This Easy Cheeseburger Soup recipe is your weeknight savior, a creamy, decadent bowl of flavor that tastes just like your favorite burger, ready in under an hour. Say goodbye to takeout menus and hello to a hearty, satisfying meal you can whip up with simple ingredients.
Key Ingredients for Easy Cheeseburger Soup:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild, your preference)
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Optional toppings: cooked bacon, croutons, extra shredded cheddar cheese, diced green onions, sour cream, dill pickles
How to Make Easy Cheeseburger Soup:
This Easy Cheeseburger Soup is incredibly simple to make, delivering a rich, satisfying flavor that will transport you straight to burger heaven. With its creamy texture and hearty chunks of meat and veggies, it’s the perfect antidote to a busy day. Preparation time is a mere 15 minutes, with cooking taking approximately 40 minutes, making it a fantastic weeknight meal.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Brown the Beef: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery to the pot with the browned beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes.
- Infuse with Flavor: Stir in the minced garlic and dried Italian seasoning. Cook for another minute until fragrant. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your liking.
- Build the Broth Base: Pour in the beef broth and add the undrained diced tomatoes and the condensed tomato soup. Stir everything together well, ensuring no clumps of tomato soup remain.
- Simmer and Meld: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and all-purpose flour until smooth. This slurry will thicken the soup.
- Thicken and Cheese: Slowly pour the milk and flour mixture into the simmering soup, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue to cook, stirring, until the soup has thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Melt the Cheese: Remove the pot from the heat. Gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it’s completely melted and the soup is wonderfully creamy and cheesy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle the hot Easy Cheeseburger Soup into bowls. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings like crumbled bacon, crunchy croutons, a dollop of sour cream, or fresh green onions.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Cheeseburger Soup:
You’ll absolutely adore this Easy Cheeseburger Soup for its incredible ability to capture the essence of a classic cheeseburger in a comforting, bowlful. The best part is the unbelievably rich and savory flavor profile, achieved with minimal effort. Imagine all the delicious components of your favorite burger – the juicy beef, the melted cheese, that subtle tomato tang – all harmonizing in a velvety, spoonable soup. Plus, making this at home is a fantastic way to save money compared to ordering a similar experience from a restaurant.
It’s a budget-friendly meal that doesn’t skimp on taste or satisfaction, making it perfect for family dinners or a cozy night in. The versatility of toppings allows you to customize each bowl to your heart’s content, from the crispiness of bacon to the coolness of sour cream. Don’t just dream about it; head to your kitchen and whip up this delightful Easy Cheeseburger Soup today!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
To store leftovers of your delicious Easy Cheeseburger Soup, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When reheating, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You may need to add a splash of milk or broth if the soup has become too thick. Avoid boiling, as this can affect the creamy texture.
For longer storage, this soup freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, then transfer it into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving a little headspace for expansion. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. To reheat from frozen, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then follow the stovetop reheating instructions.
Final Thoughts:
This Easy Cheeseburger Soup is a true winner, offering a warm, comforting, and utterly delicious meal with minimal fuss. Give it a try this week – your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you for it!
Easy Cheeseburger Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)
- Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery to the pot with the browned beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes.1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 90/10), 1 large onion, finely chopped, 2 carrots, peeled and diced, 2 celery stalks, diced
- Stir in the minced garlic and dried Italian seasoning. Cook for another minute until fragrant. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your liking.2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Pour in the beef broth and add the undrained diced tomatoes and the condensed tomato soup. Stir everything together well, ensuring no clumps of tomato soup remain.4 cups beef broth, 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained, 1 10.75 ounce can condensed tomato soup
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and all-purpose flour until smooth. This slurry will thicken the soup.1 cup milk (whole or 2%), 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly pour the milk and flour mixture into the simmering soup, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue to cook, stirring, until the soup has thickened, about 5 minutes.2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild, your preference), 1 cup milk (whole or 2%), 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Remove the pot from the heat. Gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it’s completely melted and the soup is wonderfully creamy and cheesy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild, your preference)
- Ladle the hot Easy Cheeseburger Soup into bowls. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings like crumbled bacon, crunchy croutons, a dollop of sour cream, or fresh green onions.