Cheeseburger Soup

Why I Love This Cheeseburger Soup Recipe

This hearty cheeseburger soup is one of my favorite comfort food recipes! Especially in the colder months when a craving for bacon cheddar burgers strikes. Rather than playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who gets to stand outside at the grill, I make a big batch of cheeseburger soup instead. Everyone’s happy and bellies are full! Over and above that, here’s why this soup is the best:

• Real cheeseburger flavors. With lean ground beef, softened onions, savory seasonings, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce, this soup is packed full of delicious cheeseburger flavor. Melt in some cheese, and you have a hearty, creamy soup that warms from the inside out.
• Any occasion. This cheeseburger soup recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner, but it’s also awesome for entertaining. The creamy, savory flavors always draw guests in for seconds (and thirds, on more than one occasion).
• One pot. This cheeseburger soup is a quick and easy one-pot soup recipe to make on the stovetop, and it also turns out great in the crock pot. I love my slow cooker, so if there’s a chance to use it, I’ll take it. I’ve included instructions for both.

Ingredients You’ll Need

We’re taking all the ooey-gooey goodness of a classic American cheeseburger and packing it into a bowl of cozy soup. The ingredients are similar, with a few important ones that create a rich, silky broth. I’ve included some notes below. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for a full list with amounts.

• Olive Oil – Or another cooking oil, like avocado or canola oil.
• Onion – I love dressing my burgers with classic yellow onion, so that’s what I dice up for this soup. Any type of onion works, though.
• Ground Beef – I use lean ground beef as it isn’t as greasy. You could also make this soup with ground turkey or chicken.
• Flour – All-purpose flour, to make a roux that thickens the broth.
• Steak Seasoning – My favorite is Montreal steak spice. You can use any steak seasoning you prefer, or even a homemade blend.
• Beef Broth – You can also use chicken broth, but I like the rich, beefy flavors. I recommend cooking with low-sodium stock or broth and adjusting the saltiness of the soup to taste.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Or soy sauce, for extra umami flavor.
• Evaporated Milk – This is unsweetened condensed milk. Please, PLEASE do NOT use sweetened condensed milk in your cheeseburger soup! You can substitute evaporated milk with heavy cream if you prefer, the soup just won’t be quite as rich.
• Cheese – Freshly grated from the block is best. I use a combination of shredded cheddar cheese and American cheese slices, which I chop up into smaller pieces.

How to Make Cheeseburger Soup

This cheeseburger soup recipe is so easy, and I’ve included a slow cooker method if you want to get things rolling ahead of time. Follow the steps below. You’ll find the complete recipe details in the printable recipe card after the post.

• Cook the onions and ground beef. First, sauté the onions in a Dutch oven so that they soften. Then, add the ground beef, breaking it up while it browns. Drain any leftover grease afterward.
• Add seasonings. Stir in the flour and steak spice and let that cook for a minute. Next, pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and evaporated milk. 
• Simmer. Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat and let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
• Finish and serve. Finally, stir in both cheeses and let them melt into the broth. Ladle the cheeseburger soup into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings. See below for more serving ideas.

Make It in the Slow Cooker

Because nothing beats a make-ahead-friendly soup! You can adapt this soup recipe to your slow cooker or crock pot without changes to the ingredients, and the method stays mostly the same. The difference is, you can walk away while it cooks! To make slow cooker cheeseburger soup:

1. Sauté. Brown the onions and ground beef as directed (it makes a big difference in flavor!).
2. Combine. Transfer the beef and onions to your slow cooker or crock pot. Stir in the flour and seasoning, then add the liquid ingredients.
3. Cook. Cover the soup and cook on Low for 4-5 hours. Before serving, melt in the cheese. Enjoy!

Tips and Variations

• Use freshly grated cheese. Pre-packaged shredded cheese comes with a waxy coating that prevents it from melting smoothly. For the best texture, be sure to grate the cheddar cheese yourself.
• Add the cheese last. You can even take the pot off the heat before stirring in the cheese. Make sure that the soup isn’t boiling, as overheating causes the cheese to split and curdle.
• Lighten it up. For a lighter cheeseburger soup, I’d recommend swapping ground beef for turkey, with low-fat American cheese slices and fat-free evaporated milk. Don’t try to substitute low-fat cheddar cheese or milk, as the soup won’t have the same texture.
• More veggies. You can bulk up this cheeseburger soup recipe with more vegetables. Sauté diced carrots and celery alongside the onions.

Optional Soup Toppings

Now, for the fun part: Garnishes! Just like a real cheeseburger, you can dress this cheesy soup with any toppings you’d like. I included some topping ideas below. If I’m serving this soup when friends are over, I’ll set up a “topping bar” so that everyone can add their favorites.

• Seeded and diced tomatoes
• Shredded lettuce
• Chopped cooked bacon (or turkey bacon)
• Croutons

How to Serve Cheeseburger Soup

Along with some burger-inspired toppings, I love serving this cheeseburger soup with a side of fluffy homemade dinner rolls for dunking. Chewy homemade soft pretzels or pretzel bites also taste delicious dipped into the cheesy broth! As a veggie side, try a green salad, this easy air fryer asparagus, or roasted carrots. Save room for a slice of this cherry cheesecake for dessert!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Store any leftover cheeseburger soup (ideally without toppings) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat. You can reheat this soup in the microwave or on the stovetop. I recommend stirring often so that it heats evenly and adding a splash of heavy cream to revive the creamy texture.
• Freeze. Unlike some soups that contain dairy, this cheeseburger soup is fine to freeze! Allow the soup to cool completely, and freeze it in a freezer-safe container. Remember to leave a bit of extra space for the soup to expand. Thaw the soup in the fridge before reheating.

More Cozy Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• One Pot Lasagna Soup
• Instant Pot Potato Soup
• Sloppy Joe Stew
• Spaghetti and Meatball Soup