Cheeseburger Soup
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A delicious, hearty soup to warm up with on a cold, blustery day. This homemade Cheeseburger Soup is packed with potatoes, ground beef, and diced carrots in a creamy cheese soup. It’s a fun take on cheeseburgers for the winter! So easy to make and always a hit for dinner.

There’s nothing like a hearty soup on a cold winter day and this one is always a favorite. This easy cheeseburger soup has all the flavors of your favorite burger in soup form! Loaded with lean ground beef, onions, carrots, potatoes and Velveeta cheese to make it cheesy.
In fact, Velveeta is the key to this amazing soup recipe. It effortlessly gives it the most creamy texture and cheesy flavor. If you love this recipe, be sure to check this cheesy bacon and potato soup too! And for a meal that is something other than soup, cheeseburger casserole is the way to go!
Why You’ll Love this Cheeseburger Soup
- This is the best cheeseburger soup recipe for busy weeknights. The recipe only takes 30 minutes to throw together.
- One batch of this recipe makes 6 hearty servings. Easily double or triple if you need to serve more people!
- Cheeseburger soup has the most comforting flavor. It’s creamy, full of protein and truly irresistible.
Ingredients Needed for Cheeseburger Soup
- Ground beef – A leaner ground beef will ensure that this soup doesn’t get too greasy. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Onion – Chop your onion finely and even onion haters won’t realize they are in there! It gives this soup so much flavor.
- Carrots – Peel and dice up some carrots for this cheeseburger soup. You could also shred them to sneak them in if you have picky eaters.
- Potatoes – I prefer using Yukon gold potatoes, but Russets are another great option.
- Butter – Both salted butter and unsalted butter work for this recipe.
- Chicken broth – You could substitute beef broth if you prefer. To control the sodium level, use low sodium broth.
- Velveeta cheese – This thickens the soup and is the best option for cheese because it melts great and thickens it. If you prefer you can use shredded cheddar cheese but just keep in mind that the soup will be a bit more thin.
- Milk – We used 2% milk when we made this, a milk with a high fat content is recommended so the soup is thicker.
- Sour cream – Use sour cream to thicken and flavor the soup. You can also use a pinch cream cheese.
- Flour – Flour will help thicken the broth making this soup the perfect hearty texture.
- Spices & Seasonings – This combo of spices and herbs adds the best flavor.
- dried basil
- parsley flakes
- salt
- pepper
Helpful Tools
How to Make Cheeseburger Soup
- In a skillet over medium-high heat brown the ground beef along with diced onion, carrots, basil and parsley in a Tablespoon of butter.
- Once the hamburger is browned, drain off any excess grease. Then add in potatoes and broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- In a small saucepan melt remaining butter then add flour, whisking continuously to form a paste. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth and thick.
- When the potatoes are tender stir in the roux and mix well. Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper and cook on low, stirring until the cheese melts. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.
- Serve immediately with all the toppings you want.
Topping Ideas
We like to make a topping bar to add your own twist and flavor to this soup. This is a lot of fun when you have company over! Here are our favorite toppings.
- Bacon Pieces: I buy microwavable bacon when I just need a little bacon and then dice it up after I cook it. Or buy the bacon pieces from Costco and warm them up. Oven baked bacon is my favorite too!
- Sour Cream: A dollop of sour cream is great for rich flavor and extra creaminess.
- Onion: Sliced green onion adds a pop of color and flavor. You can also use some diced red onion.
- Pickles: It’s not a cheeseburger without pickles, right? Dice some dill pickles up and sprinkle them on top.
- Crackers: We love Ritz crackers, but Oyster or Saltine crackers are perfect.
- Chips: This cheeseburger soup recipe is perfect for the bottom of the bag crumbs!
- Cheese: Extra cheese is never a bad idea! Some sharp cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese would be tasty too.
How to Store Leftovers
Cool any leftovers completely and then store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
We do not recommend freezing this soup because potatoes get mushy in the freezer and the cheese sauce may separate, but it you can freeze it if you want too.
How to Reheat Cheeseburger Soup
To reheat leftover soup, place in a saucepan and turn heat to low until soup is heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave in 1 minute intervals, until soup is reheated, making sure to stir every minute.
What else can I add to cheeseburger soup?
Diced or sliced mushrooms would be super tasty in this soup. You can also add diced bell peppers, celery, corn, or green beans. Really anything you like to add to soups would be tasty in this dish.
What to Serve with Cheeseburger Soup
Cheeseburger soup is filling on it’s own, but if you want to add a crusty bread or side salad to the meal they are the perfect side dish to serve with a bowl of soup. Garlic bread and fluffy bread sticks are also good side options.
Even some hearty cornbread with butter would be so yummy with this creamy soup. When I have time, I love to make homemade crescent rolls as a flaky pairing with this soup.
Pro Tips for the Best Cheeseburger Soup!
- Instead of diced carrots you can shred them to sneak them in if you have picky eaters, you could also just skip them.
- We topped our soup with shredded cheddar cheese, but some other great ideas is chopped pickles, bacon bits, sour cream etc.
- Feel free to let this cook in the slow cooker all day if you want an even more hands-off approach.
You’re going to love keeping warm on a cold day with this cheesy soup. Enjoy!
More Delicious Soup Recipes!
- Put a little kick in your soup with this easy Easy Taco Soup that’s healthy and delicious!
- All the flavors of lasagna are in this Easy Lasagna Soup.
- Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is a traditional soup that’s always a favorite and so easy to make.
- An easy, hearty soup perfect for the winter! This creamy Crock Pot Potato Soup uses cubed hash brown potatoes to make it so quick to make.
- Creamy, cheesy Broccoli Cheese Soup is so good on a cold day!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Cheeseburger Soup
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pounds ground beef
- ¾ cup onion finely diced
- ¼ cup carrots finely diced
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 4 Tablespoons butter divided
- 2 cans chicken broth 14.5 oz each
- 4 cups Yukon gold potatoes diced and peeled
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups Velveeta cheese (16 oz)
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- In a large pan brown the beef along with the onion, carrots, basil and parsley in 1 tbsp butter until vegetables are tender and beef is browned.
- When meat is brown drain off any excess grease. Add broth and then potatoes to meat mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- While potatoes are cooking melt remaining butter in a small saucepan. Add flour, whisking continuously to form a paste. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth and thick.
- After the potatoes are tender stir in the milk mixture until completely mixed in. Next stir in cheese, salt and pepper; cook on low and stir until cheese melts. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream.
- Serve immediately, Garnish with shredded cheese, chopped green onions etc.
Melanie C says
I was really craving comfort food recently and came across your cheeseburger soup recipe. It definitely grabbed my attention, so I went for it and boy am I glad I did. I’m a huge cheeseburger fan so having those flavors in a soup was perfect!
Brittany says
If the meat were browned ahead of time, do you think the Cheeseburger Soup could be finished in a slow cooker so its ready to go on busy evenings?
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
Cheeseburger soup sounds awesome! I am adding this to our meal plan for next week. When you reheat it, do you need to add liquid to loosen it back up?
Kristen Yard says
I love that this hearty cheeseburger soup recipe lets me enjoy the bold tastes of my summer favorites all year long! So satisfying and filling!
Sandy says
VERY GOOD! I did add more chicken stock, because we like a soupier soup. Love your recipes!
Courtney says
Thank you, Sandy! Your kind words are much appreciated!
Phyllis L Fitzgerald says
This recipe sounded good as I read it. I made it and was not disappointed. It is a keeper for me. My grandson who doesn’t like to eat soup even ate some and liked it. I followed the recipe exactly and it was delicious.
Diann says
Are you dividing the 1 1/2 c milk, because it is listed twice in the directions.
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry it’s updated. You add it all with the flour!
Malinda says
This is one of my favorite soups!!! I’ll have to try your version!
Julie Evink says
Ours too! Perfect for those chilly days!
Debra says
Oh this is good! We love it, this will definitely be on our meal rotation!
Julie Evink says
I know how much you love soup!
Melissa Howell says
I’ve never heard of cheeseburger soup before, but now I can almost taste it! Sounds so delicious!
Danielle Green says
Looks so filling and chock full of potatoes! Delicious!
Julie Evink says
We love this for a hearty dinner that’s easy plus the leftovers are great!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Cheeseburger soup, I love the idea!
Liz Meichsner says
Julie – Do you think this would freeze well? Trying to think of recipes to freeze for baby time, come March. 🙂 Hope all is well!
Liz
Julie Evink says
I haven’t actually done it, but I would think it would! Freezer meals are a blessing when the baby comes! Stockpile a couple weeks worth 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Oooh, cheeseburger soup sounds yummy!
Katie says
I seriously just made some cheeseburger soup a few weeks ago! Great minds definitely think alike.