The Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Soup (Stovetop or Crockpot)
The Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Recipe – A foolproof family-pleasing meal that tastes just like a cheeseburger but is enjoyed as a creamy, comforting soup, easily made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
What is better than a beefy, juicy burger loaded with cheese and crispy bacon?
How about an entire bowl of bacon cheeseburger goodness that you can eat by the spoonful?!
This Bacon Cheeseburger Soup recipe is a super comforting family favorite. It’s a classic creamy soup recipe that features bacon, beef, cheddar cheese, tomato, and zesty herbs… and tastes just like your favorite restaurant cheeseburger!
The Best Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
There are two easy ways to make this hearty meal: in a crockpot or on the stovetop…
Make it on the stove from scratch in just 45 minutes for a fabulous one pot weeknight dinner. Or enjoy as a nearly effortless weekend dish that you can prep in the morning or afternoon and serve at your leisure in the evening.
Either way, you are sure to make this fantastically simple and oh-so-satisfying Bacon Cheeseburger Soup recipe a regular part of your weekly meal plan!
What Ingredients You Need
Whether you choose to make as a crockpot Cheeseburger Soup or on the stovetop, this recipe requires the same simple list of ingredients.
Here is everything needed to make the ULTIMATE creamy, savory Bacon Cheeseburger Soup:
- Bacon – you can in fact make Cheeseburger soup without bacon and substitute with cooking oil
- Onion – peeled and diced
- Celery – adds great texture to the soup
- Garlic – a must-have in nearly all good savory recipes
- Ground beef – 85% or leaner is best for this recipe
- Russet potatoes – scrubbed and chopped with the skins left on
- Chicken broth – for a rich, flavorful soup
- Canned diced tomatoes – with the juices to get that great burger with ketchup taste
- Cream cheese – creates a creamy, zesty soup base
- Dried thyme – a lovely seasoning for bringing the flavors together
- Fresh parsley – chopped, for garnishing
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese – or your preferred shredded cheese
- Salt and pepper – to taste
PLUS corn starch for an even thicker, richer soup.
I like to serve this soup with extra bacon bits, more shredded cheese, and lots of chopped onion on the side.
How to Make Cheeseburger Soup with Bacon on the Stovetop
The easiest, fastest way to make delicious Bacon Cheeseburger Soup is on the stovetop. Including prep time this yummy, comforting dish is ready to enjoy in under an hour!
Here is my easy stovetop method for making the best Cheeseburger Soup from scratch:
Set a large, deep pot over medium heat, and place the chopped bacon in the pot. Sauté the bacon until crisp. Then scoop out the bacon bits and set aside to use as a garnish, and leave the grease in the pot.
Next add the chopped onions, celery, and garlic to the bacon grease. Sauté for a few minutes to soften. Use a spoon to move the veggies to the sides of the pot and add the ground beef. Brown and crumble the beef, and season.
Note: The broth of this Cheeseburger Soup will thicken into a smooth, creamy soup base. If you want it to be extra thick and more chowder-like, you can add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the ground beef while it’s browning.
Once the beef has been cooked, then add the chopped potatoes, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese to the cooked ground beef. Bring to a simmer.
Continue to simmer until the potatoes are soft and the broth and cream cheese have thickened into a creamy, luscious soup base.
Once the potatoes are soft, stir in the parsley and shredded cheddar cheese. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.
Get the Complete (Printable) Ultimate Cheeseburger Soup Recipe with Stovetop AND Crockpot Instructions Below. Enjoy!
Serve warm with extra cheese, bacon bits, and scallions on top!
Is Bacon Cheeseburger Soup Gluten-Free?
Yes, it is gluten-free! Because this recipe uses potatoes and cream cheese to thicken (plus cornstarch, if you need), there are no ingredients with gluten.
Can I Make this Cheeseburger Soup Recipe Keto-Friendly?
Our Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup recipe includes russet potatoes, and is therefore not keto-friendly. You could try swapping out the potatoes with chopped cauliflower to make keto, but I haven’t tried this myself.
Let me know in the comments if you give it a try!
Can I Make Cheeseburger Soup with Turkey or Chicken?
Feel free to substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. I do recommend using dark thigh poultry meat, however, for the most flavorful cheeseburger soup.
You also can substitute pork bacon with turkey bacon, if you like! Or, skip altogether and swap with 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in the recipe.
Looking for More Delicious Soup Recipes?
- Easy Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- The Best Beef Stew Recipe
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Philly Cheese Steak Soup
- The Best Chili Recipe
The Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger Soup (Stovetop or Crockpot)
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and chopped inch ½ inch cubes
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 15 ounce can diced tomatoes drained
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Corn starch to thicken the soup, if you like
- Garnishes: extra shredded cheese, bacon bits, chopped scallions
Instructions
Stovetop Directions:
- Set a large 6-8 quart saucepot over medium heat. Place the chopped bacon in the pot. Sauté the bacon until crisp, then scoop it out and reserve the bacon bits for the garnish. Leave the bacon grease in the pot.
- Add the onions, celery, and garlic to the bacon grease. Sauté for 3-5 minute to soften. Move the veggies to the sides of the pot and add the ground. Brown the beef, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Add 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Once the beef is cooked, add in the chopped potatoes, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, until the potatoes are soft and the broth and cream cheese have thickened into a creamy soup base.
- Once the potatoes are soft, stir in the parsely and shredded cheddar cheese. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed. (If the soup base seems thin, toss the shredded cheese with 1 tablespoon corn starch before stirring it into the soup. Simmer another 2-3 minutes to thicken.)
Crockpot Directions:
- Set a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chopped bacon in the pot. Sauté the bacon until crisp, then scoop it out and reserve the bacon bits for the garnish. Leave the bacon grease in the pot.
- Add the onions, celery, and garlic to the bacon grease. Sauté for 3-5 minute to soften. Move the veggies to the sides of the pot and add the ground. Brown the beef, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Add 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Once the beef is cooked, move the beef and vegetable mix into a large crockpot. Add in the chopped potatoes, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese. Cover and slow cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours or on LOW for 8-9 hours, until the potatoes are soft and the broth and cream cheese have thickened into a creamy soup base.
- Once the potatoes are soft, stir in the parsley and shredded cheddar cheese. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed. (If the soup base seems thin, toss the shredded cheese with 1 tablespoon corn starch before stirring it into the soup. Simmer another 5-10 minutes to thicken.)
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I am making this right now and wanted to know if you are supposed to drain the grease……also is it ok to add cheddar cheese soup and if so when do you add the soup?
Thanks
Karen C…..
Just one question that is probably kind of a no brainer but do you drain the grease from the hamburger mixture before putting in the crockpot?
Thanks,
Seasoned cook…..
Comfort food at its best. It was surprising how similar this was to an actual cheeseburger. This is a good pick me up and to be enjoyed as a treat.
This is definitely a keeper! So easy to make and perfect comfort food!
This is so good!! Such a comforting meal any night of the week!
Made this in my crock pot and it was perfect for this cold day!
such an amazing soup recipe that tastes so much like a bacon cheeseburger!