Cheeseburger Soup – The Big Man’s World ®

This one-pot cheeseburger soup recipe takes everything you love about burgers and uses it to make the most comforting soup. Ready in minutes, every spoonful is mouthwateringly cheesy and savory!

When my family is looking for a comforting and ultra-savory meal to warm them up during fall and winter, I turn to the perfect dinner: cheeseburger soup!

In my cheeseburger soup recipe, you’ll find everything you love about a classic cheeseburger, like seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, bacon, and the best burger toppings. It’s another cozy soup recipe I make on rotation during the cooler months, and it’s always a hit.

Why this recipe works

• A cheeseburger in a bowl. From the beef to the cheese to the irresistible savory flavors, every spoonful of this soup tastes just like a real cheeseburger!
• Ready in 30 minutes. Not only is everything made in one pot, but it also cooks up in just 30 minutes!
• Customizable. Use the meat of your choice, make it dairy-free, or change the toppings. The options are endless!
• Incredible leftovers. Confession- I often make a double batch every time I make this because the leftovers taste even better the next day or two.

What I love about making this soup is that it’s very balanced. You get protein from the beef and cheese and wholesome carbs from the potatoes.

Ingredients needed

Hearty beef, plenty of cheese, and fresh vegetables fill this comforting soup with crowd-pleasing flavors! Here’s an overview of the ingredients you need:

• Bacon. To me, a bacon cheeseburger is always best. That’s why I like to start this recipe by crisping bacon slices in the pot before making the soup. It’s the best topping!
• Lean ground beef. Just like in my stuffed pepper soup, I like to use lean 80/20 ground beef for this recipe. I find that it has enough fat to infuse the soup with mouthwatering flavors without making it overly greasy. 
• Unsalted butter. To cook the vegetables.
• Soup veggies. Onion, celery, carrots, and garlic cloves start the soup with an aromatic and savory baseline of flavor.
• Russet potatoes. Potatoes in cheeseburger soup add an undeniably creamy texture and extra bulk.
• Worcestershire sauce. This is a favorite ingredient of mine, as it complements the beefy flavors perfectly!
• All purpose flour. To thicken the soup. Feel free to use a gluten-free flour blend instead.
• Chicken broth. Or use beef broth or vegetable broth.
• Heavy cream. A splash of heavy cream gives the soup the most luxurious creamy texture. Whole milk can be used as a substitute, but it isn’t as rich or creamy.
• Sharp cheddar cheese. Because it wouldn’t be cheeseburger soup without the cheese!
• Salt and pepper. To taste.
• Toppings. Think of your favorite hamburger toppings for this part. Mine are crispy bacon, dill pickles, red onions, extra cheese, and toasted croutons to mimic the hamburger buns. I’ve included more topping ideas in the Tips and Variations section below.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How to make cheeseburger soup

It’s a breeze to make cheeseburger soup on the stove since the process is done entirely in one pot. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1 – Cook the bacon. Cook the bacon pieces in a large soup pot over medium-high heat until they’re crispy. Transfer the slices to a paper towel-lined plate, but leave the grease in the pot.

Step 2 – Sauté the beef and vegetables. Add the beef to the pot and cook until it’s browned. Drain the excess grease before adding the butter, onions, celery, carrots, and garlic. Cook until soft, then stir in the potatoes and Worcestershire sauce.

Step 3 – Simmer. Stir in the flour before pouring the chicken broth into the pot. Bring the soup up to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Let the soup simmer until the potatoes are fork tender.

Step 4 – Add the cream and cheese. Stir the cream into the soup and let it heat through. Afterward, stir in the shredded cheese until it melts. Taste, then add salt and pepper as needed.

Step 5 – Serve. Ladle the cheeseburger soup into bowls, then add the bacon slices, diced pickles, and your other favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Can you make it in a crockpot?

The stovetop is my favorite way to make cheeseburger soup because it’s quick and easy. However, pulling out my slow cooker can be handy when I want to get a jump on this recipe 

Here’s how to make crockpot cheeseburger soup: start by sauteing the aromatics, vegetables, and beef in a skillet on the stove before adding the mixture to a crockpot. Next, stir in the potatoes, broth, and Worcestershire. Now, cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. Finally, stir in the remaining ingredients 30 minutes before the soup is done cooking. Enjoy!

Tips to make the best recipe

• Prep in advance. I like to chop and measure all of my ingredients before I start this recipe. It makes the cooking process so much faster and easier!
• Don’t over-salt the soup. Remember that the bacon and cheese will naturally add a salty flavor to the soup, so don’t overdo it with any extra salt.
• Adjust the consistency. If the soup isn’t thick enough, let it simmer a little longer or stir in an extra 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour. If it’s too thick, add splashes of chicken broth at a time until the consistency is as thin as you like.

Recipe variations

The beauty of this soup, (and just like an actual cheeseburger!) is that you can easily adapt it to suit your taste buds, your dietary preferences, or whichever ingredients you have on hand. Here are some ideas:

• Use other ground meat. Feel free to swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or bison.
• Add more vegetables. Like bell peppers, mushrooms, leeks, cauliflower, or zucchini.
• Vegetarian soup. You can make vegetarian cheeseburger soup by omitting the bacon, swapping the ground beef for your favorite plant-based ground beef, and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
• Dairy free. I prefer to use real cream and cheese because they melt into the soup perfectly. However, if you’re dairy free, you can use coconut milk and vegan shredded cheese instead.
• More topping ideas. Sour cream, fresh or dried basil, parsley or dill, toasted hamburger buns, chopped iceberg lettuce, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, diced tomatoes, or a drizzle of ranch dressing.
• Cut the carbs. For a low carb option, replace the potatoes with cauliflower and the flour with almond flour.

Storage instructions

To store: After it cools, transfer the leftover burger soup to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

To reheat: The easiest way to reheat the soup is in 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring in between. You can also reheat it in a pot on the stove.

Frequently asked questions

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