Description
This Easy Cheeseburger Soup recipe combines the savory flavors of a classic cheeseburger into a warm, comforting soup. Featuring ground beef, cheddar cheese, and creamy broth enriched with cream cheese and heavy cream, this hearty soup is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy meal. Topped with crispy bacon bits, green onions, and diced pickles, it delivers all the delicious elements of a cheeseburger in a bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard (yellow or Dijon)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms or bell peppers
Toppings
- Extra cheddar cheese, shredded
- Crispy bacon bits
- Chopped green onions
- Diced pickles
Instructions
- Heat Butter and Cook Beef: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon for about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain and Set Aside Beef: Drain any excess grease from the cooked beef and set it aside for later use.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same pot, add the diced onions and minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
- Add Spices and Flavorings: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, mustard, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the sautéed onions and garlic, combining well.
- Add Broth and Return Beef: Pour in the beef broth and return the cooked ground beef to the pot, stirring to blend everything together.
- Simmer the Soup: Let the soup simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld the flavors.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Reduce the heat to low, add the softened cream cheese, and stir until fully melted and incorporated into the soup.
- Incorporate Heavy Cream: Slowly pour in the heavy cream (or half-and-half), stirring continuously to ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
- Add Cheddar Cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it melts completely and the soup is creamy and smooth.
- Serve with Toppings: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with extra shredded cheddar cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped green onions, and diced pickles to give it that classic cheeseburger touch.
- Enjoy: Serve the soup hot and savor the cheesy, savory flavors that combine the essence of a cheeseburger in every spoonful.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half to lighten the soup slightly.
- For a spicier kick, adjust the red pepper flakes according to taste.
- The diced tomatoes and pickles add authenticity to the cheeseburger flavor but can be omitted if preferred.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to reduce the salt content if desired.
- For a vegetarian version, replace ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives and use vegetable broth.
