21 Homey Beef Broth Recipes for Family and Friends

The easiest way to add depth and flavor to most savory dishes is by adding broth. Most days, I work with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth, but today, we’ll focus on beef broth recipes.

Beef broth is the superior choice when you’re aiming to add warmth and bold flavors to your meals. It can add depth to your soups, stews, sauces, gravies, pasta, rice bowls, and curries like none other.

Whether you’re looking for ways to cook with beef broth more often or seeking decent recipes to utilize leftover broth, you’ve landed on the right page! I give you 21 beef broth recipes, and every one of them is worth trying.

1. Spicy Beef and Potato Soup

My family likes their soup rich, viscous, and spicy, so this beef broth recipe is a winter regular at my place. The russet potatoes, ground beef, and broth make it extra filling, so I don’t have to bother with side dishes.

Since I tend to make a big pot of this soup, there is always some leftover, which is good to go in the fridge for a few days. I add noodles to it the next day, and the children happily eat it for dinner.

Although you can store this beef and potato soup in the freezer for a long time, I do not recommend it. I feel that the potatoes deteriorate in taste and texture after being frozen. 

2. Beef Broth Pasta with Onion and Parmesan

Do you know what’s worse than overcooked pasta? Bland pasta! Pasta is similar to a blank canvas that is brought to life with different flavorings; it relies on other ingredients to develop flavor.  

When you cook pasta in beef broth, it’s a whole new story and a delectable one at that. The starch from the pasta and the broth combined give it a glossy finish, which is a sight to devour.

The freshly grated parmesan is the cherry on top, as cheese makes everything better. A side of roasted or sautéed vegetables pairs beautifully with this pasta dish. 

3. Beef Burgundy or Beef Bourguignon

This Beef Bourguignon has a vibrant burgundy tinge, which is probably what inspired the recipe name. This dish also contains red wine, so that could be another reason it’s called Beef Burgundy.

Cold weather and beef stews are meant to be together, so there’s no denying this hearty stew when it’s freezing outside. This dish is safe for children to consume, as the wine is simmered for almost three hours, granting enough time for the alcohol to evaporate.

As an alternative, you can always go for alcohol-free red wine or grape juice. Serve this stew hot over egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.

4. Beef Noodle Soup

Soup noodles are among the few foods that always taste good and comforting. Whether you’re feeling down because of the flu, getting feverish, or simply tired, a warm bowl of noodle soup with tender beef chunks can cure it all.

The slow cooking method works best for this beef broth recipe, as it allows all the flavors to nicely meld together. This is a budget-friendly dish, which is convenient for dinners on busy workdays and the like.

Adding sautéed mushrooms to the mix is optional, but I usually do if I have them at home because they elevate the overall appearance and flavor profile.

5. Hearty Beef Barley Soup

If you want to adopt healthy eating habits, swap your processed foods with fresh produce and whole grains. Barley is a whole grain bustling with essential minerals, vitamins, and fiber, so you must consider adding it to your diet plan.

Beef barley soup is equal parts nutritious and delicious, so it’s the perfect meal to serve your loved ones. It is a hassle-free dish made from simple ingredients that are readily available in every household.

The beef broth is the glue of this dish, as it holds everything together and infuses the barley grains with meaty goodness. 

6. Easy Vegetable Beef Soup

Easy vegetable beef soup is true to its name because it only requires three minutes of prep, and it’s ready to eat in thirty minutes.

I don’t usually buy frozen vegetables, but I’d gotten a bag of mixed veggies on sale, and it was perfect for this beef broth recipe. The frozen bag I bought had peas, carrots, and corn, but you can try any other combo as well.

The only unusual ingredient (for me) in this recipe was molasses. I’ve never cooked with molasses, so I used brown sugar instead; I was happy with the results! 

7. One Pot Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet

Are you looking for a quick meal that doesn’t turn your kitchen upside down by the time it’s done? This beef broth recipe, prepared in a single skillet, is exactly what you need right now.

This dish has rice, ground beef, black beans, and corn, so I don’t need to tell you how filling it is. The first time I made this dish, it looked like I had combined all the leftover foods from the fridge and pantry.

I was a bit hesitant to put it on the dining table, but all my qualms faded away when my family gave tons of compliments after the first few bites. 

8. Loaded Beef Enchilada Soup

Imagine taking the filling from enchiladas and cooking them in a rich broth to make a chunky soup; that’s what you get by recreating this beef broth recipe at home.

This is a one-pot dish, so “convenience” is its second name. You cannot wrap the soup in a tortilla, but you can use crushed tortilla chips as a topping.

If you have a hard time convincing your children to eat homemade food, this is one of those dishes that might change their minds. It is creative, colorful, and tasteful, so everyone shall be coming back for seconds. 

9. Cajun inspired Seafood Gumbo Recipe

If you enjoy Cajun flavors in your food, this beef broth recipe will bring you a pot full of joy. This gumbo features shrimp and crabmeat, which are lighter on the palate as compared to red meats.

Did you know that crabmeat comprises Omega-3 fatty acids and zinc, which help lower your cholesterol level and improve heart health? On the other hand, shrimp contains the minerals selenium and iodine, which are highly beneficial to thyroid health.

The seafood gumbo is best served with non-sticky long-grain rice, but you can enjoy it with cornbread as well.

10. Italian Meatball Soup

If you’re thinking there are a lot of soups on this list, then you’re right because the beef broth is ideal for robust and hearty soups.

I used ready-made meatballs (from the grocery store) when I tried this recipe for the first time, yet the outcome was better than satisfactory. The next time around, I made them from scratch following this recipe, and the soup turned out to be twice as scrumptious.

Whenever I make this soup for dinner, I serve it with dinner rolls and a pasta salad. Anyone who wants to minimize carbs in their diet should have more soups because they are generally rich in protein and unsaturated fats.

11. Old-Fashioned Vegetable Beef Soup

Rustic food is a lifesaver during the bone-chilling winters when you just want to stay indoors all day. This vegetable beef soup is as old as time, and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

Since the recipe has been passed on for generations, it has our ancestors’ blessing, and that makes it extra special. When you make this at home, you’ll probably think of your granny, so give her a call if she’s still with you.

This old-fashioned soup requires minimum prep, and you just let it simmer for 5-6 hours. It will bathe your home in a soothing aroma and coziness. 

12. French Onion Soup

If you’ve never tried the famous French onion soup, you’re in for an amazing culinary experience. The star of this soup is caramelized onions that are slow-cooked for about half an hour in butter.

The French onion soup is incomplete without the cheesy toast on top; without the cheesy toast, the dish would just be some ordinary onion soup, which does not sound tempting in the least.

If you nail the caramelization of the onions, the remaining steps in the recipe are quite easy. If you’re using store-bought beef broth, go for the high-quality brand for best results. 

13. Beef Tips & Gravy

This simple beef gravy paired with a side of steamed white rice and mashed potatoes makes the perfect family lunch or dinner any day.

This beef broth recipe includes canned onion soup in condensed form, which you can easily get from a grocery store. If you would prefer to make your own, that’s totally up to you, but I’m sure it would further elevate the taste of the gravy.

You may also adjust the amount of corn starch as per your desired level of gravy thickness. I usually add two tablespoons instead of three because I prefer the gravy slightly runny.  

14. Japanese Onion Soup

I already covered the classic French onion soup, so now it’s time for the epic Japanese onion soup. I call the latter epic because that’s the case with all Japanese food, isn’t it?

By comparison, the Japanese onion soup is more on the piquant side, and it showcases the bright Asian flavors. The best part of the soup for me is the spring onions, which I think should be added to all soups.

Instead of beef bits, this soup has mushrooms as the protein element. One could replace the beef broth with vegetable broth to make it vegetarian-friendly, though I’m not sure it would taste as good. 

15. Shepherd’s Pie

Adding beef broth to your pie gravy or filling is a clever way to intensify its flavor profile. The beef broth makes the shepherd’s pie rich and juicy, so your guests will be asking how you achieved that.

I like my shepherd’s pie with lots of chunky gravy, and this recipe delivers. I always make this dish during the holiday season, i.e., the time of the year when I’m mostly expecting company.

This dish is an easy crowd-pleaser, and any leftovers are warmly welcomed and depleted by the family the very next day.  

16. Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

If you have a hard time convincing your children to eat broccoli, you’re not alone. This beef broth recipe is going to be the turning point in your life because nobody can resist it.

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli is ready to eat in just twenty-five minutes, and it’s better than any Asian stir-fry you’ve ordered to date. This savory dish features a combination of sweet and sour elements, which is a specialty of Asian cuisine.

I always serve this dish with a side of vegetable or egg-fried rice. It’s my favorite kind of dinner at the end of a hectic work day, as it’s nutritious and delicious. 

17. Swedish Meatballs

Whenever I ask everybody at home to suggest what I should make for dinner, the usual responses include “meatball spaghetti,” “lasagna,” or “mac & cheese.”

All three of those options are great, but not when I am in the mood to bring something new or innovative to the table. The best way to do so without disappointing everyone is to improvise with creative recipes just like this one.

These Swedish-style meatballs in a rich, creamy sauce are perfect to serve over pasta or spaghetti. You may them a classy twist on the classic meatball with spaghetti, so everybody gets what they want. 

18. One Pot Taco Pasta

When I saw the name of this beef broth recipe, I assumed it would be something like pasta in a taco shell, but this wasn’t it. Nonetheless, it is a wholesome pasta dish that includes taco seasoning.

One thing I need to tell you upfront is that this dish contains a lot of cheese (3 types of cheese) and is not the healthiest kind. This is not a recipe for Weight Watchers or calorie counters unless they want to indulge to the max.

This pasta dish also contains a considerable amount of dairy products; apart from the cheeses, we also have whole milk here. 

19. Ground Beef Queso Chili

If you frequent Tex-Mex restaurants, you’re probably familiar with “queso,” i.e., a side dish or appetizer primarily made from cheese and chili peppers.

Queso is traditionally used as a dip for tortilla chips, but here, we incorporate it into a chili with pasta. This recipe contains all the ingredients of a classic chili, so you may try it as a variation of your usual stew.

You will have to make the queso sauce from scratch, but it’s exceptionally easy, so there is nothing to worry about, and the flavor it adds to the dish is definitely worth the tiny bit of effort. 

20. Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Ragu

Here’s a heartwarming slow cooker recipe you must bookmark if you’re responsible for feeding a big family. It requires minimum prep and gives you ample time to de-stress while it cooks.

In this dish, the roast beef is slow-cooked in broth and tomato sauce until it reaches the state where it will melt in your mouth. The cooked beef can easily be shredded with a fork and transformed into a Ragu sauce.

This shredded beef Ragu is ideal for serving over a bed of hot noodles, and there’s enough for everyone to eat to their heart’s content. 

21. Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Pho is an iconic Vietnamese dish you can recreate in your kitchen with this simplified beef broth recipe. If you have never tried making pho at home, this recipe is a good place to start.

The secret to perfecting this dish lies in preparing the broth. The longer you simmer the broth for this noodle soup, the more depth you achieve in the flavor. Moreover, the noodles need to be boiled separately and drained before adding to the soup.

To maintain originality, the recipe uses thin rice noodles and whole spices. However, you may go for ground spices and regular noodles for your convenience.