This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the Privacy Policy & Cookie Policy.

When the weather cools down, and the leaves start to turn, you know it’s time to break out the soup recipes, and this hearty and rich Cheeseburger Soup is one of my absolute favorites! I’m a big fan of burgers, and I’m always looking for new ways to satisfy my cravings in interesting and creative ways, like my Crockpot Cheeseburger Dip or Homemade Cheeseburger Casserole.

cheeseburger soup being dipped into with a piece of bread.

Enter Cheeseburger Soup, which may be the best cheeseburger-inspired dish yet! It’s the very best of comfort foods–it’s delicious, creamy, and packed with chunky potatoes, carrots, ground beef, and plenty of cheese.

This loaded Cheeseburger Chowder is a true crowd-pleaser. It’s family-friendly and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner when time is tight, and everyone’s hungry!

Why you will love this hearty dinner

First, let’s real talk – this dish is FILLING and HEARTY. It is SO good. The combination of potatoes, Velveeta, and beef means that most won’t get past one bowl without feeling happy and satisfied.

Additionally, this recipe is really scalable, meaning it’s a great choice when you want to cook for a larger gathering, like a potluck dinner or party. And it can be varied to suit your taste buds: make it spicy, make it Keto, change up your cheeses, or even add crumbled bacon!

It serves up with lots of oven-warmed bread (which acts just like the “hamburger bun,” rolls, or a salad, like this Keto-friendly broccoli slaw. You’re definitely going to want to make it again and again; it’s just that good!

Ingredients

ground beef – as noted below in our variations notes, ground beef can be substituted for ground turkey, ground Italian sausage or even ground chicken if desired. That being said, although we do encourage experimentation when it comes to cooking, we recommend you stick with a sirloin/beef or sausage for the best and most rich flavor profile.
chopped celery – because celery is a crunchy veggie, its best to make sure this is chopped down well to encourage softening in the soup.
chopped onion – I use white onions because they tend to go the best, but the slightly sweet flavor of a yellow onion is a great addition or substitute.
matchstick carrots – these types of carrots are already thin sliced and cook the quickest.
potatoes – Cubed potatoes could be common Russet potatoes or white new potatoes. No need to peel skins unless you choose. Remember that if the chunks are too big, they are not only hard to eat but take longer to cook to tender potatoes, so its best to chop down into about 1/2 inch pieces, doing your best to keep them even so they cook at the same rate.
seasonings: dry basil, dry parsley flakes, salt & ground pepper
beef broth – Beef broth is a perfect base, brining the rich flavor of beef bones and vegetables into the cheesy base. While it may be tempting because most people keep this staple in the pantry, I do not recommend changing out beef broth for chicken broth.
Velveeta cheese – it is really hard to duplicate the melt of Velveeta cheese for creamy hamburger soup. You can most definitely use other cheeses in place of, but its important to understand that regular shredded cheeses can break apart to a big greaser and harder to balance. I do not recommend substituting this main ingredient unless you are an at home kitchen whiz. However, shredded cheeses DO make a gorgeous and extra cheesy topping prior to serving.

How to make Cheeseburger Soup

Add ground beef, celery and onions to a large soup pot.
Heat saucepan on medium high heat browning hamburger beef, cooking onions and celery. Drain excess grease and return mixture to pan.
Add shredded carrots, cubed potatoes, dry basil, dry parsley and season with salt and black pepper.
Pour in beef broth and mix well.

collage on making hamburger soup with adding of first ingredients into soup pot.

Cover creamy potato hamburger soup and heat on medium high for about 8-12 minutes cooking time or until potatoes are tender.
Reduce heat to low and add cornstarch slurry.
Stir in cheese and cups milk and continue to mix until cheese is completely melted.
Serve all that cheesy goodness topped with fresh parsley and bread for dipping.

collage of images showing potato and hamburger soup being assembled.

FAQs

Storing

After allowing it to fully cool, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Because of the milk and cheese in the ingredients, which tend to separate in freezing, I wouldn’t recommend freezing it. Reheat the soup slowly, either on the stovetop on low or in the microwave, stirring often.

Can you make Cheeseburger Soup in a slow cooker?

I love using my slow cooker, and Cheeseburger Soup is another recipe that is perfect for it!

Start by browning your ground beef and drain excess fat. Add celery, onions, carrots, potatoes, basil, and parsley to your slow cooker along with your beef broth. Set your crockpot to low and cook for 6 to 8 hours. Check the veggies periodically to ensure they don’t become overcooked. Once the vegetables are close to being tender, prepare your cornstarch slurry and add it to the slow cooker along with the milk and cubes of Velveeta cheese. Increase the heat to high and cook for another 20 minutes to allow the soup to thicken up.

Can Cheeseburger Soup be made Keto-friendly?

I believe that most things can fit into a lot of nutritional diet needs with a few changes. This Cheeseburger Soup can be made to fit into a Keto diet by eliminating the potatoes and carrots and using cream in place of the milk.

What toppings should I put on top of Cheeseburger Soup?

Crumbled cooked Bacon and freshly grated cheddar cheese are my go-to toppings for Cheeseburger Soup for extra flavor. You can also top this with sliced jalapenos, chopped green onions, or even sliced pickles for an authentic burger taste!

It’s super cheesy. Can the cheese be halved?

Absolutely. It’s fine to use half a block of Velvetta over a full block.

ladle dipping out a large scoop of creamy hamburger soup.

Expert Tips

To be sure your milk doesn’t curdle when you add it in, take a few ladles of delicious soup and put them in a separate bowl. Allow it to cool for a minute or so, then slowly add your milk. If curdling starts, stop adding milk and stir in a little bit of flour, and allow the soup to cool a bit more. Once all the milk has been added, slowly combine with the remainder.
For a thicker broth, reserve 2 cups of broth/vegetables before adding your beef. Blend with a little cornstarch until thick and creamy and add the creamy broth back into the pot.
Prior to serving, top soup with crispy bacon pieces and shredded cheddar cheese. This comforting chowder will probably be the best hearty soup you try this week!

Variations

Cheese: Instead of Velveeta, try cheddar, smoked gouda or even pepper jack cheese. Whatever cheese you choose, you’ll want to pick a style that will melt well. As noted above, cheeses can be delicate and harder to work with so this tip is for an experienced cook. In general, most families will want to stick with the simple and tested melt point of Velveeta and one of its different flavors.
Milk: Add sour cream along with the milk for a thicker broth. You can also substitute half the milk for heavy cream for a richer flavor. Or, ditch the milk altogether and instead add pureed cooked cauliflower for a creamy, healthier base.
Add bacon! Who doesn’t love bacon on their burger? Well, it tastes just as good mixed into hearty Cheeseburger Soup. I suggest using 1/2lb to 1lb bacon. Crumble and cook separately, draining excess fat. Stir into the soup with the cheese and mix well before serving.
Garlic: Everyone loves a bit of garlic powder or minced garlic, so if that is on your every day cooking list, just add a bit into the step while the hamburger beef cooks.
For the most creamy of creamy soups, melt in a half a block of cream cheese.
While tender ground beef is my favorite choice when it comes to cheeseburger soup, you can easily substitute beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. The ingredients go relatively well with both and the cheesy soup seems to do fine with both flavors. It just goes from a traditional hamburger soup recipe or creamy cheeseburger soup recipe to something a bit more custom and creative.
Heat: Looking for a bit of heat? Sprinkle in some pepper flakes, cayenne or a dash of Franks red hot to dance on your tongue. If serving a crowd, just add pepper flakes and Tabasco on the side.