Cheeseburger Soup

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Cook: 25 min.

Makes

8 servings (2 quarts)

Updated: Sep. 14, 2023
A local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup but wouldn't share its recipe with me. I developed my own, modifying a recipe I already had for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American dish turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 3/4 cup shredded carrots
  • 3/4 cup diced celery
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1-3/4 pounds (about 4 cups) cubed peeled potatoes
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 8 to 16 ounces Velveeta, cubed
  • 1-1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • Optional: Onion rings and thinly sliced green onions

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook and crumble beef until no longer pink, 6-8 minutes; drain and set aside. In same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Saute onion, carrots, celery, basil and parsley until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, broth and ground beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 10-12 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly, 3-5 minutes. Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, salt and pepper; cook until cheese melts. Remove from heat; blend in sour cream. If desired, serve with onion rings and green onions.

Cheeseburger Soup Tips

What can I substitute for the Velveeta and ground beef?

Any low melting-point cheese, such as Swiss or cheddar, can be substituted for the Velveeta. Or, use pepper jack for a kick. If you’re looking to cut a bit of fat from this soup, replace the ground beef with ground sirloin, round or turkey.

How do you store cheeseburger soup? Can I freeze it?

You can store soup by letting it cool completely and placing it in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Soups with starches and dairy (like cheeseburger soup) are not ideal for freezing. But these soups are!

Can I add bacon?

Yes, you can always add bacon. Top bowls with crumbled cooked bacon for a bacon-cheeseburger twist. Be sure to check out these other cheeseburger-inspired recipes.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 450 calories, 27g fat (15g saturated fat), 100mg cholesterol, 1421mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 19g protein.