Cheesy Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup
Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup is comfort food at its best combining a creamy and cheesy broth, with flavorful ground beef, for a filling bowl of soup. You only need basic ingredients like cooked ground beef, broth, potatoes, carrots, onion, cheese, milk, and butter with some common seasonings for this delicious soup recipe. Then, just dump it all in the crock pot and let it cook all day. This decadent soup recipe gets 5 stars every time I serve it and it is my favorite soup recipe of all.
We love hearty and creamy soups, and this recipe is a family favorite. It is luxurious yet pretty easy to make. Once you try it, you will crave this dish over and over again. For more creamy comfort meals, check out baked potato soup, and instant pot french onion soup.
Crock pot soup was first made when the crock pot was invented by Irving Naxon who used it as a bean cooker for cholent in 1940. However, it was the Rival Company that patented it in 1971. Soup has been around since 20,000 BC though, so we have to thank the Neanderthals for this delicious soup recipe.
Ingredients needed:
- All-purpose flour: Any kind of flour will work for making the cream sauce.
- Ground beef: Already cooked beef prepared in advance will save you time.
- Diced potatoes: Use a waxy potato like red or white so they do not get too mushy.
- Shredded carrots: Shredded carrots are optional, but they make a good addition with a bit of crunchy texture.
- Chopped onion: We used white onion, but you can use red, yellow, or whatever kind of onion you like on your burger.
- Diced celery: Just like the carrots, the celery adds just a bit of flavor and crunch, but it is optional.
- Milk or cream: You need whole milk or cream to make the cream sauce.
- Butter: Chop cold butter into small cubes for even melting to make the cream sauce.
- Chicken broth: Low-sodium broth is best. If you use regular broth, omit the salt.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Shred it yourself for the best flavor and meltiness.
- Dried parsley: Just a bit for a slightly peppery flavor.
- Dried basil: This adds a lightly spicy and sweet flavor.
- Garlic powder: All burgers need a little bit of garlic powder. You could also use a bit of minced garlic instead.
- Salt: Use garlic salt for extra garlicky flavor.
- Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper is best.
How to make crockpot cheeseburger soup from scratch?
- Cook the ground beef: First, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Then, drain the excess grease and pour it into the crockpot.
- Add veggies: Then, put the onions, potatoes, celery, basil, and parsley into the crockpot and pour chicken broth on top. Stir to combine, cover, and cook for seven hours on low or four hours on high. Just until the potatoes are tender.
- Make the cream sauce: Next, add butter to a skillet and melt over low heat. Then, add flour and let it cook until it is golden brown and bubbly. This should take about one minute. Now, whisk in the cream (or milk), salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the cheese: After, pour the cream mixture into the crockpot and stir before adding the shredded cheese.
- Melt and serve: Last, cover, and cook for another 30 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Recipe variations:
- Bacon bits: Add crumbled bacon bits to your soup to make bacon cheeseburger soup.
- Different cheese: You could also substitute shredded pepper jack cheese for the shredded cheddar. Or use both. In fact, you could even try Mexican Velveeta cheese.
- Sour cream: Instead of milk or cream, try using sour cream for a thicker soup.
- Cream cheese: For even thicker and creamier crock pot cheeseburger soup, add a block of cream cheese.
- Other veggies: For more flavor, add your own favorite veggies like green onions, diced bell peppers, chopped mushrooms, or whatever else you like.
- Dill pickle: Serve in a bread bowl with dill pickles and shredded lettuce on the side for a hearty meal.
- No beef: Instead of ground beef, you can use ground chicken, ground pork, or even ground turkey.
- Italian seasoning: For a different flavor, add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to your soup.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to cook the ground beef first?
It is best to cook the ground beef first. At the very least, you want to brown the ground beef before adding it. Otherwise, it may clump together and lose its flavor. Also, if you do not brown and drain your ground beef, you will have a lot of excess grease in your soup.
What kind of potatoes are best for this soup recipe?
Russet or Idaho potatoes tend to lose their shape or become mushy when cooked in liquids. Red potatoes work better than russet potatoes because they are waxier so they will not get too soggy and fall apart. You could also try white potatoes. Leaving the skin on will also help your potatoes keep their shape.
How can I make this with less saturated fat?
The nutrition, calories, and fat numbers at the bottom of the page are just estimated. But you can cut down on saturated fat by using ground chicken or turkey. Also, instead of butter, use olive oil and Greek yogurt instead of milk or cream.
How to store leftovers:
- Store: You can store your leftover crockpot cheeseburger soup in a sealed container for about five days in the fridge.
- Freeze: To freeze, just pour it into a freezer bag or another freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 60 days.
- Thaw: Remember to thaw your frozen leftovers the night before in the fridge.
- Reheat: To reheat, pour it into a saucepan and cook on medium-low until it boils. Or heat in the microwave for one to two minutes.
More soup recipes to try:
Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef browned and drained
- 4 small potatoes peeled and diced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 1 celery stalks peeled and diced
- 1 onion diced
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 1 lb. cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk or cream
Instructions
- Place potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, dried basil, and parsley in the crockpot.
- Then, add the chicken broth over it. Cover with lid. Cook on LOW for about 7 hours OR on HIGH for about 4, or until potatoes are tender.
- About 1 hour before serving, cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain the grease out of it and add the cooked beef to the pot.
- Next, add butter to a clean skillet and melt it over low heat. When melted, slowly whisk in flour and cook until golden brown and bubbly (about 1 minute).
- Whisk in the milk (or cream), salt, and pepper.
- Pour the mixture into the crockpot and stir to combine everything.
- Add the shredded cheese to the crockpot and gently stir.
- Cover with lid and cook another 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings, we recommend pickle slices and croutons.
Nutrition
Cooking tips:
- Be sure to use lean ground beef so you do not have too much-saturated fat.
- This is a great soup recipe to serve with garlic bread or even frozen hash browns on the side for dipping.
- For a fast dinner, try making this family favorite in your instant pot. It is ready in less than 30 minutes, so it is perfect for busy weeknights.
- Try sharp cheddar cheese for an extra cheesy soup. Also, shred your own cheese. Processed cheese has a wax coating that does not melt as well.
- Use gluten-free flour for those who are on a gluten-free diet. It will still be the best soup you ever had.
- Feel free to use beef or veggie broth instead of chicken. Or you can use chicken stock.
- Some optional toppings for this can include whatever you like on your burger such as barbecue sauce, jalapenos, mustard, and ketchup. Whatever sounds delicious on a burger will be delicious in your soup.
