Craving a hearty, comforting bowl of homemade Ukrainian Borscht but short on time? Look no further! This incredible **Shortcut Ukrainian Beef Borscht** recipe, featuring the convenience of canned beets, is your answer. It’s a quick, easy, and healthy dinner solution that comes together in just 30 minutes. Forget tedious chopping – this delicious, low-fat beet soup is designed for busy weeknights, yet tastes as authentic as if it simmered all day.

Imagine walking in the door after work and having a warm, nourishing bowl of this traditional Ukrainian soup ready to serve in less than half an hour. It’s perfectly achievable with our shortcut method! If you’re looking to adapt this recipe, ground chicken or turkey can easily substitute the beef for a lighter version without sacrificing flavor. For a completely vegetarian borscht, simply omit the meat and opt for a rich vegetable broth. Even with extra lean ground beef, this **easy beef borscht** is remarkably Weight Watchers friendly, making it a guilt-free pleasure. It’s the ultimate comforting soup for any season!

The transition to working motherhood amplified my need for efficient cooking solutions, making shortcut recipes like this a kitchen essential. This easy beef borscht not only saves precious time but also delivers that authentic, deeply satisfying taste we all crave. It’s a testament to how traditional flavors can be adapted for contemporary lifestyles without compromise.

If you’re a fan of quick and delightful Ukrainian dishes, be sure to explore my Shortcut Lazy Pierogies and Lazy Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls. They offer more fantastic ways to enjoy the rich flavors of Ukraine with minimal effort!

🥘 Essential Ingredients for Shortcut Borscht with Canned Beets

The star of any borscht is, of course, the beets. For this expedited version, we embrace the convenience of **canned beets** over fresh ones. They are not only incredibly easy to use but also ensure a consistent flavor and vibrant color without the fuss of peeling and boiling. Alongside extra lean ground beef, a unique optional ingredient that truly elevates this shortcut borscht is non-fat evaporated milk. It’s my secret weapon for adding a luxurious, rich creaminess.

I discovered this trick thanks to a friend who once served me beet borscht made with whipping cream – it was absolutely magical! To capture that same divine creaminess without the added fat and calories, I experimented with non-fat evaporated milk, and the result is truly just as magnificent. It transforms the soup, adding a silky texture and subtle richness that you’d swear came from a much more complex recipe.

Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients you’ll need for this delicious **Beef Borscht with canned beets**:

• Ground beef (extra lean): This forms the hearty base of our beef borscht, making it a substantial and satisfying meal. Using extra lean ground beef keeps the soup lighter and healthier.
• Broccoli slaw: A fantastic addition for both nutrition and texture, broccoli slaw offers more vitamins and minerals than regular cabbage mixes, and its crispness holds up well in the soup. It’s an easy way to get more veggies in!
• Beef broth/beef stock: Essential for building a deep, savory foundation for this rich beefy borscht.
• Canned beets (sliced): The ultimate shortcut! Pre-cooked and sliced, canned beets are economical, incredibly convenient, and significantly reduce preparation time. Remember to drain them before adding to the soup. *Do NOT use pickled beets, as their vinegary brine will alter the flavor profile significantly.*
• Canned tomatoes (diced): These convenient pantry staples add a lovely tang and rich tomato flavor, contributing to the soup’s overall body and texture.
• Garlic (minced): A quintessential aromatic that infuses the soup with a delicious, pungent, and slightly sweet flavor. Using pre-minced garlic from a jar saves even more time.
• Onion powder and onion flakes/minced onion: Since we’re skipping fresh onion chopping, this combination ensures you get both the deep onion flavor from the powder and a textural element from the flakes, mimicking fresh onions without the effort.
• Celery seed: This clever spice delivers a vibrant, earthy celery flavor without needing to chop fresh celery, maintaining our “no chopping” promise.
• Brown sugar: Crucial for balancing the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine vinegar, adding a subtle sweetness that rounds out the flavors of traditional borscht.
• Red wine vinegar: Provides that signature tartness that defines authentic borscht, offering a refreshing counterpoint to the sweetness of the beets and sugar.
• Bay leaves: These aromatic leaves deepen the overall flavor profile of the soup as it simmers, adding a subtle, herbal note.
• Dill (fresh is best): The quintessential herb for Ukrainian cuisine, fresh dill provides an unmistakable aroma and authentic flavor that is paramount to a truly delicious beet soup.
• Evaporated milk (fat-free) is optional: As mentioned, this is my secret ingredient for achieving a creamy texture akin to whipping cream, but with a fraction of the calories and fat. It truly makes a difference in the soup’s richness.

NOTE: Adding evaporated milk will slightly lighten the deep red color of the borscht. Here is how it appears with the evaporated milk stirred in:

📖 Versatile Variations & Smart Substitutions

This shortcut Ukrainian borscht recipe is incredibly flexible, allowing for various dietary needs and pantry availability. Here are some easy ways to adapt it:

• Vegetarian Borscht recipe: To make this soup entirely vegetarian, simply omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth or vegetable stock as your soup base. The rich flavors from the beets, tomatoes, and seasonings will still create a wonderfully flavorful meatless borscht.
• Ground beef alternatives: For an even lighter option, you can easily substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. If using poultry, remember to swap the beef broth for chicken broth to complement the flavors.
• Dill options: While fresh dill is highly recommended for its vibrant flavor, you can certainly use dried dill if fresh isn’t available. Just remember that dried herbs are more concentrated, so use half the amount of fresh dill specified in the recipe.
• Broccoli Slaw alternatives: If you can’t find broccoli slaw, a standard coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) or even a bagged broccoli salad mix (without the dressing) makes a suitable substitute. My husband once brought home a broccoli salad mix by accident, and it worked perfectly!
• Beets: While sliced canned beets are preferred for convenience, you can use canned whole rosebud beets; just make sure to slice them yourself. A crucial note: do NOT use pickled beets, as their strong vinegar and pickling spices will overpower the delicate balance of flavors in this borscht.
• Red Wine Vinegar substitutes: If red wine vinegar isn’t on hand, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can be used as alternatives to provide the necessary tartness.

Top Tips for the Easiest Borscht

• Meal Prep Ground Beef: To save even more time on busy days, brown a larger batch of ground beef ahead of time. Portion it into Ziploc bags and store in the freezer. When you’re ready to make borscht, simply drop the frozen, browned beef directly into the soup, and it will defrost and integrate while cooking.
• Cook Extra Broccoli Slaw: If you buy a larger bag of broccoli slaw, cook the entire bag at once. Freeze the remainder in individual portions for your next batch of borscht or other quick meals.
• Pre-minced Garlic: Skip the time-consuming mincing! Use minced or pureed garlic from a jar. It’s a fantastic shortcut that doesn’t compromise on flavor for this recipe.

👪 Serving Size & Adjustments

This hearty Beef Borscht soup recipe yields approximately 6 generous servings. It’s perfect for a family dinner or for meal prepping throughout the week. Should you need to adjust the quantity, you can easily half, double, or even triple the recipe. Most recipe cards allow you to simply click on the serving number to select your desired quantity, and the ingredient amounts will automatically adjust for you. This makes it incredibly convenient whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a crowd.

Alternatively, you can also make this borscht a lighter side or starter when served with other Ukrainian favorites:

🌡️ Storage & Freezing Instructions

This easy Ukrainian Borscht is fantastic for meal prepping! Store any leftover beef borscht soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavors often deepen and become even more delicious overnight. For longer storage, this beef borscht soup freezes exceptionally well. Simply transfer it to freezer-safe containers, leaving a little headspace for expansion, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. It’s a perfect make-ahead meal!

Traditionally, borscht is often served with a generous dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt stirred into each bowl, a fresh sprig of dill on top, and a slice of hearty rye bread on the side for dipping. These classic pairings enhance the soup’s flavor and texture beautifully.

Borscht offers a unique and delightful flavor profile. It boasts a beautiful balance of sweet and sour notes, often with a subtle tang from vinegar and brown sugar. The star ingredient, beets, lends an earthy, slightly sweet taste, while beef broth and seasonings add a savory depth. The optional evaporated milk introduces a creamy richness, making for a complex yet incredibly comforting experience.

Absolutely! To make this a delicious vegetarian borscht, simply omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth or vegetable stock instead of beef broth. All the other ingredients remain the same, ensuring a flavorful meat-free version.

Canned beets are the key to this “shortcut” recipe! They eliminate the need for peeling, boiling, and chopping fresh beets, significantly reducing prep and cook time. They offer consistent flavor and color, making this homemade borscht quick and accessible for busy home cooks.