Cheeseburger Soup
Cheeseburger Soup is a creamy and savory soup dish with tender potatoes, cheese, and other simple ingredients. This popular soup is finished off with brioche croutons and green onions, and it’s hearty enough to serve as a standalone meal!
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
Cheeseburgers are universally loved, and there are so many different ways to enjoy them! You’ve seen cheeseburgers transformed into subs, pizzas, and casseroles, but now you can enjoy it as a filling soup. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how much this soup tastes like a cheeseburger, it’s just as good as the real thing.
To make the best soup you can make, we recommend garnishing it with crispy bacon, green onions, extra shredded cheese, and brioche bun croutons to give it that signature burger flavor. Creamy soups like Cheeseburger Soup are amazing during soup season, and making this soup is way easier than dragging out the grill, especially when snow is on the ground!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe:
Hearty Comfort: Enjoy the warm, filling blend of ground beef, tender vegetables, and creamy potatoes—a perfect meal for chilly days.
Rich, Savory Flavor: The beef broth, melted cheddar, and sour cream create a luxurious, cheesy taste that’s both familiar and satisfying.
Quick & Easy: With just 10 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking, it’s a stress-free option for a delicious weeknight dinner.
Family Favorite: This recipe offers the best of both worlds—the classic taste of a cheeseburger in a comforting, soup form that everyone will love.
Versatile: Feel free to tweak the seasonings or add your favorite veggies to make it uniquely yours.
Ingredients to Make Cheeseburger Soup:
- ground beef. Lays the foundation of this soup with its rich, savory flavor. Browning it really brings out its depth, making the dish extra hearty.
- vegetables. A mix of onions, carrots, celery, and russet potatoes adds aromatic sweetness, crunch, and heartiness to the soup.
- beef broth. Serves as the liquid base, delivering tons of flavor and a consistent texture throughout the soup.
- butter. Melted to create a roux, which is essential for thickening the soup and adding a smooth, creamy texture.
- milk. Milk introduces a creaminess that softens the bold flavors and rounds out the overall taste.
- seasonings. A dash of salt, basil, and pepper elevates the natural flavors of the ingredients, ensuring everything is well-balanced and delicious.
- mild cheddar cheese. Melts into the soup, adding a smooth, cheesy texture.
- sour cream. A spoonful of sour cream adds a tangy finish.
How to Make Cheeseburger Soup:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the diced onions, shredded carrots, and sliced celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften.
- Pour in the beef broth and add the cubed potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously until thickened.
- Pour the milk sauce into the soup pot and stir well. Stir in salt, basil, and pepper. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and mix until melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Recommended Equipment
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Cheese Options: Mild cheddar works best, but sharp cheddar, Colby Jack, or a blend can be used for extra flavor.
- Consistency Tips: For a thicker soup, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes after adding the cheese sauce or mash some of the potatoes.
- Garnish Ideas: Top with crispy bacon, green onions, extra shredded cheese, or brioche hamburger bun croutons for added texture and taste.
- Brioche Croutons: Make them by cutting brioche buns into small cubes, tossing with melted butter and a pinch of salt, and baking at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until golden and crispy. Let cool before adding to the soup.
- Slow Cooker Option: Brown the ground beef first, then add it to the slow cooker with onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, broth, salt, basil, and pepper. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the cheese sauce and sour cream just before serving.
Serving Suggestions:
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
- Cucumber Onion Salad
- Avocado Tuna Melt
- Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
How to Store:
Refrigeration: Store the soup in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the cheese from separating.
Freezing: Freeze the soup without the sour cream. When ready to enjoy, thaw and reheat on low heat, then stir in the sour cream before serving.
Make Ahead: Prepare the soup in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the soup without the sour cream and stir it in after reheating.
FAQs:
Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef. Use low-fat cheese and sour cream. Replace the flour with cornstarch for a lower-carb, gluten-free option.
Shred cheese from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese, add cheese gradually while stirring constantly, keep the heat low when adding cheese to avoid curdling.
Yes! To add some heat, try ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, a few dashes of hot sauce, diced jalapeños or green chilies.
Grab your Free copy
Get a FREE Healthy Meal Planning Ebook
Cheeseburger Soup
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the diced onions, shredded carrots, and sliced celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften.
- Pour in the beef broth and add the cubed potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously until thickened.
- Pour the milk sauce into the soup pot and stir well. Stir in salt, basil, and pepper. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and mix until melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Nutrition
Notes
-
- Cheese Options: Mild cheddar works best, but sharp cheddar, Colby Jack, or a blend can be used for extra flavor.
- Consistency Tips: For a thicker soup, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes after adding the cheese sauce or mash some of the potatoes.
- Garnish Ideas: Top with crispy bacon, green onions, extra shredded cheese, or brioche hamburger bun croutons for added texture and taste.
- Brioche Croutons: Make them by cutting brioche buns into small cubes, tossing with melted butter and a pinch of salt, and baking at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until golden and crispy. Let cool before adding to the soup.
- Slow Cooker Option: Brown the ground beef first, then add it to the slow cooker with onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, broth, salt, basil, and pepper. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the cheese sauce and sour cream just before serving.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
Please leave a comment and star rating on this post!More Soup Recipes:
Did You Make This Cheeseburger Soup Recipe?
If you’ve made this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating. We love hearing your feedback and it greatly helps us improve our recipes!
You can also give us a follow on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook – we love staying touch!
Sounds delish!!