN BOUQUET: The kitchen Bouquet adds umami and color. Worcestershire sauce will give you flavor but not the dark caramel color.
  • SOY SAUCE: Soy sauce adds salt and more umami flavor that complements the meat.
  • BAY LEAF: I love to use bay leaves in my cooking. Don’t forget to remove them before serving. They add flavor, but you can leave them out.
  • SOUR CREAM or unflavored GREEK YOGURT: Either ingredient adds a creamy texture and a stroganoff flavor. Add immediately before serving. Don’t let the soup boil after you add the sour cream or yogurt. Boiling can cause either of them to separate.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why use a slow cooker for this soup?

Round steak is not particularly good for a walk-in-the-door-and-eat-10-minutes-later kind of menu. It’s more tender when cooked with moisture for a long time.

Can I make this on the stove?

Yes. Let the meat simmer in the liquid for 1-2 hours until tender.

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes, Make it earlier in the day if you look. It will store for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze this soup?

Freezing will cause the sour cream or yogurt to separate. Although you can usually fix this by adding more cream, I don’t recommend freezing.

Parting Thoughts: We are a soup-eating family, so I have lots of soup recipes. See this similar recipe for Easy Leftover Steak Soup with a Stroganoff Twist. If you have a leftover roast, check out this family favorite for Beef and Vegetable Soup Without Tomatoes.


Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.


beef and mushroom soup in a bowlPin
Yield: 4

Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Soup Recipe

Beef and mushrooms dominate this hearty and filling soup you can make in your slow cooker.

Rate this recipe

(5 stars if you loved it)

4 from 6 votes
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE SEND EMAIL
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 hours
Total time: 10 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 2 slices thin-sliced bacon
  • 1 pound (454 g) round steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup (150 g) chopped onions
  • 8 ounces (227 g) fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 5 cups (1183 g) water
  • 1 tablespoon beef bouillon concentrate
  • 1 tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup (280 g) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour optional if you want a thicker broth

Instructions

  • Fry 2 slices thin-sliced bacon. Remove from pan, crumble, and place in crockpot.
  • Saute 1 pound (454 g) round steak, cut into 1-inch cubes, in remaining bacon grease over high heat until browned. Do this in small batches so the skillet doesn’t cool down. Place browned steak in a slow cooker.
  • Saute 1 cup (150 g) chopped onions and 8 ounces (227 g) fresh mushrooms, sliced in a medium skillet. Add to the slow cooker.
  • Add 5 cups (1183 g) water, 1 tablespoon beef bouillon concentrate, 1 tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 bay leaf, and Freshly ground black pepper to the slow cooker and stir.
  • Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. Ensure the soup is no longer boiling before moving to the next step.
  • Remove about 1 cup broth from the soup and whisk 1 cup (280 g) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream into it until smooth. (If you like your broth thicker, add 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour to the cream and stir until there are no more lumps.) Add to the slow cooker and stir until slightly thickened if you added flour. Do not let the soup boil after you put the yogurt or sour cream into the soup.
  • Remove bay leaf before serving.

Notes

To make this soup on top of the stove
Fry the bacon in a Dutch oven. Remove the bacon and brown the beef in small batches, removing each batch after it browns. Sauté the onions and mushrooms in the Dutch oven. Add bacon and meat back to the pot and proceed with step 4. Cook until the meat is tender. Proceed with step 6 as directed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 528mg | Potassium: 753mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 3mg

All images and text ©️ Paula Rhodes for Salad in a Jar.com

5-Star Ratings Are My Favorite!Help others find this recipe in search results on the web.
My Amazon Store

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




27 Comments

  1. Chung-Ah @ Damn Delicious says:

    5 stars
    Mmmmm, this looks so creamy and tasty. And how simple! I absolutely love slow cooker recipes because the meat just becomes fall off the bone tender!

  2. Another delicious recipe!

    1. Thanks Rach. You’re the best!

      1. Paula, is it necessary to cook the onions and mushrooms in this recipe? Or can I just put them into the crock pot to cook?

        1. Hi Marci,
          I like my onions very well cooked so it’s a must for me. If you don’t care, you could probably get by just putting them in the crock pot. The mushrooms would be just fine.

  3. I’m with Emily…. What is kitchen bouquet? B/c this recipe sounds like my fam would love it!!

  4. I made this last night and the greek yogurt curdled when it hit the full soup, even though I whisked it well before putting it in. Now it looks like there’s cottage cheese sitting at the bottom of my bowl. How do I fix this next time?

    1. Danielle, Oh dear, that would not look appetizing. I didn’t have that problem but here is what I suggest. First, be sure soup is not boiling. Then pour a tiny bit of the hot soup broth into the yogurt and whisk well. Then add a little more broth and continue whisking. Repeat until yogurt is very thin and hot, then add to soup. Don’t cook soup after you have added the yogurt.

      Another option would be to serve soup without it and the add a dollop of Greek yogurt on top and let people stir it in as they eat. Doubt if you can pull that off with kids. 🙂

  5. Yudith @ Blissfully Delicious says:

    Oh wow, this looks great! I’m always looking for a new delicious slow-cooker dish, thanks for sharing 🙂

  6. It’s in my crock pot right now and it smells so good! I didn’t read the directions closely and I didn’t saute my onions first. Oh well, I’m sure it will be delicious!

  7. What is kitchen bouquet? Thanks!

    1. Hi Emily,
      It’s a umami-type seasoning that also adds brown color. It gives the broth additional color and flavor.

  8. Love this recipe. I just pulled out my crockpot the other day, so I’m adding this to the list of to-make list!

  9. I found the best recipe for Hamburger buns made in a bread machine. They are so good and easy, I can’t imagine buying buns again.
    1 1/4 cups milk, slightly warmed
    1 beaten egg
    2 tablespoons butter
    scant 1/4 cup white sugar
    3/4 teaspoon salt
    3 3/4 cups bread flour
    1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
    Directions:

    1
    Place all ingredients in pan of bread machine according to manufacturer’s directions.
    2
    Select dough setting.
    3
    When cycle is complete, turn out onto floured surface.
    4
    Cut dough in half and roll each half out to a 1″ thick circle.
    5
    Cut each half into six 3 1/2″ rounds with inverted glass as a cutter.
    6
    Place on greased baking sheet far apart and brush with melted butter.
    7
    Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.
    8
    Bake at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes Watch as ovens vary

    1. Lori, This sounds like something I need to try. Thanks for sharing.

  10. My family loves stroganoff, so this looks like just the ticket to try as soon as the weather changes. I bought round steak recently for chicken fried steak and gave myself a blister trying to tenderize it. Slow cooking round steak would be easier on my hands for sure!

  11. What excellent timing – I got mushrooms in my produce box last night and I was wondering how I was going to use up all that round steak in my freezer before the next steer arrives. And I’m going to Beth Moore all day Saturday – perfect to put this on and have dinner ready for the boys when I get home! Thanks for great timing Paula.

  12. Yummy! What could be better than steak and mushrooms?! Sorry to hear you’re working so much, but hopefully you can decompress with comfort food like this around!

  13. A nice and hearty dinner to come home too after a 12 HOUR DAY! Hopefully your schedule lightens up very soon for you.

  14. Mal @ The Chic Geek says:

    This sounds so delicious, perfect for a cold day

  15. Paula, my family all kind of sighs when I make soup because they think it’s not really a dinner more of lunch thing but I can see this soup being a real hit since they are all big beef eaters (unlike myself). And if you find a better freezer organization solution please share, I have the same problem 🙂

  16. Fall is in the air here in New Hampshire and my craving for soup always increases when the weather turns cool like this. Your soup looks absolutely delicious and the steak and mushrooms will definitely be a “husband pleaser”. I just pinned this soup to make very soon. I can see this being a regular meal in our home going forward. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe! Have a happy Thursday!

  17. The Café Sucré Farine says:

    Yummy Paula! I am forever picking up round steaks and sirloin steaks on sale so this will be a great recipe to have on board! I bet it would also be delicious with a other veggies! Thanks, Chris
    ps – I know how the 12 hours days are – it doesn’t leave you much room for anything other than sleep and working (well maybe a little eating too!)

  18. Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says:

    Now that school is back in session it’s definitely time to pull out the slow cooker. I can just imagine coming home to this soup- it would be heavenly. 🙂

  19. Valerie @Life4mebyme says:

    I have been peddling the 12 hour days too. This looks perfect. Add in some rice and perfection.

    1. Rice is great suggestion.