Imagine the comforting, savory taste of your favorite cheeseburger, transformed into a warm, creamy, and satisfying soup. That’s exactly what you get with our incredibly easy Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup! This recipe is a true game-changer for busy weeknights, chilly evenings, or anytime you crave ultimate comfort food without the hassle. The magic of the slow cooker means minimal effort for maximum flavor, allowing you to “set it and forget it” while it simmers to perfection, filling your home with an irresistible aroma.
The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup: A Family Favorite
This Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is more than just a meal; it’s a culinary hug in a bowl. While reminiscing about “Crockuary” in 2014, it’s clear that slow cooker recipes, especially hearty soups, have always been a staple. What makes this particular recipe stand out is its perfect blend of classic cheeseburger flavors—savory ground beef, rich cheese, and a medley of fresh vegetables—all simmered to a creamy consistency. It’s an ideal dish for those cold winter months when you need something substantial to warm you from the inside out.
One of the best features of this recipe is its relative quickness for a slow cooker dish. Unlike some slow-cooked meals that require hours upon hours, this cheeseburger soup is ready in just a couple of hours after some initial stovetop prep. This means you don’t have to wait all day for a delicious, home-cooked dinner. A little initial browning and sautéing on the stovetop build a fantastic flavor base, and then your trusty Crock Pot takes over, handling the rest with ease.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Easy Recipe
- Effortless Preparation: Most of the cooking time is hands-off, thanks to your slow cooker.
- Unbeatable Comfort: A warm, hearty soup that tastes just like a cheeseburger in liquid form.
- Crowd-Pleaser: A dish that appeals to all ages, making it perfect for family dinners.
- Customizable: Easily adapt ingredients and toppings to suit your taste and dietary needs.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: From cozy weeknights to casual gatherings, it always hits the spot.
Key Ingredients for Your Homemade Cheeseburger Soup
Crafting an epic Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup starts with selecting fresh, simple ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to bring this comforting dish to life, along with some tips for choosing the best quality:
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides an essential aromatic foundation.
- Medium Onion: A finely chopped onion adds sweetness and depth to the soup base.
- Celery: Diced celery contributes a subtle earthy flavor and texture, forming part of the classic “mirepoix” base.
- Lean Ground Beef: Opt for lean ground beef to minimize excess grease. Browning the beef thoroughly is crucial for developing rich, savory flavors. You can also experiment with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- All-purpose Flour: Used to create a roux with the broth, thickening the soup to a luxurious, creamy consistency. For a gluten-free option, a cornstarch slurry can be used.
- Chicken Broth: Provides the liquid base for the soup. Low-sodium chicken broth is recommended, allowing you to control the saltiness. Beef or vegetable broth can be substituted based on preference.
- Low-Fat Evaporated Milk: This secret ingredient adds incredible creaminess and richness without the heaviness of full-fat cream, giving the soup a smooth, decadent texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: The star of the “cheeseburger” aspect! Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melts beautifully and provides that signature tangy, cheesy flavor. Sharp cheddar works wonderfully.
- Paprika: Adds a hint of color and a subtle peppery, slightly sweet flavor. Smoked paprika can be used for an extra layer of smoky depth.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning the soup to perfection and balancing all the flavors. Always season to taste.
- Tortilla Chips: Perfect for a crispy garnish, adding a pleasant crunch and a touch of saltiness that complements the soup. You can also use croutons or crushed crackers.
Optional Garnishes to Elevate Your Soup: Elevate your soup experience with these fantastic optional toppings:
- Freshly chopped green onions for a mild oniony bite.
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese for an additional layer of cheesy goodness.
- A dollop of sour cream for tanginess and a creamy swirl.
- Diced dill pickles for that classic cheeseburger zest and crunch.
- Crispy bacon bits for smoky, savory perfection.
Essential Equipment for Slow Cooker Success
Having the right tools can make your cooking experience smoother and more enjoyable. For this Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup, you’ll need a few key items:
- Crockpot (Slow Cooker): We highly recommend using a slow cooker equipped with a digital timer. This feature allows you to set the cooking duration, and once completed, it automatically switches to a “warm” setting. This ensures your soup cooks perfectly without overcooking and keeps it at an ideal serving temperature, giving you peace of mind throughout the day.
- Large Skillet: You’ll need a sturdy skillet for browning the ground beef and sautéing the aromatics. This step is crucial for developing deep flavors before everything goes into the slow cooker.
- Kitchen Spoon/Stirring Utensil: A durable spoon or spatula is essential for stirring ingredients, especially when scraping up the flavorful browned bits from the skillet.
- Soup Bowls: Of course, you’ll want a set of your favorite soup bowls to serve up this delicious creation!
How to Make the Best Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup
Making this hearty cheeseburger soup in your slow cooker is surprisingly simple, with just a few initial steps on the stovetop to build a rich flavor base. Follow these detailed instructions to create a comforting meal that your family will adore:
- Prepare the Aromatics: In a large skillet, cook the minced garlic, chopped medium onion, and chopped celery over medium heat until they are tender and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. Once softened, carefully spoon the cooked vegetables into your Crock Pot.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In the same skillet, add the lean ground beef. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with your spoon, until it is thoroughly browned and no pink remains. Drain any excess grease. Transfer the browned hamburger meat into the Crock Pot with the vegetables.
- Create the Flour Slurry: In a small cup or bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and ½ cup of chicken broth until the mixture is completely smooth and lump-free. This slurry will act as a thickener for your soup.
- Deglaze for Flavor: Pour the remaining 2 ½ cups of chicken broth into the skillet where you browned the beef. Bring it to a simmer, then use a wooden spoon to scrape all the delicious browned bits (fond) off the bottom of the skillet. These bits are packed with flavor and will significantly enhance your soup. Stir in the flour slurry you just prepared and continue to simmer for 1-2 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Combine in the Crock Pot: Carefully pour the broth and slurry mixture from the skillet into the Crock Pot with the beef and vegetables.
- Add Creaminess and Seasoning: Stir in the low-fat evaporated milk, shredded cheddar cheese, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently until all ingredients are well combined and the cheese begins to melt slightly.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover the Crock Pot with its lid. Cook on the LOW setting for 2 hours, or until the soup is heated through, flavors have melded, and the cheese is fully melted and incorporated, creating a creamy texture.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, ladle the hot soup into bowls. Top generously with crumbled tortilla chips and any other desired optional garnishes, such as green onions, extra shredded cheese, sour cream, or diced dill pickles. Enjoy your homemade, comforting cheeseburger soup!
Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating Tips
This Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is not only delicious but also incredibly convenient for meal prepping and enjoying leftovers. Here’s how to ensure your soup stays fresh and delicious:
Make-Ahead + Storage: Our Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup recipe is wonderfully make-ahead-friendly! You can easily prepare a large batch to enjoy throughout the week. Store any cooked leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for optimal freshness. They will remain delicious and safe to eat for three to four days.
Freezing/How to Freeze: For longer storage, transfer any freezer-bound leftovers into an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Lay bags flat to save space. This soup can be safely stored in the freezer for up to three months. While many dairy-based soups tend to separate or become grainy when frozen and thawed, this recipe uses a roux as a thickener, which helps stabilize the dairy. Roux-based soups generally freeze much better, maintaining their creamy texture upon reheating.
How to Reheat: To reheat your cheeseburger soup, you have several convenient options depending on the quantity. For frozen portions, it’s best to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator to ensure even reheating.
- Microwave: For individual servings, transfer to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
- Stovetop: For larger quantities, gently reheat the soup in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until it reaches your desired temperature. Add a splash of broth or milk if it seems too thick.
- Crock Pot: If reheating a big batch, you can return it to the slow cooker on the “warm” setting until heated through.
Always stir thoroughly before serving to recombine any ingredients that may have settled.
Delicious Variations & Dietary Adjustments
One of the joys of cooking is the ability to customize a recipe to fit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Our Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is incredibly versatile, allowing for numerous delicious variations:
Substitutions to Create Your Unique Cheeseburger Soup: Cheeseburgers come in many forms, and so can this soup!
- Ground Meat Alternatives: If you’re looking to change up the protein or avoid red meat, feel free to replace ground beef with ground chicken, ground pork, or ground turkey. Each will impart a slightly different flavor profile while keeping the hearty texture.
- Cheese Varieties: While cheddar cheese is classic, don’t hesitate to experiment with other cheeses. Shredded Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, sharp white cheddar, or even a Tex-Mex blend are fantastic substitutes that can add new dimensions of flavor and melt beautifully.
- Broth Options: If chicken broth isn’t on hand, vegetable broth offers a lighter flavor, and beef broth will deepen the savory, meaty notes, making it even richer.
Additions for Enhanced Flavor and Texture:
- Bacon Cheeseburger Soup: For a truly indulgent treat, add crispy bacon bits or crumbled bacon pieces to the soup, either during cooking or as a topping.
- Extra Veggies: Boost the nutritional content and texture by adding diced potatoes (cook until tender), corn, peas, or finely diced bell peppers along with the aromatics.
- Smoky Flavor: A dash of liquid smoke or a tablespoon of smoked paprika can give the soup an authentic grilled burger taste.
- Worcestershire Sauce: A splash of Worcestershire sauce (about 1-2 teaspoons) can deepen the umami flavor of the beef.
Dietary Considerations:
- Vegetarian Option: Easily transform this into a veggie hamburger soup by swapping the ground beef with a plant-based alternative like Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger, or even brown lentils. Ensure you also switch out the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
- Vegan Option: To make this soup vegan-friendly, follow the vegetarian guidance by using a plant-based meat alternative and vegetable broth. Additionally, replace the evaporated milk with a plant-based milk (such as unsweetened soy or oat milk) and use a high-quality vegan cheddar cheese alternative.
- Gluten-Free: For gluten-free diners, the main components to adjust are the all-purpose flour and tortilla chips. Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend (or use a cornstarch slurry for thickening). Ensure your tortilla chips are certified gluten-free. While most other ingredients should be naturally gluten-free, always check labels carefully if you have a high sensitivity.
- Alcohol-Free Option: Our Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is naturally alcohol-free. However, if you’re interested in a similar rich, cheesy soup with a beer-infused twist, our Crock Pot Beer Cheese Soup features many similar ingredients and offers a different flavor experience.
- Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe yields six servings. This recipe is easily scalable! Simply adjust the ingredient quantities up or down to achieve your desired yield. Keep in mind that for significantly larger batches, you may need to cook in batches, especially during the stovetop browning phases, to ensure proper browning and even cooking.
- Make it Spicy: For those who love a kick, infuse your cheesy soup with heat! Add finely chopped jalapeños, a pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of hot sauce, or swap a portion of the cheddar cheese for a spicy Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese.
- Sugar-Free: This recipe contains approximately 5 grams of sugar per serving, with no single ingredient contributing a significant amount of added sugar. It’s naturally low in sugar.
Expert Tips for a Perfect Cheeseburger Soup
Achieving the perfect Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is easy with a few simple tricks. Here are some expert tips to ensure your soup is always a hit:
- Adjusting Consistency: We love the creamy consistency of this soup as written. However, if you prefer a thicker soup, you can increase the amount of flour slightly (e.g., add ½ to 1 more tablespoon to the slurry). Conversely, if you find it too thick, simply thin it out with a splash more chicken broth or evaporated milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Cheese Matters: Whether you opt for pre-shredded cheese or grate it yourself, always use shredded cheese in your Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup. Shredded cheese melts much more easily and evenly, significantly reducing the chances of clumping and ensuring a smooth, cheesy texture throughout the soup. For the best flavor and melt, consider grating your own cheese from a block.
- Don’t Skip the Browning: Sautéing the aromatics and browning the ground beef on the stovetop before adding them to the slow cooker is crucial. This step develops a deep, rich flavor base (fond) that transfers to the entire soup, creating a more complex and satisfying taste.
- Add Dairy Last: While this recipe incorporates evaporated milk and cheese earlier, if you’re experimenting with different dairy products (like heavy cream or different types of soft cheeses), adding them towards the end of the slow cooking cycle can prevent them from separating or curdling due to prolonged heat.
- Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Always taste your soup before serving and adjust the salt, pepper, and other seasonings as needed. Broth and cheese can vary in saltiness, so a final adjustment ensures perfect flavor balance.
- Garnishes are Key: Don’t underestimate the power of garnishes! Crumbled tortilla chips, fresh green onions, a dollop of sour cream, or extra shredded cheese not only add visual appeal but also contribute texture and fresh flavors that complement the richness of the soup.
What to Serve with Your Hearty Cheeseburger Soup
This comforting Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is a meal in itself, but pairing it with the right accompaniments can elevate your dining experience. Think about what you’d typically enjoy with a traditional burger – those flavors often translate beautifully here. Lighter fare, such as a fresh salad, provides a fantastic balance to its richness. Here are some menu pairing suggestions:
Perfect Sides for Cheeseburger Soup:
- Broccoli Bacon Salad
- Hawaiian Mac Salad
- 7 Layer Salad
- Sauerkraut Salad
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Easy Watermelon Salad
- Broccoli Slaw
- Kale & Apple Potato Salad
- Taco Pickles
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Ranch Pickles
For an even wider array of choices, we’ve compiled an entire list of easy sides for soup!
Hearty Main Dishes (if you’re hosting a feast):
- CrockPot Stuffed Tomatoes
- CrockPot Stuffed Peppers with Cheese
Sweet Endings (Desserts):
- Ambrosia Salad
- Grape Salad
- Orange Dreamsicle Salad
- Mandarin Orange Jello Salad
- Strawberry Fluff Salad
- Apple & Snickers Salad
When to Serve This Delicious Soup
The versatility and comforting nature of Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup make it suitable for a variety of occasions:
- Casual Lunch: A filling and satisfying option for a midday meal.
- Hearty Dinner: Perfect for a family dinner, especially on busy weeknights.
- Potlucks: A guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s easy to transport and keep warm.
- Family and Friends Gatherings: Ideal for informal get-togethers where comfort food is king.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: Whenever you need a warm, cheesy hug in a bowl!
- Game Day: A fantastic alternative to chili or other typical game-day fare.
Explore More Delicious Recipes
If you loved this Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup, be sure to explore our other fantastic recipe collections for more culinary inspiration:
- Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes: Discover a variety of easy ground beef slow cooker recipes perfect for every occasion, from quick family dinners to potlucks.
- Game Day Appetizers: Find over 30 game day appetizers that are big on flavor, including slow cooker dips and air fryer snacks, ideal for watching your favorite team.
- Sides for Chili: This roundup is dedicated to all the perfect side dish companions that pair wonderfully with bowls of chili, from breads and biscuits to salads and more.
- Bacon Recipes: Explore delicious ways to enjoy bacon for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between!
- Cherry Pie Filling Recipes: From Crock Pot favorites to boxed cake mix treats, these recipes make the most of ruby red cherry pie filling.
- Cream Cheese Recipes: Discover epic ways to use cream cheese in everything from appetizers to decadent desserts.
- Banana Recipes: Wondering what to do with ripe bananas on your counter? Find a banana recipe you’re sure to love!
Do you love exploring new culinary delights? Check out our copycat recipes, delectable dessert recipes, and our extensive collection of Crock Pot Recipes.
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Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup
20 minutes
2 hours
2 hours 20 minutes
6
315kcal
Tammilee Tips
Ingredients
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 Celery chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tablespoon All Purpose Flour
- 3 cups Chicken Broth divided
- 1 cup low fat evaporated milk
- 8 oz Cheddar Cheese
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Black Pepper
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Cook garlic, onions, and celery in a skillet until tender, spoon into crock pot.
- Brown hamburger and add to crock pot.
- Combine flour and ½ cup chicken broth in a cup, stir until lump free.
- Pour into skillet with remaining 2 ½ cups broth, bring to a simmer, scrape browned bits off of the bottom of the skillet with wooden spoon.
- Carefully pour mixture into the crock pot.
- Stir in evaporated milk, cheese, paprika, salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Top with crumbled tortilla chips.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
- Large Skillet
- Wooden Spoon
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 153
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Recipe originally shared on February 13, 2014. Updated October 2020.