Cheeseburger Soup is comforting and cozy and oh so wonderful! This recipe is easy to make, comes together in no time, and is a true crowd-pleaser. Make it once and you'll add it to the rotation immediately!
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Cheeseburger Soup is a family favorite around here. It's so comforting and cozy with familiar flavors that everyone loves and dives right into. My people cannot get enough. And, what's not to love? A beefy soup chockfull of potatoes and vegetables in a velvety, cheesy broth. I mean come on!
This soup is a pantry staple recipe as well. I can almost guarantee that I have all of these ingredients in the pantry and/or freezer at all times. On those days when you need to throw something together with what you have, this is a perfect solution. I even have slow cooker instructions below!
Make this recipe for an easy weeknight dinner or serve it to friends for a fun get-together when it's cold out. And, don't get me started on the garnishes and topping. I've got quite the surprise at the end that makes the most incredible crunchy sprinkle ever!
cheeseburger soup ingredients
- Ground Beef
- Onions
- Carrot
- Celery
- Garlic
- Russet Potatoes
- Chicken Stock
- Dry Mustard
- All-Purpose Seasoning
- Tomato Paste
- Cornstarch
- Milk
- Cheddar Cheese
- Bacon
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Ground Pepper
- Potato Chips and Dill Pickles
equipment
- Dutch Oven or Large Pot
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
- Spatula
- Vegetable Peeler
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
how to make cheeseburger soup
Now, onto the good stuff. Let's get cooking!
To begin our Cheeseburger Soup, start by browning the ground beef. Do this first so that if you have any excess fat, you can remove it easier.
Next goes in the veggies. Add the carrots, celery, and onion, cooking until they begin to soften. Stir in the all-purpose seasoning and dry mustard. Adding the seasonings here and continuing to stir for a few minutes will really let their flavors sing!
A couple of tablespoons of tomato paste and the garlic go in next. This really helps give the broth a richer flavor.
Onto the chicken broth. Add some and use a good quality one. It really does make a difference in this Cheeseburger Soup. Toss the potatoes in at this point, too.
Bring the soup to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the potatoes become tender.
To thicken the soup, mix the milk and cornstarch together in a separate bowl. Add that mixture to the soup. When the soup starts to thicken, reduce the heat to low.
Slowly, whisk in the cheese that you have so lovingly shredded yourself. Stir constantly so that it melts evenly.
serving
To serve this glorious Cheeseburger Soup, ladle it into bowls. Top with, and don't leave me here, crushed up kettle-cooked potato chips and diced dill pickles. It takes this soup to a whole other level in both flavor and texture! I wasn't sure if I was going to like this, but I have to say, I will not have this soup without the chips and pickles now. It's that good.
slow cooker instructions
Wanna make this recipe in the slow cooker or crockpot so you can set it and forget it?! Here's how.
Simply brown the ground beef separately in a skillet on the stovetop. After it's cooked, add the beef to the crockpot with the remaining ingredients except the milk, cornstarch, and shredded cheese. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. To finish, stir in the the remaining ingredients just before you're ready to serve and don't forget the toppings!
recipe frequently asked questions
How long will Cheeseburger Soup stay good in the fridge?
This soup will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze this soup?
You absolutely can. In an airtight container, this soup will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
The trick to freezing and then thawing a soup with a cream base is to do it slowly. Let it thaw in the fridge and slowly reheat it over low heat in a pot. Don't nuke the tar out of it in the microwave. That's when things can get a little separated and funky.
Is this soup gluten-free?
Yes! Because cornstarch is used to thicken this soup, there is no gluten anywhere to be found. Enjoy without any worry there!
tips and tricks
- Don't use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe. You will end up with a gloopy mess. Pre-shredded, bagged cheese is coated with a anti-caking agent to keep it from sticking together. It will prevent the cheese from melting properly in this soup. Shred your own. It's worth it.
- For the glorious potato chip topping, I suggest using your favorite kettle-cooked chips. They are thicker and crispier and hold up much better as a topping than a regular thin potato chip.
- If you don't want to chop up pickles or don't have any on hand, dill relish makes a phenomenal topping. Just add a dollop and stir it around. It's so good!
- I use my all-purpose seasoning recipe for this soup. It's not overly salty because I do not like super salty food. If you are using your favorite seasoning blend instead, be mindful of the salt content. You may not need to use a full two tablespoons.
- Top with your favorite potato chip, dill pickles, jalapeños, and even a healthy drizzle of yellow mustard.
variations
- Other proteins - Use whatever you like and have on hand. You can substitute with ground chicken, turkey, or pork. Even Italian sausage would be great. I have also been known to make this a rotisserie-chicken-burger-soup-situation. Just stir in leftover chicken at the end and you'll have a fantastic, comforting soup!
- Other veggies - You can turn the Cheeseburger Soup recipe into a total fridge cleanout situation. Throw in mushrooms, tomatoes, chilis, or even sweet bell peppers for an incredible result.
- Use pasta instead of potatoes. My kids go nuts for this version! It's like a hamburger helper soup!
- Keep it a little lower-carb by substituting cauliflower for the potatoes. I absolutely love doing this! It's delicious!
- Play with the cheeses. I used cheddar because that was what was in the fridge. However, something like pepper jack would be fantastic and add a kick. Use your favorite and have fun making this soup your own!
more easy soup recipes
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If you guys make this Cheeseburger Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Recipe
Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning see note below
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 med onion, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1½-2 lbs potatoes, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup cooked bacon crumbles
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- crushed potato chips and diced dill pickles, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a dutch oven on medium-high heat.
- Add the carrots, celery, and onion, cooking until they begin to soften. Stir in the all-purpose seasoning and dry mustard.
- Add the tomato paste and garlic cooking until the paste becomes a bit darker. This will give the soup base a richer flavor.
- Add the chicken broth and potatoes.
- Bring the soup to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover with a lid and cook until the potatoes become tender.
- To thicken the soup, mix the milk and cornstarch together in a separate bowl. Add that mixture to the soup. Reduce the heat to low.
- Slowly, whisk in the cheese that you have so lovingly shredded yourself. Stir constantly so that it melts evenly.
- Top with crushed potato chips, diced dill pickles, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Cheeseburger Soup recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Margaret says
Well this was fabulous. Silky smooth broth with all the cheeseburger goodness. We recommend!
Rufus says
Thank you so much! I am so very glad you liked it and thank you so very much for letting me know! Have a wonderful day!
Zia says
this is a great soup and the name reflects the recipe! this one is hard to beat and is a good go-to for any occasion!
Rufus says
Thank you so very much!