This delectable family-friendly Cheeseburger Soup brings all the wonderful savory flavors of cheeseburgers together in a creamy cheesy soup with a perfect blend of Italian seasonings. Prepare to have your taste buds tantalized with savory ground beef, smoked bacon, sweet onions, garlic, tender potatoes and plenty of creamy cheddar cheese.
If your family is anything like ours then soup is on the menu at least once a week all year round. There is just something so comforting about a big pot of creamy warm soup. It not only warms your old bones but warms your heart and soul.
How do you make Cheeseburger Soup?
Start by browning your bacon in a large Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat. When it is about halfway through the browning process add the ground beef and cook until browned breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease and move the browned meat to a plate.
Turn heat to medium low and melt the butter. Now add the onions, celery, carrots and potatoes. Then cook until the onions and celery start to soften. Next add all the spices including the garlic. Continue cooking for an additional minute stirring constantly.
Now sprinkle in the flour and stir to coat while continuing to cook for a couple of minutes. Next add the chicken broth and milk alternating between the two. Simmer until the potatoes are soft. Next add the beef and bacon back to the pot warming for a couple of minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly stir in the shredded cheddar. Continue stirring until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. For best results serve promptly.
Recipe variations and additions
- Substitute ground pork sausage for the burger and add a few pinches of crushed red pepper with the spices.
- Make this Cheeseburger Soup recipe low carb and keto friendly by eliminating the potatoes, carrots and flour. Substitute cream for the milk and add about 4 ounces of small cubed cream cheese at the same time as the cheddar stirring until it melts.
- Substitute elbow macaroni for the potatoes. Add about 1 1/4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni to the pot after the chicken broth and milk. Simmer until the pasta is tender and increase shredded cheddar to 2 1/2 cups.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Hickory smoked nitrate free bacon lends great taste and aroma.
- Use lean ground beef and drain any excess fat from the beef and the pot.
- Free free to substitute ground turkey, ground pork, or even ground chicken.
- Yukon Gold potatoes work best in Cheeseburger Soup as they hold their shape without breaking down and they have nice tender skins so you don’t have to peel them. Red potatoes would be a close second. Stay away from russet potatoes when it comes to soup as they will break down.
- If you really like a super thick chunky soup then remove a couple cups of broth and vegetables. Simply puree with a immersion blender or in a stand blender (remember to remove the heat cap at the top) and stir the pureed contents in the pot of soup.
- Use a good quality cheddar or sharp cheddar cheese as it will add such great flavor and depth.
- For an over the top presentation garnish each bowl with sesame bun croutons, chopped dill pickles, our a dollop of sour cream, mustard or ketchup.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This soup is best reheated in the microwave on a reduced power just to make sure that it warms and does not cook the vegetables too much more.
What to serve with cheeseburger soup?
- Simple garden salad
- Cheddar drop biscuits
- Toasted or grilled cheese
- Cheese quesadilla
- Caesar salad
- Buttermilk biscuits
This Cheeseburger Soup is easy, dependable and incredibly delicious. Put the ingredients on your shopping list today and make your family a hearty wholesome meal.
Other delicious soup recipes you will love!
Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices smoked bacon
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 2 carrots grated
- 2 Yukon Gold potatoes diced
- ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown bacon in a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat. Halfway through the browning process add the ground beef. Cook until browned breaking it up as it browns. Drain any excess grease. Move the browned meat to a plate.
- Turn heat to medium low; add butter. Add onions, celery, carrots and potatoes; cook until the onions and celery start to soften. Add dried thyme, onion powder, basil, oregano, parsley and garlic. Continue cooking 1 minute; stirring constantly.
- Sprinkle in flour and stir to coat; cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly. Add chicken broth and milk; alternating between the two. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Add cooked beef and bacon back to the pot warming for 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and slowly stir in shredded cheddar; stirring until melted. Salt and pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
- Hickory smoked nitrate free bacon lends great taste and aroma.
- Use lean ground beef and drain any excess fat from the beef and the pot.
- Free free to substitute ground turkey, ground pork, or even ground chicken.
- Yukon Gold potatoes work best in Cheeseburger Soup as they hold their shape without breaking down and they have nice tender skins so you don't have to peel them. Red potatoes would be a close second. Stay away from russet potatoes when it comes to soup as they will break down.
- If you really like a super thick chunky soup then remove a couple cups of broth and vegetables. Simply puree with a immersion blender or in a stand blender (remember to remove the heat cap at the top) and stir the pureed contents in the pot of soup.
- Use a good quality cheddar or sharp cheddar cheese as it will add such great flavor and depth.
- For an over the top presentation garnish each bowl with sesame bun croutons, chopped dill pickles, our a dollop of sour cream, mustard or ketchup.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This soup is best reheated in the microwave on a reduced power just to make sure that it warms and does not cook the vegetables too much more.
Nutrition
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Diane C. Cox
This was delicious! Total comfort food, easy to make and everyone lived it. I see this as a go to soup. Yum❤️
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Diane! So happy that you enjoyed it!
Jeri
Absolutely delicious!! This recipe is a keeper!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jeri! So glad that you liked it!
Laurie Isbister
I made this tonight and added some sweet sausage. It was really good and a great for a cold fall day
Dan S
So delicious! I was very sceptical of this soup, but ended up really enjoying it. It is very heavy, though, so would only want it on a cold winter day.
Katherine
Yum! There are so many great flavors in this awesome soup.
Jessica Formicola
I love soup all year round, so I can’t wait to make this cheeseburger soup for dinner this week! I know my family will love it!
Gina
Add some spinach to this and it made the BEST dinner! Thanks for a great recipe and idea!
Tavog
Very nice recipe! The flavors are spot on!
Beth Pierce
Thanks!
Michelle
I’ve made this numerous times, shared it with my daughter who has 6 kids, hard to find anything that they all like INTILL now! This is a family favorite at both her home and with hubby and I .
I have made a change by using bulk spicy sausage and ground beef. We love it! It’s so darn hot here in CO right now, but I’m wanting it so bad that we may have soup in 90°🤷🏻♀️🥰
Michelle
Have you ever added broccoli or kale to it! I may need to next time I make it, just bought all the ingredients I needed and didn’t think outside the box while at the market , can’t wait till dinner!
Beth Pierce
Now I have not added either of those but broccoli sounds delicious!
Angela
The weather has been so cold here lately. I came across your recipe and had to try it. It cooks up in 30 minutes which I appreciate and my family loved it. Thanks for the great recipe!
Catherine
Cheeseburger soup is so comforting and a family favorite in my house. This looks SO delicious and comforting.
Patricia
Everyone in the family loves this hearty soup! I love when you’re able to make a fun twist to a classic dish (or sandwich, in this case)! So satisfying!
Katherine
There’s so much yumminess in this hearty soup! A real family-pleaser!
Jen
Thanks for the bacon recommendation. It was perfect for this soup! So delicious!
Vikki P
This was a big hit! Absolutely delicious, filling and “check” comfort food category! The fist time I made it I didn’t have ground beef or pork so used ground Italian sausage and that was delicious too.
A big thanks for sharing.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Vikki! So glad that you liked it! We are huge soup lovers!!
Diane Palacios
This sounds like a winner to me but bc I don’t really like potatoes that much I’m gonna use one potato and add some broccoli and a little cauliflower as well as someone mentioned above. All the seasonings sound great and everyone loves it so I can’t wait to try!!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Diane! Enjoy! Your plan with the broccoli and cauliflower sounds great!
Vicki
I’m made this today with riced cauliflower instead of potatoes. I didn’t have any bacon on hand as we don’t eat pork often but it was still scrumptious.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Vicki! So glad that you liked it!
Ashley F.
We can’t get enough of soup no matter the time of year! This one is super tasty!
Biana
Love cheeseburgers, so I am sure we will love this soup as well! Looking forward to making it soon.
Vicky
Now this is an amazing comfort soup! SO full of flavor and very filling!
Sara
Warmed up with a bowl of this for dinner last night and it hits the spot! Classicly delicious comfort food at its finest!
Gail
Looks so tasty and so perfect for winter! My kind of comfort food – my family will surely like this and can”t wait to make it for them.
Erin
Oh my goodness, this soup was amazing. I’m in love. It’s like the kinda soup you’d make to comfort someone on a rough day. A perfect soup for soothing a weary soul. 10/10, I’m in love!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Erin! So glad that you like the soup! I love soup!!
Tara
So many incredible flavors in this soup! Definitely perfect for the cooler temperatures we are starting to have and so comforting. Yum!
April
I made this last night and my family loved it. My husband is not a huge soup fan and even he loved it.
Genevieve
This cheeseburger soup looks perfect for the colder weather we are finally having in California. My hubby would love this recipe!
Ipsa
Wow.. this soup looks great. Perfect comfort food especially for winters.
Jen
It just started turning cooler here and I’ve officially deemed it soup weather! I know this will be a hit especially with my boys.
Edda
Does this soup freeze well?
Beth Pierce
I don’t think I would freeze this soup.
Madalyn
This looks amazing! Can you tell me if a serving is 1 cup or 1.5 cups?
Beth Pierce
About 1.5 cups
Lindsay Cotter
Total comfort food dinner for the win! Definitely will make again!
Toni
I seriously love how comforting this is!! My family loved it!
wilhelmina
Cheeseburger soup is a family favorite! It’s always a hit, no matter the time of year!
Laura
We ear a lot of soup and I am always looking for new ideas! This soup is so delicious and hearty!
Lauren Kelly
I eat soup all year long! This recipe is so delicious, thank you!
Karen M
I’ll be trying this this weekend..thanks for the recipe
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Karen! Enjoy!